5 Things Florida Parents Need to Know About K–12 Scholarships
What to check, prepare, and follow in Florida’s scholarship system — including how FES-EO and FTC work, what schools qualify, and how to avoid common application snags.
Introduction
Florida’s scholarship landscape can feel complex at first, but most families only need a few key checkpoints to get started confidently. Here are the five most important things to know before you apply.
1) The main program is FES-EO, and it works like an ESA
Florida’s primary universal private-school scholarship is the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO). It operates alongside the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship. Both provide eligible K–12 students with funds held in an account that can pay tuition and other approved educational costs.
Awards vary by county and grade level. Funds are typically deposited multiple times per year. Tuition and required school fees are paid first, and remaining funds (if any) can be used only on approved expenses.
2) Your school must be in the FLDOE directory and approved by an SFO
A private school must appear in Florida’s Directory of Private Schools, but that listing alone does not mean a scholarship can be used there. To use FES-EO or FTC funds, the school must also be approved by a Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO).
Before selecting a school, confirm both (1) state directory listing and (2) the SFO’s participating-school list.
3) Applications go through SFOs on their timelines
Florida does not use a single statewide scholarship portal for these programs. Parents apply through approved SFOs (for example, Step Up For Students or AAA), and each SFO sets its own renewal and new-application timelines.
Renewal families typically apply first early in the year. New applicants are usually reviewed after renewals, depending on available funds and the SFO’s schedule. The key is to submit a complete application early.
4) Most Florida students can apply — but priority rules matter
Most K–12 Florida residents who are eligible for public school can apply, but priority may apply when funding or timing is limited. Priority commonly favors returning students (and often siblings), lower-income families, children in foster/out-of-home care, and certain military families.
Be prepared to provide identity, residency, and citizenship/lawful-presence documents. Missing or unreadable documents can delay review and reduce your place in line.
5) Know the rules for keeping your scholarship
For private-school students, scholarship funds generally pay tuition and required fees first. Any remaining funds may be used only for approved expenses such as curriculum, tutoring, online classes, tests, therapies, or certain technology — depending on program rules.
Scholarships can end if a student returns to full-time public school, moves out of state, graduates, or if funds are used in non-approved ways. Always follow the SFO’s spending and documentation rules.
