Enacted 2001 • Launched 2001 • Tax-Credit Scholarship
Florida provides a tax credit on corporate income taxes and insurance premium taxes for
donations to Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs), nonprofits that provide private
school scholarships for low-income students and foster care children and offer funds for
transportation to public schools outside a child’s district. Businesses get a dollar-for-dollar tax
credit for SFO contributions, with total credits capped at $229 million. Unused credits can be
carried forward to the next fiscal year.
Latest Stats (2012-13)
- Students participating: 50,821
- Schools participating: 1,322
- Scholarship organizations: 1
- Average scholarship value: $3,664
Program Details
Average scholarship value as a percentage of
Florida’s total per-student spending ($8,863)
Student Funding
Scholarships can be worth up to $4,106, though they may not exceed actual private school
costs. At least 75 percent of the scholarship must be used for tuition, with the rest available
for textbooks and transportation. Transportation grants for students using public schools are
worth up to $500.
Student Eligibility
Students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch ($42,643 for a family of four in 2013)
and who either are enrolled in public school or about to enter kindergarten through fifth grade
are eligible. Foster care students also qualify. If students’ household incomes rise, they can stay
in the program under full scholarship as long as the family earns no more than 230 percent of
the poverty level.
Legal Developments
No legal challenges have been filed against the program.
Rules & Regulations
- Income Limit: 100% x FRL
- Geographic Limit: Statewide
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Scholarship Cap: $4,106
- Testing Mandates: Yes-National
- Credit Value: 100%
- Credit Cap: None
- Program Cap: Escalator
Governing Statutes
Florida Statutes, Chapters 1002.395 and 1002.421
Friedman Contact
Stephanie Linn | stephanie@edchoice.org
Additional Links
FTC Quarterly Reports
