Financial aid · Daycare to 12th grade
Scholarships & Financial Aid for School in Miami
Most Miami families can get help paying for a Lincoln-Martí education. For kindergarten through 12th grade, Florida’s Step Up For Students scholarships average about $8,000 a year, or about $10,000–$11,000 for students with disabilities. For younger children, VPK and Early Head Start are free and School Readiness lowers the cost of child care.
- Step Up For Students accepted
- Free VPK & Early Head Start
- Help in English & Spanish
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Florida scholarships
- ~$8K
- average FTC / FES-EO scholarship a year
- $10–11K
- average FES-UA scholarship a year
- $0
- VPK for every 4-year-old
- $0
- Early Head Start for eligible families
K–12 scholarships
How much is a Step Up For Students scholarship in Miami?
In Miami-Dade, the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) / Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) averages about $8,000 a year, and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) averages about $10,000–$11,000 a year before any extra support-level funding. Both are paid through Step Up For Students and can be used for tuition at Lincoln-Martí’s private schools.
| Scholarship | Who it’s for | Average per year |
|---|---|---|
| FTC / FES-EO | Any Florida K–12 student; lower-income families are funded first | about $8,000 |
| FES-UA | Students age 3 to 12th grade with a qualifying disability | about $10,000–$11,000 |
Amounts are approximate averages based on 2026–27 figures. The exact award depends on your child’s grade and is set by the state each year — Step Up For Students confirms it when you apply.
Eligibility
Who qualifies for a Florida private school scholarship?
Every Florida student who can enroll in kindergarten through 12th grade can apply for the FTC / FES-EO scholarship — there is no income limit. When funding is limited, Step Up For Students funds renewing students first, then families with household income up to 185% of the federal poverty level, then families up to 400%, and then everyone else.
- FirstStudents renewing a scholarship they already have.
- NextHouseholds at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, or children in foster care.
- ThenHouseholds up to 400% of the federal poverty level.
- Everyone elseAll other Florida K–12 students, as funding allows.
Unique Abilities
Is there a scholarship for children with special needs?
Yes. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is for Florida students from age 3 through 12th grade with a qualifying disability, such as autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or a speech or language impairment. In Miami-Dade it averages about $10,000–$11,000 a year and can pay for tuition plus approved extras like therapies, tutoring, and learning materials.
Starts before kindergarten
Children can use FES-UA from age 3, including in pre-K.
More than tuition
Approved therapies, tutoring, and curriculum can also be paid from the account.
How to apply
How do I apply for a scholarship to attend Lincoln-Martí?
Apply online at Step Up For Students, choose Lincoln-Martí as your school, and register with us at the same time. Apply as early as possible — renewals and lower-income families are funded first. Our enrollment team can help you with the application in English or Spanish.
- Create an accountApply at stepupforstudents.org and choose the scholarship.
- Upload documentsProof of Florida address and, for income priority, proof of household income.
- Register with usCall (305) 642-1000 or register online and pick a K–12 campus.
- Confirm the awardStep Up For Students confirms your award and pays the school.
Under 5
What financial help is there for daycare and pre-K?
Three programs help Miami families with the cost of care before kindergarten: VPK is free for every 4-year-old in Florida, Early Head Start is free for income-eligible families with children under 3, and School Readiness helps low-income working families pay for child care from infancy. Lincoln-Martí accepts all three.
Early Head Start
Free full-day infant and toddler care for income-eligible families. Early Head Start →
School Readiness
Help paying for child care for low-income working families, through the Early Learning Coalition. Our daycare →
No tuition
Is there a tuition-free Lincoln-Martí school?
Yes. Lincoln-Martí Charter Schools are tuition-free public charter schools, so no scholarship is needed. They have campuses in Little Havana, Hialeah, Florida City, and Kissimmee, with their own enrollment at lincoln-marticharters.com.
Google reviews
What do parents say about Lincoln-Martí?
Parents at our Hialeah center on W 45th Place rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 25 Google reviews. The five-star reviews below most often mention caring, attentive teachers, a safe and family-like environment, and how quickly children settle in.
“I’m so happy with this daycare. It’s a very reliable place, and all the teachers are lovely. Even the cook is incredibly kind and caring with the children. My daughter, being her first time at daycare, settled in in just two weeks thanks to the love and patience they showed her. You can tell they truly care for and love the children.”
“I’ve had a great experience with this daycare. They take good care of my daughter, she’s learned a lot, the teachers are very attentive, they play with her and give her different hairstyles than the ones I do. They’re kind, especially the director, Odalis. I recommend it 100%.”
“I love the professionalism with which they work; my children are always happy there and have also learned a lot.”
“Highly recommended, it’s a family-friendly and safe environment for children, my daughter is happy with her teacher.”
“The staff at the daycare provided wonderful care to the children. They are very professional and loving.”
“Excellent team of workers, very professional and responsible with the care of the children.”
“I’m delighted with this daycare; my baby loves going there, and her teachers, Dalitza and Rosy, are so caring and attentive to the children, as is the director, Odalys. Thank you for your love and for everything you teach her. I love that they do lots of activities and always take good care of the children. I recommend it 100%!”
“Excellent school, my baby’s teachers are very well prepared (Dalitza and Rosy), they always keep my child clean and well cared for, and the director, Odalis, is always very kind.”
“My daughter has been studying at Lincoln-Marti since VPK. It has the best principal, and the teachers are the best. I leave my daughter there with peace of mind because I know she’s in good hands. […]”
“My son has been attending this pre-school since he was 11 months old, he is now 3 and a half. The staff members are very family oriented and the teachers are exceptional. I can truly say I am extremely content with how much my son has excelled till date. Patricia, the director, as well as all of the teachers are beyond amazing!”
Five-star reviews from the Lincoln-Martí Hialeah (14 W 45th Pl) Google profile. Spanish reviews are shown in Google’s English translation.
Parent questions
Scholarships and financial aid: frequently asked questions
Does Lincoln-Martí accept Step Up For Students?
Yes. Families can use the FTC / FES-EO scholarship and the FES-UA scholarship at Lincoln-Martí’s private schools.
How much is the Step Up For Students scholarship in Miami-Dade?
The FTC / FES-EO scholarship averages about $8,000 a year and FES-UA averages about $10,000–$11,000 a year, based on 2026–27 figures. The exact amount depends on grade level.
Is there an income limit for Florida private school scholarships?
No. Every Florida K–12 student can apply. Lower-income families are funded first when money is limited.
Does the scholarship cover all of the tuition?
It depends on the grade and the campus. Ask our enrollment team at (305) 642-1000 how the scholarship applies to your child’s tuition.
Is VPK free at Lincoln-Martí?
Yes. VPK is free for every Florida 4-year-old, and families can add full-day care before and after VPK hours.
Can I get help paying for daycare?
Yes. Income-eligible families can use School Readiness through the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, and families with children under 3 may qualify for free Early Head Start.
Sources
- Step Up For Students, 2026–27 Scholarship Amounts (FTC and FES-EO) — stepupforstudents.org (PDF)
- Step Up For Students, 2026–27 Scholarship Amounts (FES-UA) by District — stepupforstudents.org (PDF)
- Step Up For Students, Florida private school scholarships — stepupforstudents.org
- Florida Department of Education, VPK for parents — fldoe.org
- Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe (School Readiness) — elcmdm.org
Let us help you pay for school
Our enrollment team walks families through scholarships, VPK, and School Readiness — in English or Spanish.