Lincoln-Martí helps Miami families afford quality childcare and school through several state and federal programs — most families pay little or nothing out of pocket. For private-school tuition (K–12), Lincoln-Martí participates in Step Up for Students scholarships (the Florida Tax Credit and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options), now available to all Florida K–12 families regardless of income. For children with special needs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) provides an education savings account. For early childhood, four-year-olds attend free VPK, and income-eligible families can use School Readiness childcare vouchers and free Early Head Start.
Financial Aid Programs at Lincoln-Martí
| Program | Who Qualifies | Covers | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step Up for Students (FTC / FES-EO) | K–12, all income levels | ~$8,000/yr avg private-school tuition | stepupforstudents.org — opens January; priority deadline April 30 |
| FES-UA (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities) | Ages 3–12 with qualifying disabilities (IEP or diagnosis) | ~$10,000/yr ESA — tuition, therapies, approved services; replaced the old McKay/Gardiner scholarships | Apply via Step Up for Students with diagnosis/IEP |
| Free VPK | Every FL 4-year-old (turns 4 by Sept 1) | Free 540-hour school-year pre-K program | Get Certificate of Eligibility from Early Learning Coalition; then enroll at Lincoln-Martí |
| School Readiness childcare vouchers | Income-eligible families, ages 0–5 | Subsidized daycare costs — may cover most or all of care cost | Apply at Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade (elcmdbc.org) |
| Early Head Start | Income-eligible, ages 0–3 and pregnant women | Free infant/toddler care, screenings, family support | Apply at Lincoln-Martí |
Frequently Asked Questions — Scholarships & Aid
Which scholarship pays for K–12 private school at Lincoln-Martí?
The Step Up for Students scholarship (FTC / FES-EO) covers K–12 private school tuition, averaging about $8,000 per year. It is now available to all Florida K–12 families regardless of income. Apply at stepupforstudents.org. The priority deadline is April 30 each year.
Is there financial aid for a child with special needs?
Yes. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) provides an education savings account of approximately $10,000 per year for students ages 3–12 with qualifying disabilities (an IEP or qualifying diagnosis). FES-UA replaced the former McKay and Gardiner scholarships. Apply through Step Up for Students.
Is there help paying for daycare for children ages 0–5?
Yes — two programs help. Free VPK covers the school-year program for 4-year-olds at no cost. For families who need full-day care or have younger children (0–4), School Readiness childcare vouchers from the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade can cover most or all of the daycare cost for income-eligible families.
Is there an application fee to enroll at Lincoln-Martí?
No. There is no application fee to enroll at Lincoln-Martí. Start your registration here or call (305) 642-1000.
Note: The /becas/ page is Lincoln-Martí’s Spanish-language scholarships resource — please continue using that page for Spanish-speaking families. This page (/scholarships/) is the English canonical; the two pages will be paired with hreflang tags in a future update.
How Lincoln-Martí School Scholarships Help Miami Families
- Step Up for Students — Lincoln-Martí participates in Florida school scholarships (FTC and Family Empowerment) now open to all K-12 families regardless of income.
- FES-UA — for children with unique abilities, an education savings account covers tuition and therapies.
- Free VPK — four-year-olds attend at no cost through the Florida voluntary pre-K program.
- School Readiness vouchers — income-eligible families get childcare subsidized, often to $0.
- Early Head Start — free federal program for infants and toddlers 0–3.
- Apply anytime — enrollment is year-round with no application fee; we help you find the right school scholarships for your family.
School scholarships — Frequently Asked Questions
What school scholarships does Lincoln-Martí accept?
Lincoln-Martí accepts Step Up for Students school scholarships (Florida Tax Credit and Family Empowerment), FES-UA for unique abilities, free VPK, and School Readiness childcare vouchers.
Do I qualify for K-12 school scholarships in Florida?
Florida Family Empowerment and Tax Credit scholarships are available to all K-12 families regardless of income. Apply through Step Up for Students.
Is there financial aid for daycare and VPK?
Yes — free VPK for 4-year-olds, School Readiness vouchers for income-eligible families, and free Early Head Start for infants and toddlers.
Find a Lincoln-Martí Campus Near You
With 26+ campuses across Miami-Dade, there is a Lincoln-Martí daycare, VPK, and K-12 school near you. See all campus locations or choose your neighborhood: