This is an excerpt of a press-release I've received, which I thought that could be useful for you or someone you know.

5,000 Scholarships Available for Low-Income Children; Latino Families Encouraged to Apply

Latino parents, are your children in the best school environment possible and are they getting an education that fits their needs? More than 5,000 new Step Up For Students Scholarships are available for the 2007-2008 school year, empowering parents to choose the best school for their child regardless of their race or income.

School will be starting soon and there is an urgency to reach out to the Latino community in Florida, as only 22 percent of the students who receive these Step Up For Students Scholarships are Hispanic.

Hispanic CREO, based in Washington, D.C., believes that a lack of information and awareness has resulted in low participation rates within the Latino community. Hispanic CREO is working with local faith-based Florida leaders, the media and other partners to raise awareness about the available Scholarships.

"The Step Up For Students Scholarship is an excellent opportunity; however, few Latino families have participated in this scholarship program - one that can make such a difference in the education of a child and may be the solution to so many families' current needs," states Maite Arce, Vice President of Hispanic CREO.

There are 17,000 students on the Step Up For Students Scholarship, which can be used at over 900 private schools throughout Florida. The Step Up For Students Scholarship is locally administered by Florida P.R.I.D.E. and is open to all eligible students who meet income guidelines. (...)

The scholarships are available for low-income students who are entering kindergarten or first grade, or have spent the 2006-2007 school year in a Florida public school and meet the household income guidelines.

Household income eligibility guidelines are the following:

- Two people: $25,327
- Three people: $31,765
- Four people: $38,203
- Add $6,438 for each additional person in household.

Approved applicants receive up to $3,750 per year for private school tuition and books, or up to $500 in transportation costs to an out-of-district public school.

For more information, call (866) 406-6923, in Orlando call 1(407) 702-2607, where Spanish-speaking operators are standing by to answer your questions. Scholarship applications are available in Spanish.

You can also visit: Step Up For Students - Parents