Navigating Step Up For Students Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide to Requirements and Opportunities

Every student deserves the chance to learn and grow in an environment that suits their unique needs. In Florida, the Step Up For Students (SUFS) program empowers families to create stronger futures for their children by providing tailored educational opportunities. This article delves into the world of Step Up Scholarships in Florida, exploring the various scholarship options, eligibility requirements, and the application process.

Understanding the Step Up For Students Program

The Step Up Scholarship program aims 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 program's roots trace back to 1998 when Tampa businessman John Kirtley created a scholarship program for low-income students, focusing on private schools, highlighting 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. This initiative, signed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, allowed corporations to redirect taxes towards scholarship funds, helping families bridge the gap in affording private school tuition.

Exploring the Variety of Step Up Scholarships

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:

Private School Scholarships (Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)): These scholarships provide financial assistance for private school tuition and related costs, averaging around $8,000. They are available to all Florida students eligible for K-12 public school, regardless of household income. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship is 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): Formerly the Gardiner Scholarship, this scholarship supports students with unique abilities, giving them more flexibility in their educational journey. It provides an average of $10,000 for tuition and fees for a private school, homeschooling options, therapies, tutoring, and more. This scholarship gives families access to an education savings account (ESA) that acts like a bank account in which you can direct funds toward a combination of programs and approved providers. This includes schools, therapists, specialists, curriculum, technology, a college savings account and more. There is no income requirement for the FES program.

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Personalized Education Program (PEP): This program provides an ESA for students not enrolled full-time in private or public schools, allowing flexibility in their educational journey. On average, students receive $8,000 in scholarship funds which are placed in an education savings account (ESA) and can be used for tuition and fees, homeschooling, tutoring, instructional materials and more.
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. Awarded students receive an education savings account (ESA), which acts like a bank account with which you can direct funds toward a combination of educational expenses.
Transportation Stipend: This stipend helps with transportation costs for Kindergarten through 8th-grade students who attend a public school outside their assigned district. To support the transportation costs associated with traveling to a different public school than the one the student has been assigned, families can benefit from a transportation stipend of $750 per household. Transportation Stipend funds are distributed annually by check to eligible families.
Hope Scholarship: As of July 1, 2024, 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. This scholarship, created to support families whose K-12 students have experienced a bullying incident, allows students to participate in the Private School Scholarship Program. Families may apply at any time throughout the year following an eligible incident. Families previously receiving the Hope Scholarship will now apply through the FTC/FES-EO programs.

Understanding Eligibility Requirements

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

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.
Active-duty military members who recently received permanent change of station orders to Florida are eligible.
Students who have experienced bullying at their current K-12 public school.
Given to families at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.
Students who are renewing their Private School Scholarship (FTC or FES-EO)
Students whose household income does not exceed 185% of federal poverty level as outlined in the income priority guidelines or who are in foster care or out-of-home care
Students whose household income is between 185% and 400% of the federal poverty level as outlined in the income priority guidelines.

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

Transportation Stipend Eligibility

To qualify for the Transportation Stipend, a household must have at least one K-8 student enrolled full-time in a non-virtual Florida public school that is not their assigned school. Each eligible household may receive only one stipend of $750 per year, regardless of the number of qualifying students.

Applying for a Step Up Scholarship: A Step-by-Step Guide

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

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).
Create an Account: Visit the Step Up For Students website and create an account. 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:
- 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 Considerations and Regulations

Switching Scholarships: If your student was found eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) and you would like to switch to a PEP Scholarship (FTCPEP), this can only be done before that year’s PEP Scholarship acceptance deadline. For 2025-26, the acceptance deadline was May 31, 2025. If your student was found eligible for PEP, and you would like to switch to a Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), do not decline their scholarship in EMA.
Multiple Applications: Florida law prohibits a family from applying for more than one scholarship at a time for an individual student. Florida law prohibits applying for more than one FTC or FES scholarship at a time for an individual student.
Active-Duty Military: If you are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and have been given permanent change of station orders to move to Florida, you will be eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the PEP Scholarship before you make your move. Active-duty military with change of station orders out-of-state may apply for, or renew their Unique Abilities or PEP Scholarships, if they can prove maintenance of Florida residency, as long as Florida residency is legally maintained and can be documented using a Leave and Earnings Statement or the IRS Declaration of Domicile Form 2058.
Private School Enrollment: You have 30 days to enroll your student in a new private school. Once awarded a scholarship, you will work with your selected participating private school to enroll your student through EMA, the Step Up For Students platform. 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. Scholarship funds must first pay for tuition and fees at eligible private schools. Remaining funds can be accessed through an education savings account (ESA) and used 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, tuition as a private pay student at Florida Virtual School, and 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.
PEP Scholarship Regulations: You should terminate your home education program as soon as your PEP scholarship is funded. Your award letter can serve as documentation that your child is now participating in the scholarship program. You can withdraw from PEP anytime by logging in to EMA and selecting the “Decline” button. If you've already withdrawn from your Home Education Program after receiving the PEP scholarship, you'll need to reestablish it by sending a letter of intent to your district. Your child could be found truant if you do not complete an evaluation and do not receive a funded PEP scholarship. New PEP students should complete the home education evaluation as a precaution. Current PEP students who were awarded and funded on the PEP scholarship in the previous school year are required to take a FLDOE approved norm-referenced test, during the year they use PEP, and submit test scores to their SFO. By law, home education and PEP are two distinct education options in Florida, so a home education evaluation is not required for new or renewal PEP applications. Scholarship availability is first come, first served. Student Learning Plan (SLP) is a customized learning plan developed by parents or guardians and revised, at least annually, to guide instruction for their students and to address the services needed to fulfill their academic needs. The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) approves private schools to participate in serving PEP students.
Transportation Stipend Regulations: To qualify for the Transportation Stipend, a household must have at least one K-8 student enrolled full-time in a non-virtual Florida public school that is not their assigned school. Each eligible household may receive only one stipend of $750 per year, regardless of the number of qualifying students.

Benefits of Step Up Scholarships

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.
Access to Therapies: 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 utilized, ensuring these students receive the support they need to thrive.
Strong Partnerships: Step Up For Students fosters collaboration with schools and community organizations.
Transportation Stipend: Enables students to attend a non-virtual public school that is different than their assigned school.

Real Stories, Real Impact

The Step Up Scholarship program isn't just about expanding options; it's about real impact on students and families.

Leidiana Candelario, a Step Up Scholarship Alumni, says, “School choice meant opportunities and inevitable growth. Thanks to school choice, I learned to love education. I learned to reach for my wildest dreams. Choice brings liberty. Choice brings opportunity. Choice brings life.”
Ashley Elliot, another Step Up Scholarship Alumni, shares, “Your education determines your future. When I received school choice, it changed my future. I want that opportunity for everyone, not just me.”
Nanya, a Step Up Scholarship Recipient, states, “Without Step Up I don’t know if I would be able to reach the goals I’m about to reach.”
Zoe Elverillo, a Step Up Scholarship Recipient, says, “I’ve always felt education was No. 1 over everything, I always wanted to prove it to myself.”

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