Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Requirements, How to Apply and Contact

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTCS) program offers financial aid to Florida resident students to empower them to choose the educational environment that best suits their needs.

This program awards scholarships to attend private schools, including religious-based institutions.

If you’re a Florida resident who is considering private school for your child, understanding the FTC scholarship’s requirements and application process is very necessary.

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Requirements

As of July 1, 2023, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program became universally available to all Florida resident students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 in a public school.

However, priority for receiving scholarships is still given to certain groups:

1. Students from low-income families: Priority goes to students whose household income falls at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
2. Students in foster care or out-of-home care: Children in the foster care system or placed in out-of-home care receive priority consideration.
3. Previously enrolled students: Students who were already receiving scholarships in the 2022-2023 school year under the FTC program or its sibling program, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, will continue to be prioritized.
4. Students from middle-income families: After prioritizing the groups above, scholarships are then awarded to students from families with household income exceeding 185% of the FPL but not exceeding 400% of the FPL.

It’s important to note that income eligibility is just one factor.

Scholarship funding organizations (SFOs) have the discretion to establish additional criteria for awarding scholarships.

Some of these extra criteria include; academic achievement or a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) needs.

These are some additional requirements to keep in mind:

1. Students must be legal residents of Florida.
2. Students must be attending a participating private school within the state.
3. Homeschooled students are not eligible for the FTC program.

How to Apply for Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program itself doesn’t have a direct application process. Instead, students apply for scholarships through participating SFOs. 

These organizations manage the application process, determine scholarship awards, and distribute funds to the chosen private schools.

This is a general breakdown of the application process:

1. Research SFOs: Several SFOs operate within Florida. You can find a list on the Florida Department of Education website https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/.
2. Choose an SFO: Consider factors like the SFO’s scholarship amount, application deadlines, and any specific eligibility criteria they may have.
3. Contact your chosen SFO: Visit the SFO’s website or contact them directly to inquire about their application process and deadlines.
4. Complete the SFO application: Applications will vary by SFO, but they will usually require student information, household income verification, and potentially standardized test scores or report cards.
5. Submit your application: Ensure you meet all deadlines set by the chosen SFO.

It is important to note that applying to one SFO does not prevent you from applying to others.

You can increase your chances of receiving a scholarship by submitting applications to multiple SFOs.

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Contact

For general inquiries about the FTC program, you can contact the Florida Department of Education:

1. Phone: 1-800-447-1636
2. Email: Mail to
3. Fax: 850-245-0875
4. Website: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/
5. Mailing Address: Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Turlington Building – Florida Department of Education, 325 W. Gaines Street, Room 1044, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400

For questions regarding the application process or scholarship details,  reach out directly to the SFOs you’re interested in applying to.

Their contact information will be readily available on their respective websites.