Scholarship season is upon us! Applications for Step Up for Students are expected to open in the next few weeks. We know it can be stressful and want to help you be successful in this process.

Please note: Although the new law states that all families are eligible for private school scholarships, you will still need to apply in order to get the funds, even if you are a renewal or waitlisted family.

Below are important scholarship guidelines from Teach Florida:

FES-EO/FTC Scholarships are now called “private school scholarships” instead of “income-based scholarships.”

The new law does not go into effect until 7/1/2023, therefore applicants will need to provide income information for the private school scholarship application. However, it will not impact your eligibility.

Pro-Tip: If you have created an account on Step Up for Students in the past, make sure you know your username and password information. You will be switching to a new portal called EMA after applications open. New, Renewal and Waitlisted families will have to create a new account in EMA. Once you create a new account, renewal and waitlisted families will be asked for the old username and password to merge your students from the old portal to the new one. Website traffic will be extremely heavy when applications open and resetting your password will take time. So please save yourself the trouble and retrieve your login information now!

What can you do today to prepare? 

  1. Make sure you know your login information!
    • If you are a renewal or waitlisted family, write down your login username and password from the old portal. You’ll need it in EMA (the new portal) to merge your students for renewal status. You cannot use autofill to link your old portal with the new portal. (Double check your login info now to make sure it works!)
      • For the Step Up scholarship (FES-EO/FTC) check your login information here: login.sufs.org
      • For the Gardiner scholarship (FES-UA) check your login information here: gardiner.sufs.org
  2. Sign up to be notified by Teach Florida and Step Up for Students:
    • Sign Up for notifications from Teach Florida
    • Sign up for notifications from Step Up for Students for the “Private School” scholarships
    • Sign up for notifications from Step Up for Students for the “Unique Ability” scholarships
  3. Prepare your Documents:
    • Private School Scholarship – (FES-EO/FTC Educational Options) Renewal Applicants 
      • Know your current Step Up for Students login username and password from the old portal (You will choose “Find Students” on the new portal to link your students once applications open)
        Important: Do not “add a student” or you will lose your priority status!!!!!!
      • Proof of Florida residency for both parents in the household (eg. Valid Driver’s License or Recent Utility Bill – within the last 2 months)
      • Birth Certificate for incoming Kindergarten or 1st grade
      • If you are renewal family adding a new student to the application, only click “add a student” AFTER you’ve already found your current renewal students. You will then need to include income documentation from the last 30 days if you want to take priority 1 or priority 2 status.
        • If you are employed: April paystubs, or
        • If you are self-employed: April profit & loss statement (a simple template is acceptable).
        • Non-priority status (above 400% of federal poverty level by household size): If you are above 400% income and do not want to include income documentation, you can complete the 1070 Non-Income Priority Form attached below and fill in your Total Household income without any accompanying documentation. 
    • Private School Scholarship – (FES-EO/FTC Educational Options) New Applicants 
        • Proof of Florida residency for both parents in the household (preferred proof of residency valid Driver’s license or recent utility bill – within the last two months. Other proof of residency options are health insurance, medicaid, income documentation, or residential lease)
        • Birth Certificate for incoming Kindergarten or 1st grade
        • If you want to take priority 1 or priority 2 status, you will need to provide Income documentation from the last 30 days for all members above age of 18.
          • If you are employed: pay stubs from the 30 consecutive days closest to when you submit your application
          • Any other sources of income such as unemployment benefits, social security benefits, or child support benefits
          • If you are self-employed: April profit & loss statement (a simple template is acceptable)
          • Non-priority status (above 400% of federal poverty level by household size): If you are above 400% income and do not want to include income documentation, you can complete the 1070 Non-Income Priority Form attached below and fill in your Total Household income without any accompanying documentation. 
    • FES-UA Unique Abilities – Renewal Applicants 
        • Know your current Gardiner login username and password from the old portal (You will choose “Find Students” on the new portal to link your students once applications open)
          Important: Do not “add a student” or you will lose your priority status!!!!!!
        • Proof of residency for one adult, primary or secondary parent (eg. Valid Driver’s License or Recent Utility Bill – within the last 2 months)
        • Children’s social security numbers
    • FES-UA Unique Abilities – New Applicants 
        • Proof of residency for one adult, primary or secondary parent (eg. Valid Driver’s License or Recent Utility Bill – within the last 2 months)
        • Birth Certificate for a student ages 3 to 6
        • Social Security Numbers for the parents and students
        • Proof of diagnosis that fits one of the eligible unique abilities categories (new diagnosis letter from a Dr. or psychologist, IEP, or educational evaluation)
    • FES-UA Unique Abilities – Waitlisted Applicants 
        • Know your current Gardiner login username and password from the old portal (You will choose “Find Students” on the new portal to link your students once applications open)
          Important: Do not “add a student” or you will lose your priority status!!!!!!
        • Proof of residency for one adult, primary or secondary parent (eg. Valid Driver’s License or Recent Utility Bill – within the last 2 months)
        • Proof of diagnosis (Use the one already submitted last year)
        • Social security numbers for the parents and children

    • How does Teach Florida support our families?

            • Teach Florida sends out scholarship communication and guidance to parents, schools, and communities.
            • Scholarship Nights – we will be available nightly when applications open to guide you through the application process.
            • Teach Florida Webpage  – You can submit a question, read our FAQ’s, and check eligibility.

      What about AAA Scholarships? 

            • AAA Scholarships is already open but there have been many issues related to their requirements for renewal families receiving the FTC/FES-EO scholarship.
            • Best Practice: FTC/FES-EO Renewal and sibling families should apply with Step Up and upload their AAA award letter from 2022-2023. FES-UA Renewal families should renew with AAA.

      FAQs

            • When do I apply? Keep an eye out for notifications from Step Up for Students and Teach Florida towards the end of April or beginning of May for when applications will open.
            • Where do I apply? We recommend applying through Step Up for Students when applications open. There is a new platform called EMA (Educational Management Assistant) through Step Up for Students that you will need to register for once applications open.
            • How much money will I be receiving? The award amounts have not yet been released but it is based on your county of residence and child’s grade. Here are last year’s amounts.
            • How can the private school scholarship be used? For tuition and fees, educational curriculum, and academic tutoring.
            • How can the unique abilities scholarship be used? For all the uses of the private school scholarship and in addition: approved therapies, educational technology, and 529 prepaid college funds.
            • Can the private school scholarship be used at all private schools?  The scholarship can only be used at an eligible private who has completed the state compliance process. Florida Private School Directory to find an eligible private school
            • How can I find out if my private school qualifies? You can use the private school directory  or ask your school directly if they have gone through the state compliance process.
            • Can a student already receiving an income-based scholarship qualify for this private school scholarship in addition? The scholarships cannot be combined so if your child is already receiving a scholarship, they would not be eligible for additional funding. Their current scholarship will be replaced by the private school scholarship.
            • Can I apply for both the private school scholarship and unique abilities scholarship if I have a child attending private school with a disability? You can apply for both, but once awarded you would need to choose between the scholarships.
            • If I am waitlisted for the unique ability scholarship this year, am I guaranteed funding for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year? Yes, as long as you reapply when open enrollment begins. The new bill expands the enrollment cap to cover the existing waitlist.

       

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