Scholarships for Private School or Public School Transportation Costs

Interested in the Personalized Education Program? Click here to learn more.

To manage your student’s 2022-23 FTC/FES-EO account, click here.

Every Student Deserves A Choice

Education isn’t one-size-fits all. Just as every student is different, every classroom is different, and every school is different. Students learn best in an academic environment that is best suited to their learning needs.

Step Up For Students supports Florida students and families in building a stronger future through personalized education. Our scholarships open doors with private school tuition assistance, help covering the cost of traveling to a different public school and more through an education savings account.
Opportunities available through:
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC)
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)

Scholarships for Private Schools

K-12 students, regardless of household income, who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school can receive a scholarship worth an average of $7,700 to attend a private school that best meets their academic needs.

The scholarship can be used for tuition along with other related expenses such as registration, books, testing and other fees.

Scholarships for Public School Transportation

K-12 students have the option of attending a public school that is a better fit than the one they’ve been assigned. Students who meet the income requirements can receive at least $750 to be used for transportation.

Scholarships for PEP Program

Florida students who are not full-time private nor full-time public school students now have access to the Personalized Education Program (PEP) through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
PEP Program Overview >

Private School and Transportation Scholarship Parent Handbooks

For more information, download our handbooks.

Who Is Eligible?

As of July 1, 2023, scholarships will be available to all students, regardless of household income, who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school.

Priority will be given to families whose household income is 400% of poverty or below as outlined in the income priority guidelines or who meet the following criteria:
  • Renewing students of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and/or Family Empowerment Scholarship
  • Children in foster care or out-of-home care
  • Homeless children 

Find a School

Search the catalog of eligible private schools
Private School Directory

How Does It Work?

Apply for the scholarship through Step Up For Students. If approved, choose a private school, transportation or home education scholarship.

Private School Scholarship

Scholarships vary by county and grade but are worth an average of $7,700. Once awarded a scholarship, work with your selected participating private school to enroll your student through Step Up For Students. You will be notified when it is time to log into your account to approve scholarship funds to be issued directly to your school electronically.

The scholarship awards will first pay for tuition and fees at eligible private schools. Remaining funds can be accessed through an education savings account (ESA) and used to pay for:

  • Instructional material
  • Curriculum
  • Tuition for full-time or part-time education at an eligible postsecondary educational institution or approved apprenticeship program
  • Fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests and other assessments
  • Contracted services provided by a public school or school district
  • An approved online course
  • Tuition as a private pay student at Florida Virtual School,
  • Fees for a “Choice Navigator,” which is an optional service provider intended to help guide parents through the myriad of choices that will become available to them through their ESA.

Public School Transportation Scholarship

Transportation scholarships are worth $750 and help with the cost of attending a public school other than the one to which a student has been assigned.

Once awarded a scholarship, please follow the instructions on your award letter to notify us that you will be using the transportation scholarship option. Families will be required to provide a report card or progress report quarterly to confirm the student’s attendance and receive payment that is sent directly to families.

PEP Program

Florida students who are not full-time private nor full-time public school students now have access to the Personalized Education Program (PEP) through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

PEP Program Overview >

Note: The application is the same for both programs and applications are processed in the order they are received. Renewal students have first priority. Scholarships can be transferred to an eligible school if the student moves within state or chooses to move to a new school.

Stepping Up To Success

“Without Step Up I don’t know if I would be able to reach the goals I’m about to reach.”

Nanya
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
“I’ve always felt education was No. 1 over everything, I always wanted to prove it to myself.”

Zoe Elverillo
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
“Private school is different. The classes are smaller…There’s not one teacher that doesn’t care (here).”
Carlos Escobar
Step Up Scholarship Recipient

Video Library

How to create your FTC/FES-EO account
How to complete an FTC/FES-EO application
Document checklist for FTC/FES-EO applications
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