Step Up Scholarship: Everything You Need to Know
Are you a Florida resident seeking educational opportunities for your child? If so, the Step Up Scholarship program could be a great fit for you!
In Florida, where educational choice is valued, Step Up Scholarships allow families to tailor their child’s learning experience, whether through private school, homeschooling, or specialized services such as tutoring, speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
This page will help you comprehend the SUFS scholarship programs in Florida. We will go over eligibility requirements, application procedures, and the benefits of joining.
If you’re a parent looking to broaden your child’s scholastic horizons, read on to find out how the Step Up Scholarship program might help!
Eligibility of the Step Up Scholarship
The FES-EO and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs provide financial aid to Florida residents for private school tuition. Here’s the breakdown of eligibility:
Any Florida kid who resides in the state and is qualified to attend a K-12 public school may apply. Household income is not considered for initial eligibility.
Scholarship awards are prioritized for families who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty threshold (see website for income priority guidelines).
- The student is a repeat recipient of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship or Family Empowerment Scholarship.
- The student is in foster or out-of-home care.
- The student was described as homeless.
- The student’s family member is an active-duty member of the United States military who has lately received permanent station orders to Florida.
- The youngster has been bullied at their current K-12 public school and comes from a family that earns 400% of the federal poverty line or less.
How to Apply
Students and parents must complete the STEP UP Scholarship application and email it to TSAC.Aidinfo@tn.gov. In addition, recipients must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each school year.
Although the Step Up for Students Scholarship is an excellent opportunity, if you delay applying, funds may run out quickly. In some situations, the deadline to apply for scholarships for the next academic year is June 4.
Your application can take up to 3-5 weeks to process, and most Clearwater, FL private middle schools prefer that you apply for scholarships before or during the admissions process. However, it may be more useful to speak directly with the school you are considering. School counselors will assist you with both the admissions and financial aid applications.
It is also worth noting that the Step Up for Students Scholarship prioritizes the application procedure for low-income applicants. If you apply for a scholarship and do not satisfy the income requirements, your application may still be processed, although the response time may be significantly longer.
Scholarship Reward
A Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship costs the same as a Tennessee HOPE Scholarship. Students enrolling full-time at qualified four-year colleges can receive up to $2,250 every semester as freshmen and sophomores and up to $2,850 per semester as juniors and seniors.
Class status is determined by the postsecondary institution. Students attending full-time at approved two-year universities can receive up to $1,600 every semester.
The total amount of financial help a student receives, including a Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship, cannot exceed the institutionally specified total cost of education at the qualified postsecondary institution where the scholarship recipient is enrolled.
If the total educational cost is surpassed, the Tennessee STEP UP Scholarship may be lowered.
About Step Up
Step Up for Students is a Florida-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides scholarships to low-income students, bullied students, and students with special needs to help pay for private school tuition, attendance at an out-of-district public school, tutoring, textbooks, and therapies.
Step Up For Students was formed by a combination of Florida’s two largest scholarship organizations, Florida P.R.I.D.E. and Children First, founded by Tampa Bay billionaire John Kirtley. Kirtley previously launched the Children’s Scholarship Fund of Tampa Bay in 1998, which garnered over 15,000 applications for the 750 available scholarships.
Due to the high demand, Kirtley helped to establish the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which was passed into law in 2001. Donors to this scholarship program can obtain dollar-for-dollar tax credits for contributions to NGOs that provide scholarships to low-income students in Florida.
The scholarship was limited to $50 million for the 2002-03 school year, and 15,585 students received scholarships.
