Last verified: October 2026
Do you need a license to open a private school in Florida?
No. Florida has no licensing process for private K-12 schools; they send the Department of Education an annual survey. Preschool and child care are different, and the Department of Children and Families licenses those.
Because the state award travels with each funded student, a brand-new congregation-run school can fund itself from it.
How does a church pick a model for a new school?
The options are a five-day school, a two- or three-day hybrid paid for through PEP, or a microschool with a dozen to a few dozen students. Hybrids can use rooms the church already has and keep tuition far under the award.
How does a new school start receiving scholarship students?
A school signs up with Step Up For Students, AAA or both, files its compliance paperwork and enrolls each scholarship student in EMA. During its first three years it posts a surety bond or letter of credit, and every participating school administers a yearly norm-referenced test.
Florida does not dictate the curriculum or require teacher licensure at private K-12 schools.
What does the Orange County award mean for a school's budget?
With 2026-27 awards of $8,420 (K-3), $7,831 (4-8) and $7,639 (9-12), many congregations set tuition close to the K-3 figure and then add member and sibling discounts.
Anything above the award falls to the household, which is why a school priced far over it generally runs an aid program of its own.
How do families in Orange County find a new church school?
Parents look for schools that accept Step Up, and a verified listing reaches them at the point where they are weighing cost, not only touring campuses. Contact us before opening day so the listing is live from the start.
What the state requires of a church K-12 school and of a church preschool
The table puts the two sides next to each other.
| Private K-12 school | Preschool or child care | |
|---|---|---|
| License | None from the state | Licensed through DCF |
| Annual filing | Private school survey to the Florida DOE | Licensing inspections |
| Staff | Level 2 background screening | Level 2 background screening |