The CTC Scholarship Eligibility Criteria was Established by Florida Law

• Your total household income must be equal to or less than the amount established by the guidelines for the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Your TOTAL income is determined by ALL income sources benefiting your household: earned income, social security benefits, child support, food stamps, special housing, pensions, disability payments, etc.
   
• Children entering grades 2 through 12 must have been in attendance at a Florida public school the school year prior to receiving the CTC Scholarship. Documentation reflecting uninterrupted attendance from at least October 1 through February 28 is required.
   
• Children entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or by September 1st of the year of the scholarship award. Birth certificates must accompany applications for students entering K5 and 1st grade.
   
• Supporting documentation for ALL criteria is required prior to receiving a scholarship, and must be mailed with the application submission. ALL families MUST send financial documentation, including a copy of the most recent tax return, W-2's, SSI statements, child support documentation, disability payments, etc. Families with new students MUST include a birth certificate for students entering K5 or 1st grade. For students entering grades 2-12, a Florida public school report card showing attendance for at least the first three reporting periods is REQUIRED prior to final approval.  

Many Families Ask ... Once I mail my application, what happens next?

MOST IMPORTANT: DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILD IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP AWARD LETTER!!

• Within 10 days of mailing the application to FPS in Jacksonville, come to this web site. On the home page, type the primary parent's Social Security Number into the 'Login' field, and type your zip code into the 'Password' field. Choose 'Parent' as your type of login and click 'Login' to see if your application has been entered into the system by the processors. Be advised that it may take as long as 8 to 10 weeks for your application to be reviewed. The length of time is dependent upon the time of year you mailed in your application (the later in the season you mail your application the longer it takes to process - based on the volume of applications received). You may check on it regularly to follow as it goes through the application process.
   
• Use this time to look at the private schools in your area so that if you receive a scholarship you will have already narrowed down a few schools to choose from. It's good to have a back-up choice in case your first choice is full at the time you receive funding.
   
• Remember that the scholarship is primarily for tuition, and that you must plan your budget for the next year to include any additional fees (registration, books, uniforms) that the school may charge, if applicable. This should also be another question you ask as you're screening schools.
   
• If you receive a scholarship after losing your spot on a school's waitlist, remember that you can choose a different school and transfer your student later when a vacancy at the original school occurs.