Florida Transportation Stipend (public school choice, K-8)

The Transportation Stipend is a one-time payment of $750² per household for Florida families whose child in kindergarten through grade 8 attends a public school other than the assigned one (or a lab school). It is a public-school choice benefit, not a private-school scholarship. Step Up For Students is the only scholarship funding organization that administers it, and for 2026-27 it is not accepting applications¹.

Who qualifies

Under the statute, the stipend is for a K-8 public-school student attending a Florida non-virtual public school other than the assigned school, or a lab school³. Only one stipend is paid per household. Renewing households are funded first, then new households first-come, first-served while the appropriation lasts⁴.

How much it pays and how

• Amount: $750² per household for the school year.
• Payment: a one-time check⁵, not money loaded into a scholarship account, so it does not go through EMA.
• Statewide funding: the Legislature appropriated $3,000,000⁶ for 2026-27.
• Payment deadline: all 2026-27 stipends are to be distributed by December 15, 2026⁶.

Is it open now?

The 2026-27 application window has not been published⁷. Step Up For Students' page offers a sign-up for 2027-28 updates. Check the Florida K-12 scholarship deadlines page for dates as they are announced.

How it differs from the scholarships

The stipend is separate from the private-school and education savings account programs. Transportation used to be an allowed use of FES-EO and FTC funds; the law that created the stipend also removed transportation from those programs⁸. If your child attends a private school, see the FES-EO and FTC private-school scholarship instead.

Related

• All Florida K-12 scholarship programs
• Step Up For Students (profile)
• FAQ: eligibility