Florida’s Refreshed ‘Support Education’ License Plate Garners International Recognition

When the iconic “apple tag” was replaced with a new Support Education tag that promotes the importance of education in the Sunshine State in December 2018, members of the international Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) took notice. Long time Florida member Joe Hurd nominated the tag for the group’s international “Best Plate of the Year” competition and for the first time ever a Florida tag was a top contender – taking second place among 14 nominated designs from other U.S. states, Japan and two Canadian provinces.
“The new design caught my attention right away and I’m thrilled that other collectors around the world agreed it was worthy of recognition by our group,” said long-time ALPCA member Joe Hurd, a math instructor at Tallahassee Community College. “The cause is an important one so I hope more Florida drivers are motivated to put the new Support Education plate on their car.”
With 122 specialty tags now available in Florida benefitting a variety of causes, the marketplace has become fragmented in recent years. The Support Education plate is one of a few specialty tags in Florida where the money goes directly back to the county where the tag was purchased or renewed. Since its introduction as Florida’s second specialty license plate in 1994, more than $13 million dollars has been raised through the collaborative efforts of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (CFEF) and local education foundations aligned with public school districts throughout the state. “Locally FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools benefits from these proceeds and has used the proceeds to fund teacher mini-grants,” stated Cynthia Ramirez, Executive Director. “FUTURES Foundation also will use the specialty tag proceeds to purchase scholarships for the Take Stock in Children scholarship and mentoring program for at-risk, low-income students.”
Across the state, funds are used for a variety of locally driven initiatives including classroom innovation, teacher recognition and support, education enrichment programs, scholarships, mentoring for at-risk students and school supplies for children in need.
“We’re delighted that the refreshed Support Education specialty tag is receiving this recognition. We’re also seeing an uptick in sales which, of course, is our ultimate goal,” said Mary Chance, president of the CFEF. “We believe every Florida child deserves their day in the sun and choosing this plate is a simple way for citizens to demonstrate they are also committed to our public schools and provide needed, local support for teachers and students.”
The annual fee for the Support Education specialty license plate is $25. Local taxes and state fees may apply and first-time purchase price and fees may vary based on scheduled vehicle registration renewal date. The new Support Education tag design is available now and can be purchased in-person through your local tax collector office or online at LicenseToLearnFL.com.
“We’ve heard the tag is frequently selling out at tag agencies around the state, so we’re thrilled to offer an online purchase option that allows people to make the switch easily. Drivers only pay a few dollars extra for postage, with the tag fee still going back to the county where the car is registered, thanks to our partnership with the Indian River Tax Collector’s Office” said Chance.