Scholarships and Grants

Website: www.stepupforstudents.org

Step Up For Students provides a variety of scholarships that help families choose the right educational path for their children, including private school tuition, transportation, and services for students with unique abilities.

🏫 Private School Scholarships

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) & Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)

• 💰 Average Award: $8,000

• 🎯 Who Qualifies: All K–12 Florida students eligible for public school enrollment

• 📅 Status: 2025–26 applications now open

• 📚 Covers private school tuition and related expenses

🔗 Apply Now

🌟 Unique Abilities Scholarship

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

• 💰 Average Award: $10,000

• 🧒 Who Qualifies: Florida students age 3–22 (or grade 12) with qualifying diagnoses

• 💼 Uses: Private school tuition, therapies, homeschooling resources, tutoring, curriculum, college savings, and more

• 💳 Funds are provided through an Education Savings Account (ESA)

🔗 Learn More

🚌 Transportation Scholarship

For students attending a public school outside of their zoned school district.

• 💰 Covers transportation costs

• 🎯 Eligibility: Must qualify for FTC or FES-EO

🔗 Details Here

Website: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/mckay/mckay-parent-info.stml

The McKay Scholarship Program has officially merged into the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) as of July 1, 2022.
FES-UA offers families more flexibility through an Education Savings Account (ESA) model.

Website: Florida Department of Education – McKay Info

🧒 Who’s Eligible?

Students must meet one or more of the following:

• Have an active IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 Accommodation Plan

• Be enrolled in a Florida public school for both October and February surveys of the previous year

• Be age 3 through grade 12 or age 22 (whichever comes first)

• Foster children and military dependents relocating to Florida may also qualify

🚫 Students identified only as “Gifted” (EP) are not eligible

💰 Scholarship Benefits

• Average Award: ~$10,000

• Funds are loaded into a flexible ESA that can be used for:

  • ✅ Private school tuition

  • ✅ Specialized therapies (speech, occupational, behavioral)

  • ✅ Tutors and curriculum

  • ✅ Assistive technology

  • ✅ College savings accounts

  • ✅ Homeschooling options

📋 Parent Responsibilities

1. File Intent to Participate before withdrawing from public school

2. Select a Participating Private School or coordinate with your school district for public placement

3. Submit Enrollment Documents, including:

   • School name and logo (letterhead)

   • Student’s full name and grade

   • Enrollment date (academic year)

   • Published tuition and fee schedule

4. Ensure On-Time Attendance and stay informed on deadlines

5. Pay Any Tuition Difference not covered by the scholarship

🔗 Parent Requirements Details

📅 Important Payment Schedule (Private School Option)

Note: Intent must be filed at least 60 days before the first payment to receive the full amount.

🏫 School Coordination

Public School Option

• Contact your district ESE department

• Schools must notify families of FES-UA eligibility by April 1 or within 10 days of an IEP/504 meeting

Private School Option

• Must be an approved FES-UA school

• Submit enrollment and fee documents before the payment deadlines
  🔗 Private School Responsibilities

📌 Quick Facts Summary

🔗 Helpful Links

• FES-UA Program Overview

• Eligibility Requirements

• Parent Responsibilities

Website: www.aaascholarships.org

The AAA Scholarship Foundation supports Florida students by providing scholarships for private school tuition and educational services. They administer the FTC, FES-EO, and FES-UA scholarships.

📝 Easy Steps for Using AAA Scholarships:

1. Apply through AAA’s Scholarship Portal

2. Submit your School Commitment Form (SCF) when awards are announced

3. Your selected private school completes their portion through the Scholarship Management Platform (SMP)

📅 SCFs become available after the state budget is finalized in Spring 2025
✅ Parents will be notified via email when it’s time to complete the SCF

🔗 Learn the 3 Steps

🗂️ Required Enrollment Documents for 2025–26:

To complete your SCF, you’ll need:

• School name/logo on official letterhead

• Student’s full name and grade

• Enrollment date

• Published tuition/fee schedule

📧 Email any questions to: info@aaascholarships.org

🔍 Need Help?

• For questions about AAA’s Scholarship Management Platform (SMP):

  • 📞 Call: 888-707-2465

  • 📧 Email:

    • FTC schools: FTCschools@aaascholarships.org

    • FES-UA schools: FES-UAschools@aaascholarships.org

📅 2025–2026 Scholarship Application Timeline

• Now Open: Step Up applications for all scholarships

• Spring 2025: AAA Scholarship award notifications and SCF submissions

• Fall 2025: Scholarship payments distributed directly to schools

Reach out to your school’s scholarship coordinator or visit the official sites:

• 🔗 Step Up For Students Scholarships

• 🔗 AAA Scholarship Foundation