STEP UP FOR STUDENTS - FLORIDA INC

FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, 132,180 STUDENTS ATTENDED 2,090 PRIVATE SCHOOLS ON A STEP UP FOR STUDENTS' TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP. THE K-12 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 2001 TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE ENORMOUS EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN POVERTY, AND IT IS NOW THE LARGEST SUCH SCHOLARSHIP IN THE NATION. IN 2023, THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE OPENED THE SCHOLARSHIP TO ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223 DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR A MAXIMUM OF $2,232 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL. FLORIDA TAX CREDIT PERSONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (FTC PEP): K-12 FLORIDA STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM CAN QUALIFY FOR A PERSONALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM THROUGH THE FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO RECEIVE A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223, REGARDLESS OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME, TO RECEIVE PARENT-DIRECTED EDUCATION. THE FUNDS ARE PLACED INTO AN EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT (ESA) AND CAN BE USED TO PAY FOR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/CURRICULUM, CONTRACTED SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL (INCLUDING CLASSES), TUITION FOR AN ELIGIBLE HOME EDUCATION INSTRUCTION PROGRAM, FEES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTING, PRIVATE TUTORING, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND DIGITAL MATERIALS EXCLUSIVE OF DIGITAL DEVICES.

THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019 TO PROVIDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHICH HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES WITH EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THEIR EDUCATION. THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP WAS EXPANDED INTO TWO BRANCHES: FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS AND FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP). FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS: THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS INTENDED TO HELP REDUCE THE WAIT LIST FOR THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND SIMILARILY SERVES STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME AND WORKING-CLASS HOUSEHOLDS. STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA, AS AN APPROVED SFO, ADMINISTERED THIS SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVED 145,155 K-12 STUDENTS FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR. IN 2023, THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE OPENED THE SCHOLARSHIP TO ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE UP TO A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223 DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR UP TO $2,232 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL.FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES (FORMALLY KNOWN AS GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP): IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA ADMINISTERED THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES WITH SPECIFIC DIABILITIES THAT INCLUDE: AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, DOWN SYNDROME, SPINA BIFIDA, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, WILLIAMS SYNDROME, AND MORE. THROUGH THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, 96,678 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR AT AN AVERAGE OF $9,990 EACH. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO CHOOSE THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENT, AND THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT FOR SCHOOLS, THERAPISTS, SPECIALISTS, CURRICULUM, TECHNOLOGY EVEN A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.