Ibrahim Gardner
Step Up For Students is a Florida-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides scholarships to low-income students, bullied students, and students with special needs. The program is funded through private corporate donations, with donors receiving a 100% tax credit for their contributions. Step Up offers scholarships for private school tuition, transportation, books, tutoring, and other educational resources. While the organization primarily focuses on Pre-K to 12 education, some scholarships include access to a college savings account. This paragraph introduces the topic of whether Step Up For Students pays for college and provides an overview of the organization's scholarship programs, eligibility criteria, and the types of expenses covered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Organization | 501(c)3 nonprofit |
| Location | Florida |
| Students Supported | Low income, bullied, with special needs |
| Scholarship Amount | Up to $8000 per student on average |
| Scholarship Coverage | Private school tuition, transportation, books, tutoring, therapies, etc. |
| Scholarship Programs | Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC), Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA), Personalized Education Program (PEP), New Worlds Scholarship Accounts |
| Scholarship Eligibility | Household income, student needs, previous year's public school attendance |
| Funding | Private corporate donations, Florida state legislature |
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What You'll Learn
- Step Up for Students is a nonprofit scholarship program in Florida
- It provides financial aid for low-income students to attend private schools
- Scholarships cover tuition, transportation, books, tutoring, and therapies
- The average scholarship is $8,000, but amounts vary based on need
- The program is funded by corporate donations and state funding
Step Up for Students is a nonprofit scholarship program in Florida
The program is funded through private corporate donations, with donors receiving a 100% tax credit for their contributions. Step Up for Students manages five scholarship programs, awarding approximately 99% of the scholarships in the state. These include the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC), the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), and the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA).
The FTC Scholarship is funded through corporate tax credits, while the FES-EO Scholarship is funded directly by the state. The FES-EO Scholarship is best suited for families who need financial assistance to send their children to private school. The FES-UA Scholarship, formerly known as the Gardiner Scholarship, covers specialized therapies and learning resources for students with disabilities.
The scholarships provide an average of $8,000 in financial assistance for private school tuition and related costs, with some scholarships offering up to $50,000 per year based on student needs. Transportation scholarships to attend out-of-district public schools are $750, and the program is currently capped at $873 million in donations.
Step Up For Students is committed to ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent students from receiving a high-quality, personalized education. The program offers a crucial opportunity for families to secure financial assistance and customize their child's learning experience.
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It provides financial aid for low-income students to attend private schools
Step Up For Students is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organisation in Florida that provides financial aid for low-income students to attend private schools. It was created as part of a merger between Florida's two largest scholarship organisations, Florida P.R.I.D.E and Children First, which was founded by Tampa Bay businessman John Kirtley. The scholarship program allows donors to receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits for contributions to nonprofits offering scholarships to low-income students in Florida. The program is intended to offer low-income students scholarships to attend private schools through school choice and is funded through private corporate donations. Donors receive a 100% tax credit for their contributions. The scholarships cover private school tuition, transportation, books, and other approved educational expenses.
The scholarships provided by Step Up For Students are primarily aimed at low-income students, with eligibility determined by household size and income compared to the federal poverty level (FPL). The income eligibility for the scholarships is based on a percentage of the FPL, which changes annually. For example, in 2024, the estimated income limit for eligibility was 185% of the FPL for first-priority families. In addition to financial need, Step Up For Students also considers other factors such as academic performance and extracurricular involvement when awarding scholarships.
The organisation offers multiple scholarship programs, each catering to different student needs. One of the main scholarships is the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC), which is funded through corporate tax credits. The FTC scholarship provides an average of $8,000 per student, but amounts can vary based on school tuition and program eligibility. Another scholarship offered is the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), which enables families to personalise their child's education by directing funds to areas such as therapists, specialists, curriculum, private school tuition, and a college savings account. The FES-UA scholarship also covers specialised therapies and learning resources for students with disabilities.
Step Up For Students has made a significant impact in Florida, raising $618 million in 2019 and awarding scholarships to more than 150,000 students in the 2020-21 school year. The organisation empowers families to pursue the most appropriate learning options for their children, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent students from receiving a high-quality education.
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Scholarships cover tuition, transportation, books, tutoring, and therapies
Step Up For Students is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Florida that provides scholarships to low-income students, bullied students, and students with special needs. The organization was created through a merger between Florida's two largest scholarship organizations, Florida P.R.I.D.E and Children First, which was founded by Tampa Bay businessman John Kirtley.
The scholarships offered by Step Up For Students cover various expenses, including tuition, transportation, books, tutoring, and therapies. Here are the key details:
Tuition
The scholarships can be used to cover tuition fees for private schools. The average scholarship amount for private school tuition is $7,000, while the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) can provide up to $10,000 for tuition and fees.
Transportation
Step Up For Students offers transportation scholarships to help students attend out-of-district public schools. The transportation stipend is $750 per household for K-8 students.
Books and Educational Resources
The scholarships also cover the cost of textbooks and other educational resources. This includes curriculum, technology, and instructional materials.
Tutoring
Step Up For Students scholarships support tutoring services, helping students who need additional academic support or enrichment. The New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, for example, can be used for fees related to tutoring and after-school or summer programs.
Therapies
The organization's scholarships can also be used to cover the cost of therapies for students with special needs. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) specifically mentions providing funds for therapists and related expenses.
In summary, Step Up For Students scholarships go beyond tuition fees, recognizing the diverse needs of students and their families. By covering transportation, books, tutoring, and therapies, the scholarships aim to create a more equitable learning environment and enhance each student's educational experience.
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The average scholarship is $8,000, but amounts vary based on need
Step Up For Students is a Florida-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to low-income students, bullied students, and students with special needs. The program is funded through private corporate donations, and donors receive a 100% tax credit for their contributions. The average scholarship amount is $8,000, but it's important to note that the amounts can vary depending on the student's needs and the specific scholarship program.
The scholarship programs offered by Step Up For Students include the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO). These scholarships provide financial assistance for private school tuition and related costs, with an average award of $8,000. This amount can vary based on the student's needs and the cost of tuition. Additionally, the FES-EO scholarship is directly funded by the state.
Another scholarship offered is the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA), which enables families to personalize their child's education by directing funds to areas of greatest need. This includes private school tuition, therapies, tutoring, and even a college savings account. While the average scholarship is $8,000, the FES-UA can provide up to $50,000 per year, depending on the student's unique circumstances.
The Hope Scholarship is another important initiative by Step Up For Students. This scholarship helps students facing bullying, harassment, or safety concerns in public schools transfer to a private school with financial assistance. It ensures a safe and supportive learning environment for students who may struggle in their current educational setting.
It's worth noting that Step Up For Students also provides transportation stipends of $750 per household to support families with the costs of traveling to out-of-district public schools. Additionally, they offer the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts to assist students struggling with math and reading, providing funds for tutoring, instructional materials, and curriculum.
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The program is funded by corporate donations and state funding
The Step Up For Students program is a Florida-based scholarship initiative that provides financial assistance to eligible students, allowing them to attend private schools or access additional educational resources. The program is funded through private corporate donations and state funding, with donors receiving a 100% tax credit for their contributions.
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC), one of the scholarship programs administered by Step Up For Students, is funded through corporate tax credits. This scholarship offers an average of $8,000 in financial assistance for private school tuition and related costs, and is available to all Florida students eligible for K-12 public school, regardless of household income. The FTC program was initiated by former Florida governor Jeb Bush in 2001 and began offering scholarships in 2002.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES-EO) is another scholarship program offered by Step Up For Students. This scholarship is directly funded by the state and is best suited for families who need financial assistance to send their children to private schools. The FES-EO provides an average of $8,000 in financial assistance, with award amounts varying based on student needs and school tuition costs.
In addition to the FTC and FES-EO scholarships, Step Up For Students also offers the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA), which is available to students with special needs. This scholarship enables families to personalize their child's education by directing funds to areas such as private school tuition, therapies, tutoring, and even a college savings account. The FES-UA provides an average award of $10,000, but amounts can go up to $50,000 per year depending on student needs.
Step Up For Students also provides transportation stipends of $750 per household to support the costs associated with traveling to a public school other than the one the student is assigned to. The program raised $618 million in 2019, making it the 21st largest nonprofit corporation in the U.S., according to Forbes. With this funding, Step Up awarded scholarships to more than 150,000 students in the 2020-21 school year.
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Frequently asked questions
Step Up for Students is a nonprofit organisation in Florida that provides scholarships to low-income students, bullied students, and students with special needs.
The scholarship covers private school tuition, transportation, books, tutoring, and other approved educational expenses.
The scholarship can pay up to $8,000 per student on average, but amounts vary based on school tuition and program eligibility. The FES-UA scholarship can provide up to $50,000 per year for students with disabilities.
Eligibility is determined by household size and income compared to the federal poverty level (FPL). For example, for the 2019-20 school year, eligible students must live in a household with an income that does not exceed 300% of the Federal poverty level ($77,250 for a family of four).
You can apply for the scholarship through the Step Up for Students website. Applications for the scholarship are typically due by February 28, and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is recommended to apply as early as possible.
