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Florida · Step Up scholarships guide

How to apply for Florida FES/FTC scholarships 2027-28

When Florida FES-EO, FES-UA and FTC scholarship applications are expected to open for 2027-28, the deadlines to watch, and how award amounts vary by county and grade.

Where do families apply for Florida FES/FTC scholarships?

The Florida FES/FTC scholarships are state programs set in s.1002.394 and s.1002.395, Florida Statutes. Families apply online through one of two scholarship organizations, Step Up For Students or the AAA Scholarship Foundation, on their official sites. This site is an independent directory. It is not affiliated with the state, the program or either organization, and it cannot take or submit an application for you.

When does the 2027-28 application open?

The 2027-28 dates are not yet published. The official 2027-28 interest list page says applications are not being accepted yet.

Applications for 2027-28 are projected to open around 1 Feb 2027 and close around 15 Nov 2027; no official date was published when we checked. (source: flsenate.gov, checked 29 Sep 2026)

The November 15 date is the projected end for new Private School and Unique Abilities applications. Renewals and new Personalized Education Program (PEP) applications are projected to end April 30, 2027.

The expected date follows the pattern of past years. Applications opened on February 1 in both 2025 and 2026, and s.1002.394 says the process may begin no earlier than February 1 and must accept applications until November 15.

What are the deadlines for new and renewing students?

For 2026-27, according to the Step Up For Students 2026-27 dates and its deadlines FAQ:

  • Renewals ran February 1 to April 30, 2026. Renewals filed later are processed as new applications. Renewing families accept or decline by May 31.
  • New students for the Private School Scholarship (FES-EO and FTC) and the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA): the 2026-27 window is February 1 to November 15, 2026, and families accept or decline by December 15.
  • New PEP students: February 1 to April 30, 2026.

For 2027-28 these dates are PROJECTED, not published: renewals by April 30, 2027, and new Private School and Unique Abilities applications by November 15, 2027. The April 30 renewal end and the November 15 date for FES are set in s.1002.394; the November 15 date for new FTC students is the scholarship organizations' practice.

How much is a Florida FES/FTC scholarship?

The amount depends on the county you live in and your child's grade band. Here is one county as an example, for 2026-27:

The amount follows the county where the student lives, not the county of the school. Each school page on this site shows the amount for students living in the school's own county; if you live in another county, look up your county's amount in Step Up For Students' award table. FES-UA awards depend on each student's matrix level, so this site does not estimate them. Amounts for 2027-28 are not yet published.

How does renewal work?

The statute sets a renewal timeline from February 1 to April 30 (s.1002.394, s.1002.395). A renewal filed after April 30 is processed as a new application, according to Step Up For Students.

What can you do before the window opens?

Use the time to look at schools. Build a shortlist on this site, compare tuition and program status side by side, and see on each school's page what it may cost after the scholarship amount for students living in its county.

Where do the dates on this page come from?

Dates link to their sources where shown, and the page footer shows the day we last checked them. Dates marked projected or expected are our estimate from past years, not a published date. The official site always has the final word.

Verified on 2026-09-29

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