Expanding opportunity for Florida students through federal scholarship tax credits

When Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that Florida will take part in the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, it opened the door to providing families with even more options for their children’s K-12 education.

Step Up For Students will be waiting on the other side to assist families, just as it has for nearly 25 years, administering Florida’s education choice scholarship programs.

The federal program, which will begin in 2027, allows individual taxpayers to contribute to approved scholarship-granting organizations, enabling students from a wide range of backgrounds to pursue learning environments and educational resources that best fit their needs.

Step Up, the nation’s largest education choice scholarship funding organization, currently serves more than 528,000 students receiving state education choice scholarships. Under the new federal law, it will participate by establishing the Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The federal tax credit creates additional funding streams that build upon the choice options Florida already offers, helping students thrive regardless of ZIP code. Students in public and private schools will benefit from resources supporting tuition, tutoring, educational tools, technology, and specialized academic programs.

For more information and to receive updates in the coming months, please visit the Step Up, Step Further website.

By joining the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, Florida is expanding parental choice and empowering families to find the education that best meets their children’s needs. Step Up For Students, through the Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund, stands ready to partner with taxpayers who want to make a meaningful difference for students statewide.

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Lauren May is vice president of the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit at Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund.