Understanding Step Up Scholarships in Florida: Eligibility and Opportunities

Are you a Florida resident exploring educational avenues for your child? The Step Up Scholarship program in Florida could be the ideal solution to personalize their learning journey. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Step Up Scholarship programs (SUFS) in Florida, designed to empower students by expanding their educational opportunities.

The Essence of the Step Up Scholarship Program

The Step Up Scholarship program (SUFS) aims to empower Florida students by expanding their educational opportunities. In Florida, where educational choice is a priority, Step Up Scholarships enable families to personalize their child's learning experience, whether through private school, homeschooling, or specialized services like tutoring, speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. This program goes beyond financial assistance; it seeks to personalize education for all students, regardless of background or needs. By providing resources for private schooling, homeschooling options, and specialized services, SUFS strives to make quality education accessible to every family in Florida. The Step Up Scholarship is a Florida program that offers financial assistance for various educational options for Kindergarten through 12th-grade students and students with unique abilities up to age 22.

A Historical Perspective

The Step Up Scholarship program's roots trace back to 1998 when Tampa businessman John Kirtley created a scholarship program for low-income students, focusing on private schools. This highlighted the need for educational choice in Florida. Building on this momentum, the Florida legislature passed a bill in 2001 establishing the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Signed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, this initiative allowed corporations to redirect taxes towards scholarship funds, helping families bridge the gap in affording private school tuition. The program has since evolved, offering scholarships like the FES and FES-UA, which go beyond private schools and provide resources for homeschooling and students with unique abilities.

Types of Step Up Scholarships Available

The Step Up Scholarship program offers a variety of scholarships to cater to the diverse needs of Florida students and families, including those seeking private school options or alternatives to traditional public schools. Here's a breakdown of the available options:

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship: Designed to provide financial assistance to low-income families seeking alternative educational options for their children, such as private schools. Funding comes from corporate tax credits, making it an excellent choice for qualifying families.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA): The Family Empowerment Scholarship, formerly the Gardiner Scholarship, supports students with unique abilities from various backgrounds, giving them more flexibility in their educational journey. There is no income requirement for the FES program.
Personalized Education Program (PEP): The PEP program provides an ESA for students not enrolled full-time in private or public schools, allowing flexibility in their educational journey.
New Worlds Scholarship: This scholarship helps struggling public school students in VPK (pre-kindergarten) and Kindergarten through 5th grade in reading and math. Funds can be used for tutoring, after-school programs, and instructional materials.
Transportation Stipend: This stipend helps with transportation costs for Kindergarten through 8th-grade students who attend a public school outside their assigned district.
Hope Children's Scholarship Fund: As of July 1, 2023, the Hope Scholarship Program has been merged with the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) programs under House Bill 1403. Families previously receiving the Hope Scholarship will now apply through the FTC/FES-EO programs.

Eligibility Requirements: A Detailed Overview

The Step Up Scholarship program offers various scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria. Here's a breakdown of the requirements for each type:

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Private School Scholarships (FES-EO and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship)

The FES-EO and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs offer Florida residents financial assistance for private school tuition. Here's a breakdown of eligibility:

Any Florida student residing in the state and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school can apply.
Military families who recently received permanent change of station orders to Florida.
Students who have experienced bullying at their current K-12 public school.
Families at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is designed to support many students. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

Be between the ages of three (including children turning three during the application year) and grade twelve, or up to age twenty-two, whichever comes first.
Have a documented diagnosis from a qualified professional in one or more of the following categories:
- Developmental Delays: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Specific Learning Disability
- Physical or Sensory Impairments: Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Orthopedic Impairment, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida
- Chronic Health Conditions: Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Other Health Impairment (as defined by IDEA)
- Other Conditions: Emotional or Behavioral Disability, Being a High-Risk Child (as defined by IDEA), Hospitalization/Homebound Status, Dual Sensory Impairment, Rare Diseases, Traumatic Brain Injury

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Ready to apply for a Step Up Scholarship? Here's a step-by-step guide to the application process:

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Eligibility Check: Before you begin your application, ensure your family meets the eligibility requirements for your desired scholarship type (refer to the "Eligibility Requirements" section for details).
You can manage your application on this site and stay updated on the process.
Choose Your Scholarship: Once logged in, select the appropriate scholarship program based on your child's needs (e.g., FTC Scholarship, FES Scholarship, etc.).
Complete the Application: The online application typically involves providing details about your child, your family's income (for income-based scholarships), and your preferred choice of schools.
Gather Required Documents: Here are some documents you might need to upload during the application process:

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- Student's birth certificate
- Proof of Florida residency for all household members
- Tax documents (for income-based scholarships)
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan (if applicable)
- Documentation of bullying or violence (for Hope Scholarship)
- Reading assessment results (for Reading Scholarship Accounts)
Important Deadlines: The application window for Step Up Scholarships typically opens in the fall.

Benefits of the Step Up Scholarship Program

The Step Up Scholarship programs offer many advantages for Florida students and families. Let's explore some of the key benefits:

Choice & Quality Education: Step Up Scholarships empower families to choose the best learning environment, including private schools for those seeking smaller class sizes or specialized programs.
Empowering Families: Step Up Scholarships allow families to choose the educational environment that best suits their child's needs. Funds can be applied to a private school, a homeschooling program, or specialized services like tutoring, speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and physical therapy (PT).
Removing Barriers for Unique Learners: The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is a game-changer. This program offers funding through an Education Savings Account (ESA) that can be used for a broader range of approved expenses. With the ESA's flexibility, children can access crucial therapies like speech, OT, and PT even if a qualified provider isn't readily available in their area. Remote services can be used to ensure these students receive the support they need to thrive.
Strong Partnerships: Step Up For Students fosters collaboration with schools and community organizations.

Addressing Common Questions

Who qualifies for a Step-Up Scholarship in Florida?
Eligibility requirements vary by scholarship type. Generally, students must be Florida residents eligible to attend a public K-12 school. The Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) caters to a broader range of income levels, while the FES-UA program has no income requirement for students with qualifying disabilities.
Who is eligible for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship?
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship prioritizes low-income families. Households with an income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level receive priority consideration. Students must also be Florida residents eligible to attend a public K-12 school.
Can I use a Step-Up Scholarship for homeschooling?
Yes, some Step-Up Scholarships offer homeschooling support! The Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) allows funding for approved homeschooling expenses, including curriculum materials, online programs, and even educational therapies. The Step Up For Students-UA (FES-UA) program is a lifeline for families with children who have unique abilities. It empowers them to access essential resources, including speech therapy, which can significantly impact a child's development. Online speech therapy can be particularly beneficial for FES-UA recipients. It eliminates barriers for families living in remote areas or where minimizing virus exposure is crucial. Sessions can be conducted conveniently from home, saving time and allowing for more consistent attendance, potentially leading to faster progress.Additionally, Connected Speech Pathology boasts a network of experienced and certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who can deliver effective speech therapy plans remotely.

Recent Legislative Changes (House Bill 1)

New legislation (HB 1) passed that affects Floridaâs school choice programs. Signed by Governor DeSantis on March 27, 2023, these changes went into effect on July 1, 2023.

The new House Bill 1:

Expands eligibility for all K-12 students, regardless of household income, and converts the scholarship into education savings accounts, or âESAsâ.
Creates a new program called the Personalized Education Program, or "PEP". An education savings account program that allows parents to customize the education of students who are not attending public or private schools full-time.

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) /Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)

The new legislation expands the eligibility of the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) programs to allow K-12 students who are Florida residents to gain access to a scholarship, regardless of household income. Renewing families will continue to receive first priority. The ESAs allow for more flexibility in how scholarship funds can be invested in their childâs education.

Authorized Uses of Program Funds

Instructional materials
Curriculum
Tuition & fees for:
- Full-time or part-time enrollment in an eligible postsecondary institution or a program offered by a postsecondary institution
- An approved pre-apprenticeship program
- A private tutoring program
- A virtual program from a Dept. of Education-approved private online provider
- Florida Virtual School as a private pay student
- An approved online course
Fees for:
- Nationally standardized, norm-referenced achievements tests
- Advanced Placement exams
- Industry certification exams
- Assessments related to postsecondary education, or
- Other assessments
Contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes (subject to the schoolâs space and availability)
Tuition & fees for part-time tutoring services or fees for services provided by a choice navigator

Choice Navigators

âChoice navigatorsâ provide consultations to students and families on:

The selection of, application for, and enrollment in educational options addressing the academics needs of the student
Curriculum selection
Advice on career and postsecondary education opportunities

They must meet the same requirements as private tutors under FES. Choice navigators are not permitted to oversee or exercise control over the curricula or academic programs of a personalized education program. Allows all students who are eligible for FES-EO to use the transportation scholarship.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

Expands Authorized Uses of Program Funds under FES-UA.

Conclusion

The Step Up For Students program in Florida offers various scholarships, empowering families to personalize their child's education.Worried that your child will miss out on improved educational quality because you do not have the resources to send them to a private school? The program has expanded since its founding in Clearwater, Florida, to now support almost 80,000 students throughout the state. Private high schools in Clearwater, Florida are also able to provide their neighborhood with a high-quality elementary education as a means of assisting kids in building brighter futures, thanks to the Step Up for Students grant. A family of four with a yearly income of up to $111,000 is one example of who would be qualified for the 2022â23 academic year. The residence and grade level of the student are used to calculate the scholarship amount. Dependent children of a member of the US armed forces may be qualified, regardless of household income. Included are reservists and members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Space Force. Regardless of household income, children of a law enforcement officer who depend on their parents for financial support. The Kâ12 private school provides all children with the methods, materials, and curriculum they require to learn more quickly than they would in a traditional classroom. Parents and students who are interested in applying for the scholarship must go to stepupforstudents.org and select the âLearn More/Apply Nowâ tab. Enrollment is now open for the academic year 2022â2023.

Author Information

Allison Geller is a communication coach, speech-language pathologist, and founder of Connected Speech Pathology, an international online practice providing professional communication coaching and speech therapy for children, teens, and adults.

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