Congratulations!

Your student has been awarded a Unique Abilities Scholarship.

Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA)

The Unique Abilities Scholarship is an education savings account (ESA) that allows you to personalize your child’s education by directing money toward a combination of approved programs and providers, including therapists, specialists, curriculum, and technology. Students can also utilize their scholarship at more than 2,000 private schools across Florida. Click here to view eligible, participating private schools.

Watch this video for step-by-step instructions of what to do next. We have also included a list of the steps (if applicable) below.

FOR STUDENTS USING THEIR UNIQUE ABILITIES FUNDS TO DIRECTLY PAY
PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES:

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If your student attends (or plans to attend) an eligible, participating private school and you would like to use your scholarship toward tuition and fees, there are steps that should be taken for the school to receive payment directly from your student’s scholarship account.

NOTE: If you pay your eligible, participating private school out of pocket and seek reimbursement, your student’s school should not enroll your student in EMA and the following steps should NOT be taken.

Here is a list of the steps for students who will receive direct payment to their private school:

1

Locate your student’s Award ID. Award IDs can be found right on your EMA Dashboard. Simply log in to your account in EMA and on the Dashboard you will see a “My Students” section with a tile for each student. Within the student’s tile, you will see their Award ID. Important: Award IDs are different each year. If a student is not yet awarded, their Award ID will display as “Pending.” Note: If you have more than three students, click "View All" in the "My Students" tile to display all students.

2

Share your student's Award ID with your chosen school so they can complete your student's School Enrollment Form in EMA. The School Enrollment Form links your student to the selected private school for billing purposes. Note: If you have not yet found a school, please click here to search for eligible participating schools.

Tip: To print your student’s Award ID, click the “View Student” button and then click the “Print Award ID” button found in the top, right corner of the new screen.

3

Monitor your email. Once your student’s private school has submitted your student’s School Enrollment Form, you will receive an email asking you to log in to your account in EMA to review and confirm your student’s enrollment.

4

Confirm that your student is showing "Enrolled" by clicking on the "My Students" tab. For enrolled students, their tile should now display that they are enrolled in EMA with their school name.

Please note: If attending an eligible, participating private school, parents/guardians must meet with the principal, or the principal’s designee, to review the school's academic programs and policies, specialized services, code of conduct, and attendance policies before enrolling a student.

For more information on the Unique Abilities Scholarship, click here.

Award Amounts

The scholarship amount is based on the student’s county, grade level and Matrix Score on file with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). The Unique Abilities Scholarship amounts are determined by statutory formula.

Please note: If a matrix review is requested, the review could result in a higher or lower award amount. You may request a new matrix level from your school district, and if granted, their decision is final.

The 2026-27 award amounts are not yet available, but will be released later in the summer. The 2025-26 award amounts are below.

2025-26 FES-UA Award Amounts

Funding

Award amounts are distributed quarterly and may be prorated based on the student’s award date. Step Up For Students will receive scholarship funds from the FLDOE quarterly. Parents/guardians will be notified each time funding is added to a student’s account.

Please note: Students who received PEP Scholarship funding in the 2025-26 school year must submit their end-of-year norm-referenced test or statewide assessment results by May 31, 2026, to receive funding for the 2026-27 school year, even if the student is using a scholarship other than PEP.

Using Your Student’s Funds

Click to learn more about using UA Funds.

Families use EMA to manage their student’s account.

Funds for the 2026-27 school year can be used for any approved items or services purchased on or after July 1, 2026. Funds cannot be used for purchases made in previous years.

Reimbursements for purchases during the school year (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027) must be submitted no later than July 31, 2027.

Keep track of your student’s scholarship balance. You may be responsible for any funds owed to schools or providers beyond what is available in your student’s account.

Future Eligibility

Click to learn about eligibility for the UA Family Handbook and Purchasing Guide.

After the first year of using the scholarship, your student will remain eligible* for the scholarship until he or she graduates from high school, turns 22 years old, or returns to public school. To remain on the scholarship, an application must be submitted yearly.

*If the student qualified for the current school year under the following category, documentation must be provided to show continued eligibility:

- Students who qualified with a diagnosis of “high-risk,” and will be six (6) years old on or before September 1 of the school year for which they are applying will need to establish eligibility under another disability to continue participating in the program.

Don't Risk It! Read the Instructions!

Click to access the UA Family Handbook and Purchasing Guide.

We strongly encourage families to read our Unique Abilities Scholarship Family Handbook. The handbook includes important resources on how to use your scholarship.

Families should also be familiar with the FES-UA Purchasing Guide, which includes items/services that are preapproved.

Funding Is Not Guaranteed!

Click to review reasons why a scholarship may be revoked.

Funding is not guaranteed!

A student’s scholarship may be revoked if:

1

The parent/guardian applies for multiple scholarships under the Family Empowerment Scholarship and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs for an individual student at the same time.

2

The student is enrolled on a full-time basis in the Florida Virtual School, the Florida School For The Deaf and Blind, the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for Competitive Academics, the Florida Scholars Academy, a developmental research school, a charter school, or any other Florida public school as they are ineligible to receive a Family Empowerment Scholarship or a Florida Tax Credit scholarship. If the student is enrolled in a Florida public school on a full-time basis during the 2026-27 school year, it will result in forfeiture of scholarship participation and the return of any remaining scholarship funds. This does not prohibit students using the Family Empowerment Scholarship or Florida Tax Credit Scholarship from attending one or more of these programs on a part-time basis, provided they are meeting regular school attendance requirements per s. 1003.01(16)(b)-(d), F.S. in some other way. Any participation in a public school on a part-time basis while receiving a scholarship must be paid for by the guardian using either personal or scholarship funds. A scholarship student may not be reported for state funding by a school district and receive a scholarship at the same time.

3

A post-award audit determines the student is not eligible. Additional information and/or documentation related to the application may be requested at any time post-award for auditing purposes.

4

You fail to comply with the provisions of the Unique Abilities Scholarship or any parental obligations for the program, including fraudulent application, purchasing, or reimbursement activity.

5

You share your user ID and password with anyone (including schools or providers). Allowing schools and/or providers to access your account may put your scholarship in jeopardy of being misused.

Have your 2026-27 scholarship plans changed?

Click here for instructions on how to decline your Unique Abilities Scholarship and explore other options available.