Does My Child Qualify for a Step Up For Students Scholarship?

As a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization, Step Up For Students is dedicated to providing Florida students with the education they need and deserve. Step Up For Students offers several scholarships to Florida students who may otherwise not have the resources to obtain the benefits of private education. Below, we’ll be looking at the requirements for students wishing to qualify for Step Up For Students in Clearwater, FL.

The Income-Based Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship

The age requirement for the FTC scholarship is five years old for students entering kindergarten and six years old for students entering first grade. They must reach this age on or before the first of September. A child may be eligible for an FTC scholarship for any of the following reasons:

  • A member of the household receives food stamps or federal assistance  
  • The household income qualifies the student for a free or reduced-price lunch
  • The household income is at or below the amounts indicated in the Step Up For Students eligibility chart
  • The child is homeless, in foster care, or in out-of-home care

Gardiner Scholarship

The Gardiner scholarship better allows parents of children with special needs and unique abilities to individualize their child’s education. Students between the ages of 3 and 22 who have yet to complete the 12th grade may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship. Your child may qualify for the Gardiner scholarship if they have:  

  • A qualifying disability or impairment  
  • A rare disease  
  • Developmental delays

Your child may also qualify if they are hospital or homebound. Please click here for the full list of qualifying disabilities, impairments, and requirements.

Reading Scholarship

The Reading scholarship helps students that are struggling with reading. Students in the third- through fifth grades who score a 2 or less on the English Language Arts section of the Florida Standards Assessment for the previous year may qualify for this program.

Please visit Step Up For Students to apply and view all scholarships, requirements, deadlines, and benefits. All students, no matter their background or abilities, are entitled to a private education at a Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, like Lakeside Christian School.

The above scholarships are in high demand, so be sure to apply. We invite you to come by for a tour or shadow day at Lakeside Christian School and see firsthand what your child’s education and future could be.

If you would like to learn more about Lakeside Christian School, one of the Step Up For Students participating schools in Clearwater, FL, please give us a call at (727) 239-7808 or schedule a tour of our campus.