Scholarship Programs Available to Florida Students – Apply Today!
Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf is a private non-profit organization that accepts many Florida State & Pinellas County scholarship programs offered through Step Up for Students and/or Early Learning Coalition. All Blossom families who are Florida residents are eligible and strongly encouraged to apply for a scholarship that your child qualifies for, and there are may different options to choose from.
Although these scholarships do cover a large portion of the student’s academic tuition, there will be a balance of tuition and fees that is not covered by your child’s approved scholarship. Parents and families are responsible to cover the remaining balance not covered by your child’s Step Up for Students scholarship award amount and/or required ELC parent fees.
Additional financial assistance may be available in the form of partial income-based private scholarship for families who may qualify based on financial need. Parents who feel they are in need of financial assistance may apply for a partial Blossom Private Scholarship by contacting Blossom’s Director, Julie Rutenberg at jrutenberg@blossomschool.org to express your request for an application which will need to be filled out and turned in with all required income documentation.
Scholarship recipients and their families are expected to fully participate in Blossom’s program. Parents regular attendance is required at scheduled school family events/activities/fundraisers. Parent email accounts and student communication planners are required to be checked daily, and all enrollment, paperwork and scholarship tasks must be completed as requested on timely basis. Students are required to arrive to school on time by no later than 8:30am and attend the entire academic day daily from 8:30am-3:15pm. Scholarships may be forfeited if student attendance requirements are not met.
Step Up For Students: Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (SUFS FES-UA)
Step Up for Students FES-UA Flyer-English Step Up for Students FES-UA Flyer-Spanish
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) helps parents individualize educational plans for their children with specific special needs or high risk. The program, previously called the McKay’s Scholarship, Gardiner Scholarship and Personal Learning Savings Account (PLSA) was changed to FES-UA in 2022.
A different kind of scholarship: FES-UA is different than other state scholarships in that it allows parents to personalize the education of their children with unique abilities by directing money toward a combination of programs and approved providers. These include schools, therapists, specialists, curriculum, technology – even a college savings account.
The FES-UA scholarship award amount varies according to grade, county of residence and disability. The average scholarship amount for most FES-UA students is worth around $10,000, and is based on a matrix level of 253.
The FES-UA scholarship is for Florida students 3 years old through 12th grade or age 22, whichever comes first, with one of the following disabilities: anaphylaxis, autism spectrum disorder, being a high-risk child, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, emotional or a behavior disability, hearing impairment including deafness, hospital or homebound as defined by the rules of State Board of Education and evidenced by reports from local school districts, identification as dual sensory impaired, intellectual disability (severe cognitive impairment), muscular dystrophy, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, rare diseases as defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders, specific learning disability, Spina bifida, Traumatic brain injury, Visual impairment including blindness, Williams syndrome. Also, students ages 3, 4 or 5 deemed “high risk” due to developmental delays may be eligible for the year they apply (please note: High Risk students must not be older than 5 on Sept. 1st).
FES-UA is based on specific Special Needs eligibility requirements that can be found on Step Up for Students’ website.
SUFS FES-UA Scholarship Information & Eligibility Requirements
SUFS FES-UA Scholarship Application Checklist
SUFS FES-UA How to Apply Video
SUFS FES-UA Create Parent EMA Account & Apply Online
SUFS FES-UA Scholarship Award Amounts 2023-2024
SUFS FES-UA Parent Handbook 2023-2024
For more information on SUFS FES-UA, please visit www.stepupforstudents.org.
Step Up For Students: Family Empowerment Educational Options Scholarship (SUFS FES-EO) / Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (SUFS FTC)
Step Up for Students FES-EO / FTC Scholarship Flyer-English Step Up for Students FES-EO / FTC Scholarship Flyer-Spanish
Step Up for Students believes every student deserves a choice. Education isn’t one-size-fits-all. Just as every student is different, every classroom is different, and every school is different. Students learn best in an academic environment that is best suited to their learning needs.
Step Up For Students supports Florida students and families in building a stronger future through personalized education. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) and The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC).
K-12 students regardless of household income, who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school, can receive a scholarship worth an average of $7,800 to attend a private school that best meets their academic needs. The scholarship can be used for tuition along with other related expenses such as registration, books, testing, and other fees.
Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and can be transferred to other eligible private schools if the student moves within the state, or simply wants to attend a different Step Up partner school.
Scholarships can also be used for transportation for K-12 students who would like the option of attending a public school that is a better fit than the one they’ve been assigned. Students can receive at least $750 to be used for transportation.
Who is Eligible? As of July 1, 2023, scholarships will be available to all students, regardless of household income, who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school.
Priority will be given to families whose household income is 400% of poverty or below as outlined in the income priority guidelines or who meet the following criteria:
SUFS FES-EO / FTC Scholarship Application Checklist
SUFS FES-EO / FTC How to Apply Video
SUFS FES-EO / FTC Create Parent EMA Account & Apply Online
SUFS FES-EO / FTC Scholarship Award Amounts 2023-2024
SUFS FES-EO Parent Handbook 2023-2024
SUFS FTC Parent Handbook 2023-2024
For more information on FES-EO / FTC, please visit www.stepupforstudents.org.
Step Up For Students: Hope Scholarship (SUFS Hope)
Step Up for Students Hope Scholarship Flyer-English Step Up for Students Hope Scholarship Flyer-Spanish
Step Up for Students offers the Hope Scholarship to provide a fresh start for students who may have experienced harassment, hazing, intimidation, assault or other types of bullying at school may suffer academically. They may continue to feel threatened in a place where they should feel secure and comfortable.
The Hope Scholarship supports families in finding a safe academic environment where their K-12 students who have experienced bullying can thrive. The scholarship provides funds that can be used to attend a private school or a public school in a different district.
SUFS HOPE Scholarship Information & Eligibility Requirements
SUFS HOPE Scholarship Application Checklist & Additional Documentation Requirement – Step Up For Students will need the Hope Scholarship Notification Form (Form IEPC-HS1) that the parent received from the public school’s principal or his/her designee that notates the student’s eligibility for the Hope Scholarship
SUFS HOPE Create Parent Account & Apply Online
SUFS HOPE Scholarship Award Amounts 2023-2024
SUFS HOPE Parent Handbook 2023-2024
For more information on SUFS HOPE, please visit www.stepupforstudents.org.
Early Learning Coalition: School Readiness Scholarship (ELC SR)
Children from low to moderate-income working families or with other identified risk factors, may receive scholarships to attend an early education program. Eligibility is determined by the parents’ income and must not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level. Children ages birth to 13 years are eligible for scholarship. Exceptions may be made for older children with special needs. Participants in this program receive a developmentally appropriate curriculum, character education and vision, hearing and developmental screening. Additionally, this program allows parents to focus on professional and educational goals and begin to break the poverty cycle. Intake and eligibility are administered by Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County.
If you or your child meets criteria, you may be eligible for child care services at reduced or no cost, offered by the Office of Early Learning in the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI). School Readiness scholarships are administered through Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County.
To review the maximum allowable family income for School Readiness Scholarship, please visit https//.elcpinellas.org/for-families/school-readiness-programs/.
If you meet all qualifications and income guidelines above, you may apply on-line for an ELC School Readiness Scholarship.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to register online, you must be able to upload the required documents individually in a PDF format.
Steps for Online ELC SR Registration
Simply follow the directions below to enroll your child online:
For more information call ELC’s School Readiness Eligibility line at 727-400-4411, option 3, then option 3 / or visit their website at https//.elcpinellas.org/for-families/school-readiness-programs/.
ELC Administrative Offices
2536 Countryside Blvd #500, Clearwater, FL 33763
Main Phone: 727-400-4411
Email: info@elcpinellas.net
Early Learning Coalition: Voluntary Pre-K Scholarship (ELC VPK)
(Blossom must have 4 or more VPK students enrolled to participate in this program. The VPK program will NOT be offered during the 2023-2024 School Year)
Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) is a legislatively mandated program designed to prepare every four-year-old in Florida for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. The VPK program gives each child an opportunity to perform better in school and throughout life with quality programs that include high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes, and qualified instructors. All eligible four-year-olds are entitled to participate in one of the VPK program options.
The VPK program is FREE for all four-year-olds born on or before September 1 who reside in Florida. However, it is only FREE for 3 hours in the morning. Blossom’s VPK hours are 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
The VPK program and has high quality standards that include:
To help answer your questions or concerns about Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK), VPK staff are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00am until 5:00pm by calling the ELC’s VPK line at 727-400-4411, option 3, then option 1.
Parents/Guardians may learn more on eligibility and how to enroll their children in the Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program (VPK) by visiting http://elcpinellas.org/for-families/voluntary-pre-kindergarten/. Children will not be officially enrolled until all steps are completed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to register online, you must be able to upload the required documents individually in a PDF format.
Steps for Online ELC VPK Registration
Simply follow the directions below to enroll your child online:
For more information call ELC’s VPK line at 727-400-4411, option 3, then option 1 / or visit their website at https://elcpinellas.org/for-families/voluntary-pre-kindergarten/.
ELC Administrative Offices
2536 Countryside Blvd #500, Clearwater, FL 33763
Main Phone: 727-400-4411
Email: info@elcpinellas.net
**Please note: Blossom must have 4 or more VPK students enrolled to participate in this program. The VPK program will NOT be offered during the 2023-2024 School Years.**
Blossom Private Scholarship
In an effort to assist every student and family that can benefit from the unique educational environment at Blossom, we have set up the Blossom Private Scholarship Program, which may provide a partial income-based scholarship to qualified families in need of financial assistance. Through an application process that is designed to ascertain the specific financial needs of each family, we carefully evaluate each application in order to provide financial assistance whenever possible.to help cover a portion
Blossom Private Scholarships may aid in covering a portion of the balance tuition not covered by an approved state/county scholarship award amount. Please note: school year fees, field trip fees, and before & after care fees are NOT covered by private scholarships.
The Blossom Scholarship Program is funded through various fundraising events throughout each year and through the generous contributions of the board and other members of the community.
Questions or assistance request for applying online for a state/county scholarship program?
Contact our Associate Director, Colette Derks – cderks@blossomschool.org
Questions or application request for a partial income-based Blossom Private Scholarship to help cover a portion of the balance tuition not covered by your child’s approved scholarship award amount?
Contact our Director, Julie Rutenberg – jrutenberg@blossomschool.org
Questions or payment plan request for the balance tuition & fees not covered by your child’s approved scholarship award amount?
Contact our Business Manager, Tara Bonano – tbonano@blossomschool.org
