In Florida, the demand for education choice scholarships has reached new heights. Over 120,000 students applied for various state scholarships in just the first two days of the application period for the 2025-26 school year. This record-breaking surge highlights the growing interest in school choice programs, which allow families to choose how and where their children are educated.
The organization that runs most of these scholarships, Step Up For Students, reported that by the end of the weekend, over 120,000 students had submitted applications. This is the highest number of applications they have ever seen in such a short period. According to Travis Pillow, a director at Step Up for Students, the demand is a clear indication of how important these programs are for Florida families.
Types of Scholarships and How Many Students Applied
A significant portion of the applications, about 63,400, were for scholarships that help pay for private school tuition. This includes 51,861 students renewing their scholarships and 11,533 new applicants. In addition to the private school tuition scholarships, more than 33,900 students applied for Unique Abilities Scholarships. These scholarships are designed for students with special needs, allowing them to customize their education to better suit their individual requirements.
There was also a strong interest in the Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarships, which assist families who homeschool or have children attending part-time school. Around 25,700 students applied for PEP scholarships. Of these, 20,572 were renewal applications, while 5,081 were new.
Why the Surge in Applications?
The rapid increase in scholarship applications isn’t surprising to Step Up For Students. They’ve been preparing for this high demand, ensuring that their systems could handle the volume. In fact, the nonprofit organization reported that their technology systems experienced no downtime over the weekend. Furthermore, 84% of families who called for assistance were very satisfied with the help they received, and 90% had their issues resolved on the first call.
Step Up For Students CEO, Gretchen Schoenhaar, emphasized that the organization is committed to offering excellent service to families throughout the process.
Florida’s School Choice Programs Are Growing
According to Step Up For Students, over 500,000 students in Florida are now using the state’s K-12 scholarship programs. This makes Florida the leader in the country when it comes to school choice. In fact, if these 500,000 students were treated as a single school district, it would be the largest school district in the state and the third-largest in the entire United States.
For families who already have scholarships, the deadline to renew for the 2025-26 school year is April 30. Families who want to apply for a Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship must also do so by this date.
For private school scholarships and Unique Abilities Scholarships, the application period is open until November 15. Families can apply for these scholarships until then, or they can renew their current scholarships if they didn’t do so by the April deadline.
Conclusion
The record-breaking number of applications shows just how much families in Florida value the opportunity to choose their children’s education. With more scholarships available, more students are gaining access to options that work best for their unique needs and learning styles. As the demand for these programs continues to grow, Florida remains at the forefront of school choice in the United States.
(Source : newsbreak.com)
