Yes, as long as Florida residency is legally maintained and can be documented using a Leave and Earnings Statement or the IRS Declaration of Domicile Form 2058. Please note this option is only available to renewal Unique Abilities or PEP students.
Active-duty military with change of station orders out-of-state may apply for, or renew their Unique Abilities or PEP Scholarships, if they can prove maintenance of Florida residency. You will not be eligible to keep the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) to attend private schools out of state.
If you had a Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA), or PEP Scholarship and enrolled in a public school, your scholarship will end and the remaining funds will be returned to the state.
As a public-school student, you may be eligible for a Transportation Stipend.
If your student was found eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) and you would like to switch to a PEP Scholarship (FTCPEP), this can only be done before that year’s PEP Scholarship acceptance deadline. For 2025-26, the acceptance deadline was May 31, 2025. After that deadline, students are not able to switch from the Private School Scholarship to the PEP Scholarship.
If your student was found eligible for PEP, and you would like to switch to a Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), do not decline their scholarship in EMA. After accepting the scholarship, call us at 1-877-735-7837 to request this switch.
Florida law prohibits a family from applying for more than one scholarship at a time for an individual student. You can apply for a new scholarship once you’ve been denied or have declined, or withdrawn an awarded scholarship.
Yes. If you are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and have been given permanent change of station orders to move to Florida, you will be eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the PEP Scholarship before you make your move. You can apply with your newly assigned base address or new Florida residential address (if you have one) and upload your permanent change of station paperwork with your application.
The scholarship is worth $1,200 per student for 2024-25. Scholarships for the 2023-24 school year, which will continue to be awarded through September will remain at $500.
Your student’s eligibility will be determined by the recent Progress monitoring report or on their most recent English Language Arts (ELA) scores, or if it has been determined that their student has characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia.
If your student is attending a private preschool or private day care through the Florida Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program, then you are eligible to apply for a New Worlds Scholarship Account if you meet the other requirements. You cannot get a New Worlds scholarship if you are using any other scholarship to pay for pre-K.
Yes, so long as your student is attending a public school other than the school they are assigned, you may be eligible for one K-8 Transportation Stipend for your household.
Scholarships for VPK and Public Elementary School Students Needing Academic Support
Information for Current Scholarship Recipients
Important Update: Account Inactivity Policy (Effective July 1, 2025)
Action Required for Current Accounts: Starting July 1, 2025, all New Worlds Scholarship Accounts will begin a one-year period to track activity.
It is essential to have spending activity on your account between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. Accounts with no spending activity during this time will be closed, and any remaining funds will be returned to the state. Please ensure you use your scholarship funds for approved educational resources within this timeframe to avoid account closure.
Understanding the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts (Program Overview)
The New Worlds Scholarship Accounts program, managed by Step Up For Students, previously offered education savings accounts (ESAs) to VPK and K-5 public school students in Florida needing academic support in reading and math. The scholarship aimed to provide early intervention for students struggling with these foundational skills.
- Scholarship Value: For the 2024-25 school year, the scholarship was worth $1,200 per student.
- Previous Eligibility: Eligibility, expanded as of July 1, 2024, included students with substantial deficiencies in reading or math, those exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia, or those who scored below a Level 3 on recent statewide English Language Arts or Mathematics assessments. VPK students could also qualify based on progress monitoring results in early literacy skills. English Language Learners received priority.
- Approved Uses: ESA funds can be used for various educational resources to improve reading or math skills, such as part-time tutoring, summer or after-school programs, and instructional materials, including books and technology.
- Accessing Services: Families can access pre-approved services and products through Step Up For Students' Education Market Assistant (EMA) marketplace, which allows direct payments to providers.
Application Process
No New Applications: Due to the lack of new funding for the 2025-26 school year, we are not currently accepting new applications for the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts.
Delivering a New World To You
New Worlds Reading is Florida’s FREE home reading program that mails eligible children a free book and activities each month during the school year through fifth grade. Families can choose what books they will receive when they apply, growing their home library based on their child’s interests to encourage a lifelong love of reading. The accompanying literacy resources and activities help children strengthen their skills and build reading confidence.
New Worlds Reading is administered by the UF Lastinger Center for Learning. Book titles are selected in partnership with Scholastic and approved by the Florida Department of Education. Books and materials are available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and braille.
To be eligible, students must be either in a VPK program and not making age-appropriate progress according to state assessments or in K-5 in a public or charter school and not yet reading on grade level.
Resources
The scholarship is worth $1,200 and can be used for the following:
- Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate, a baccalaureate or graduate degree in Reading, Math, Elementary Education, English Education, or Math Education, an adjunct teaching certificate, or has demonstrated mastery of the subject area knowledge.
- Fees for summer education programs designed to improve reading or math skills.
- Fees for after-school education programs designed to improve reading or math skills.
- Instructional materials, including desktop and laptop computers and tablets and curriculum related to reading or math.
Pre-approved services and products are available through Step Up For Students’ Education Market Assistant (EMA) marketplace where families can use their scholarship dollars directly without having to pay out of pocket.
Please Note: Starting in the '24-25 school year, families will no longer have to submit a reimbursement claim for educational expenses in compliance with Florida Statute.
Please refer to the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Handbook for more information.
The scholarship funds can be used for:
- Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring by qualified individuals.
- Fees for summer education programs designed to improve reading or math skills.
- Fees for after-school education programs designed to improve reading or math skills.
- Instructional materials, including desktop and laptop computers, tablets and curriculum related to reading or math.
*Preapproved services and products are available through Step Up For Students’ Education Market Assistant (EMA) marketplace.
No, due to the lack of new funding for the 2025-26 school year, new applications for the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts are not currently being accepted.
Please click here for the current New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Parent Handbook.