Parents – Apply now for Private School Scholarships
May 10, 2022 • Diocese of St. Augustine

Parents – Apply now for Private School Scholarships
Get an average of $7,000 a year for K-12 education

Families seeking more options in their children’s education can now apply for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options in one application through Step Up for Students. Scholarship amounts vary by grade and county but will average about $7,000 a year for K-12 education. Families can apply online at www.stepupforstudents.org.

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC), which began in 2002, and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), created in 2019, provide learning options for students in grades K-12. Combined this year, they funded over 163,000 students in more than 2,000 private schools statewide.

Dependent children of members of the United States Armed Forces and Florida law enforcement officers may qualify, regardless of household income.

Families who want faith-based education options for their children can choose from one of more than 1,200 faith-based schools in Florida.

“This scholarship gives students the chance to attend the school that is best for them,” said Stacy Angier, principal of Abundant Life Christian Academy in Margate, a founding partner school with Step Up. “For the last 20 years, Abundant Life Christian Academy has been fortunate to accept Step Up for Students scholarships and has seen the impact it has had on so many students. With the right environment and necessary support, every student can strive to be their best.”

When Karla Collins left a 23-year-career in public schools a decade ago to become head of Victory Christian Academy, she was unfamiliar with the scholarship programs. But she quickly saw the benefits of letting families choose the school that works best for their children.
“I was excited to hear that families could choose a private school for their children if they wanted something different,” Collins says. “Step Up for Students has been a positive solution for so many of them! VCA is a family experience because of Step Up.”

About Step Up for Students
Step Up for Students, a 501c3 nonprofit based in Jacksonville and St. Petersburg, has awarded more than 1.3 million scholarships since it was founded in 2002. Today, Step Up administers four of the state’s K-12 scholarship programs: the donor-supported Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the taxpayer-funded Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), for low- and middle-income students; the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA, formerly Gardiner); the Reading Scholarship for public school students in grades K-5 with low reading test scores; and the Hope Scholarship for bullied students.

For more information visit: www.stepupforstudents.org or call 1-877-735-7837