Scholarships

STEP UP

How the Scholarship Works

SINCE 2002, MORE THAN 271,000 SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO LOW-INCOME FLORIDA STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12. COULD YOUR CHILD BE NEXT?

Students learn in different ways and parents need to find the best school for each child. Sometimes that means another public school in a different neighborhood or sometimes that means a private school. Step Up For Students exists to help low-income families enjoy all of those options.

Students who qualify for the free or reduced school lunch program may qualify for a Step Up For Students Scholarship to a private school or for funds to help cover transportation costs to an out-of-district public school. For the 2019-2020 school year Step Up For Students pays up to $6,519 for Kindergarten–5th grade, $6,815 for 6th-8th grade and $7,111 for 9th-12th grade.

Our goal is to give your family a choice in your child’s education. It’s your child; it’s your choice.

These scholarships were created by the Florida Legislature in 2001 to assure that low-income children have learning options. Under the law, the scholarships are based on financial need, not how well your child does in school. They are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and can be transferred to other eligible schools if the student moves within the state, or simply wants to attend a different Step Up partner school.

McKay

Florida’s school choice programs ensure that no child will be left behind by allowing parents to choose the best educational setting—public or private—for their child. The McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program provided over 24,000 Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a participating private school during the 2019-2020 school year.

“The school-choice issue is not about public versus private; it’s about choice. It’s about knowing what works well for my family and being able to make that choice for them.”
— Parent of a McKay Scholarships Student

CDS and Children’s trust Programs

Please contact the school admissions director to apply for a scholarship.