Step Up For Students is a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization that helps administer two scholarships for Florida schoolchildren: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC) for low-income families and the Gardiner Scholarship (PLSA) for children with certain special needs.
Our Catholic schools accept Step Up scholarships, which can be applied for through an online application. Applications are open for both new and renewal families for the 2017-18 school year. Step Up anticipates funding 105,000 scholarships for next school year and have already awarded more than 70,000 scholarships, so it is important that interested families apply ASAP. The deadline to apply for FTC scholarships is May 1. This means entire applications must be completed, including the submission of all documentation. The deadline is early this year as we’re doing everything we can to process and award all scholarships prior to school beginning in August. Currently, the turnaround time for new applications is about three weeks.
While they still give priority to the lowest income bracket, Step Up has begun awarding students of higher income families who qualify for the 88% scholarship. Families could be eligible for partial scholarship funding with income even as high as 260% of the federal poverty level.
If you have any questions about the Step Up scholarships or have interest in a Catholic education for your child, please call your local Catholic school and speak with its principal.