Last verified: October 2026
How much is the Florida Private School Scholarship for a Pinellas student in 2026-27?
The 2026-27 Pinellas amounts are $8,643 for kindergarten through grade 3, $8,059 for grades 4-8 and $7,868 for grades 9-12, per Step Up For Students' district award table.
The award follows where the child lives, not where the school is. A family in Oldsmar whose child attends a school in another county still receives the Pinellas amount, and Pinellas sits above several neighboring counties in this year's table.
Who qualifies for the scholarship in Pinellas County?
Any Florida resident who could enroll in a public K-12 school can apply; there is no income ceiling.
Household income still matters in one narrow way: families at or below the priority line are funded first if requests exceed the money available. For most Pinellas families the practical tests are residency, the application date and choosing a school that holds the state flag.
Which Pinellas private schools take the scholarship?
In the state directory pulled October 28, 2026, 113 of the 145 schools in the Pinellas district file are marked as FTC/FES-EO participants.
Every row in our directory shows that flag, so you can rule schools in or out before the first tour. A handful of well-known campuses do not participate; for those, the scholarship is not an option and their own aid is the main lever.
When does the money reach the school?
Payments arrive by quarter, and only after the school reports the enrollment in EMA and the parent approves it.
For a new 2026-27 student the sequence is apply by November 15, accept by December 15, then watch for the school's enrollment request each quarter. A missed approval is the most common reason a payment stalls.
What the Florida Private School Scholarship is, and what it isn't
| Question | It is | It isn't |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets the money | The participating school, on the family's behalf | A check to the parent |
| Income test | None for eligibility | A need-based grant |
| Amount | Set by county and grade band | A fixed statewide number |
| Schools | Any participating private school, religious or not | Limited to the closest school |