Step Up For Students

Description

Step Up For Students helps administer FIVE scholarships for Florida schoolchildren. The K-12 INCOME-BASED FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP provides lower-income families with financial assistance toward private school tuition and fees, or with transportation costs to attend a public school in another county. The K-12 INCOME-BASED FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP provides families with assistance toward private school tuition and fees. The Pre-K through 12 GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP helps families personalize educational plans for their children, ages 3-22 with certain special needs. The GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP allows parents to direct scholarship funds toward a combination of approved programs and providers including approved private schools, therapists, specialists, curriculum, technology even a college savings account. The K-12 HOPE SCHOLARSHIP for schoolchildren who are bullied or victims of violence in a public school, school-related activity or school-sponsored program. The HOPE SCHOLARSHIP gives parents the opportunity to transfer their child to a K-12 public school with capacity in another district or a scholarship for the child to attend an eligible private school. The READING SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS program is for public school students in grades three to five who struggle with reading. The READING SCHOLARSHIP offers parents access to education savings accounts, worth $500 to pay for tuition and fees related to part-time tutoring, summer and after-school literacy programs, instructional materials and curriculum related to reading or literacy. Children who are classified as English Language Learners (ELL), and who are enrolled in a program or receiving services that are specifically designed to meet the instructional needs of English Language Learners, will receive priority. Children who are in foster care, in out-of-home care or who are homeless also may be eligible for either of these FIVE scholarships. Visit www.StepUpForStudents.org/211 to learn more.

Hours

Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm Hours may vary

Required Documents

Visit our website at www.StepUpForStudents.org/211 for info.

Eligibility

K-12 children may be eligible for the INCOME-BASED FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP or FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP if a family's household income qualifies for the free or reduced-price school lunch program (185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines), or if the family receives SNAP (food stamps), TANF, or FDPIR. Children entering kindergarten must be 5 on or before Sept. 1 and children entering first grade must be 6 on or before Sept. 1. Pre-K through 12 children may qualify for the GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP if diagnosed with one of the following: anaphylaxis, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, deaf, Down syndrome, dual sensory impaired, Hospital or homebound, muscular dystrophy, Phelan McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, rare disease or condition, spina bifida, traumatic brain injured, visually impaired, Williams syndrome or an intellectual disability (severe cognitive impairment). Also, students deemed high risk due to developmental delays and not older than 5 on Sept. 1 may be eligible for the year they apply. Children must be 3 or 4 on or before Sept. 1. Children entering kindergarten must be 5 on or before Sept. 1 and children entering first grade must be 6 on or before Sept. 1. K-12 children may qualify for the HOPE SCHOLARSHIP if an incident of bullying or violence took place at a public K-12 school, any school-related or school-sponsored program or activity, or while riding on the school bus or waiting at the bus stop. Public school students in grades three through five who scored a 1 or 2 on the grade three or four English Language Arts Section of the Florida Standards Assessment in the prior year may be eligible for the READING SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS. Students who are classified as English Language Learners (ELL) and who are enrolled in program or receiving services that are specifically designed to meet the instructional needs of English Language Learner students are also eligible and will receive priority.

Fees

There is no fee.

Intake Procedure

Apply online at www.StepUpForStudents.org/211

Languages

English, Spanish and Creole

Service Area

Florida

Geography Served