Soon, students across the United States will have access to even more choice, and even more resources to further their education.
Introducing the Step Up, Step Further Scholarship. This new program originated from a federal scholarship tax credit law passed in 2025. The tax credit allows donations to a Scholarship Governance Organization (SGO) in exchange for up to a $1,700 nonrefundable tax credit to the donor.
The donations become a scholarship pool of funds that can be awarded to students in K-12 in BOTH public and private schools. Once the state of Florida opts in to the program, Florida families with incomes up to 3 times the median income of their area are eligible to apply for the funds. Scholarships will help cover tuition costs, technology, transportation, educational products, tutoring, and specialized educational needs.
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VALRICO – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday morning that Florida will opt in to the nationwide Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program established in August by the Trump Administration. The federal program, which will launch in 2027, is designed to bring education choice to families across the country. In doing so, it will give families from coast to coast what those in Florida have enjoyed for more than 20 years […]
Step Up For Students, the nation’s largest education choice scholarship funding organization, applauds Gov. Ron DeSantis for announcing today that Florida will participate in the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program
Lauren May, Vice President Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, Step Up For Students, joined Ginny Gentles recently on the Freedom To Learn Podcast to dispel education freedom myths, explain how Florida became a national leader in educational choice, and discuss what to expect from the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. Lauren shares her journey from […]
By Ron Matus Happy New Year and heads up! We have big news and a small ask. The big news: The brand-new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will strengthen Step Up scholarships in a historic way when it kicks off one year from now. We are still awaiting details. But most of us will be able […]
Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program Launch – 2027 For decades, education in America has been defined by boundaries, district lines, ZIP codes, and income brackets. These invisible walls have shaped futures, often limiting opportunities for students who deserve more. But in 2027, those walls are coming down. The Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program is rewriting the rules […]
For generations, a child’s future has been tethered to their ZIP code. Where you live often determines the quality of your education, and for millions of families, that reality has felt like an unbreakable chain. But what if we could change that? What if every child, regardless of income, neighborhood, or circumstance, had the freedom to attend a school […]
For years, Florida families have seen the transformative power of Step Up For Students scholarships. These programs have opened doors to better schools, personalized learning, and resources that help students thrive. But imagine what happens when those opportunities multiply. In 2027, families won’t just rely on their Florida state scholarship—they’ll be able to add a federal scholarship on […]
