Last verified: October 2026. Checked against Step Up For Students' 2026-27 award tables, handbooks and purchasing guides.
When does the federal scholarship tax credit start for Lee County families?
The credit begins in 2027. Florida's opt-in was announced by Governor DeSantis on January 28, 2026, and Step Up announced that a new nonprofit arm of its own would handle it. Application steps for families had not been published when this page was verified.
Could it close the gap at a Fort Myers private school?
Possibly, for families under the income line. At a school whose tuition runs above the Lee award, it could become a second layer on top of the state scholarship. We'll add the steps when they're released.
| What it is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| A federal program run by scholarship organizations | A state budget appropriation |
| Income-limited (300% of area median) | Universal like the state scholarship |