Mangrove School of Sarasota is so pleased to be able to accept all forms of Step Up for Students and AAA Funds, including FTC, FES-EO, Hope, and FES Unique Abilities!
Step Up for Students and AAA scholarships are awarded on a first come first serve basis, so please apply for these programs as soon as possible if you want to be considered as a new scholarship recipient.
Families receiving state scholarships are expected to pay the difference between funds awarded and full tuition, including registration and application fees.
FTC/FES-EO:
Eligibility:
You must be a Florida resident
Children entering kindergarten must be 5 on or before September 1st, (first grade must be 6 on or before September 1st) AND
For first priority: Your household income is at or below the amount shown on the income guidelines chart below:
Click here for income guidelines
How to apply:
- Go to: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/ or http://www.aaascholarships.org/parents/florida/
- Click on the appropriate link (new family or renewal).
- You will need some documentation and will need to be able to print.
- You can save your application and come back to it later if you need.
If you already have a Step up for Students or AAA scholarship you may transfer to Mangrove School of Sarasota and bring your scholarship funds with you.
Please Note:
Students will no longer be required to attend a public school before becoming eligible for a scholarship.
Children placed in out-of-home care are now eligible to apply for scholarships.
Children who are in foster care, or out-of-home care, may keep their scholarships (even if they are adopted or reunified) until they graduate, or turn 21, whichever comes first.
FES- Unique Abilities Scholarships
Eligibility:
This scholarship is for Florida students 3 years old through 12th grade or age 22, whichever comes first, with one of the following conditions: Autism spectrum disorder, Muscular dystrophy, Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Phelan McDermid syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Spina bifida, Williams syndrome, Intellectual disability (severe cognitive impairment), rare diseases as defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (now includes PANS/PANDAS), anaphylaxis, deaf, visually impaired, dual sensory impaired, traumatic brain injured, hospital or homebound as defined by the rules of the State Board of Education and evidenced by reports from local school districts, or three, four or five year-olds who are deemed high-risk due to developmental delays. Please see the link below for other qualifying exceptionalities.
A different kind of scholarship: This scholarship 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 Gardiner Scholarship amount varies according to grade and county of residence. The average amount for most students in the 2023-24 school year is around $10,000; children with higher matrix numbers will have a higher award amount.
To Apply, visit:
https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/unique-abilities/
or https://www.aaascholarships.org/parents/
Hope Scholarship:
These scholarships provide financial assistance for private school tuition and related costs or for public transportation. The Hope Scholarship is available to K-12 grade Florida public school students who have experienced bullying, assault, threats or other violent acts.
Available to K-12th students with a qualifying incident
$7,800 average award for private school scholarships
$750 minimum for transportation scholarships
Includes private school tuition and related fees or public school transportation
Eligibility based on reported and documented incidents
To Apply: