Apply for a Private School Scholarship
We’re excited to open the Private School Scholarship application for the 2025–26 school year. If you’re ready to explore new opportunities for your child, we invite you to apply and take the next step toward a Private School Scholarship.
Scholarship Application Deadlines
Planning ahead is key to securing your child’s scholarship.
- Renewing students seeking priority need to have submitted their application by April 30, 2025. Applications submitted after this date will be considered new and can be submitted through November 15, 2025.
- New students are welcome to submit applications through November 15, 2025.
Applications will not be available after November 15 for the 2025–26 school year unless the student qualifies for an exception.
The following students may apply at any time during the school year:
• Dependents of active-duty U.S. Armed Forces
• Students in foster care or out-of-home care
• Students who have experienced bullying or harassment in public school
If your student qualifies for one of these exceptions, please call us at (877) 735-7837 to open an application outside the standard deadline window.
What is EMA?
EMA is Step Up For Students’ secure scholarship management platform—designed to make it easier for you to apply, upload documents and track your student’s scholarship journey all in one place.
Your entire journey to a Private School Scholarship and using it to tailor your child’s education lives in EMA, step through the process with us!
Ready to Apply?
Step 1
Create Your EMA Account
Start by watching this quick video or if it's easier, you can follow the step-by-step guide—once you are ready, create your parent or guardian profile to begin your journey.
Step 2
Now You’re Ready to Apply!
From your Dashboard, head to the Available Scholarships section to apply for the “Scholarships for Eligible Private Schools or Personalized Education Program (FTC/FES-EO, FTCPEP).” You will be prompted to make sure all students you wish to apply for are added—remember, you can only submit one application per program.
Once you're ready, just follow the simple on-screen prompts. Our step-by-step process, outlined in the Application Guideline will walk you through everything you need to complete your application.
During your application process, you will be asked to submit documentation that verifies:
All submitted documents must:
- Be current—just make sure they are dated within the past two months for recurring bills or statements
- Be valid
- Clearly reflect the full name(s) of the primary parent or guardian and additional parents or guardians
- Match the physical address listed on your scholarship application
Providing accurate, up-to-date documentation helps ensure a smooth review process and keeps your student’s scholarship on track. But don’t worry if there’s a mistake, we’ll help by reaching out by email to give you an opportunity to re-upload documents.
Military families moving into Florida
If you're an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to Florida, your child may be eligible for Private School Scholarship — even before establishing full residency in the state.
Here’s what you need to do to apply:
Upload your PCS orders in the “Proof of Residency” section of your scholarship application.
Ensure the physical address in your guardian profile matches the assigned unit address on your PCS orders.
Once you’ve established residency in Florida, call us at (877) 735-7837 to submit updated Proof of Residency.
3) Your Household Income, if applicable
Proof of income is only required for families seeking income-based priority. Please note, income is not used to determine eligibility.
Documentation must be provided for all household members age 18 and older, including:
- Pay stubs from the 30 days closest to your application date
- Other income sources such as unemployment benefits, Social Security, or child support.
Providing complete income information helps determine where your application falls in the award prioritization process.
1025 – SEP Statement of Separation
1055 – CW Statement of Cash Wages
Additional Household Members? Add any additional household members to ensure your application is accurate and complete.
For more details, be sure to review our Scholarship Application Checklist.
Step 3
You're Almost Done!
Take a moment to review your Application Summary, the Parent/Guardian Terms & Conditions and read through the Sworn Compliance Statement. Once you are ready, you can check the box, sign electronically and submit your application!
Need more time? No problem—just click “Save as Draft” and come back when you’re ready.
Congratulations!
To confirm your submission, visit the My Recent Applications panel on your Dashboard. We’re here to support you every step of the way. Let the educational journey begin!
Resources
