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2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook

Scholarship Overview 

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) offers families the opportunity to customize their student’s learning via an education savings account.

An education savings account (ESA) allows public funds to be deposited into a government-authorized savings account for authorized uses. A parent or guardian may use the funds to pay for private school tuition and fees, online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and other approved services and materials.

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About Step Up For Students 

Our Work

Step Up For Students is a nonprofit Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) approved by the state of Florida to administer the FES-UA program and other education choice programs. To explore the various programs administered by Step Up For Students and determine which one is the best fit for your family, we invite you to watch these helpful videos. 

Our Mission

Beyond administering scholarship programs, our mission is to empower families to access the best possible learning options for their children. Since 2002, we have worked to be deeply integrated in the community, highlighting innovation in education and sharing inspiring family stories. To learn more about how we put our mission into action, please visit our website.

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Eligibility Requirements for the FES-UA Scholarship 

To qualify for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), your child must meet all the following requirements:

• Be age three (3) or older (must turn three (3) on or before December 31^st of the year the application is submitted) OR be eligible to enroll in a Florida public school (if applicable for their age).
• Be younger than twenty-two (22) years old as of September 1^st of the year the application is submitted.
• Be a Florida resident
  • Military exception: Your child may also qualify if they are a dependent of an active-duty U.S. military member with PCS orders to Florida.
  • Military exception: A renewing FES-UA student may also qualify if their parent or guardian is stationed outside of Florida but maintains Florida as their home of record.

Your child must also have one of the following:

• An individualized Education Plan (IEP), OR
• A validated diagnosis from a licensed medical professional (see Appendix A for full list).

List of accepted diagnoses: 

• Anaphylaxis
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Emotional or Behavioral Disability
• Hearing Impairment, including deafness
• High-Risk Child
• Hospital or Homebound  
• Dual Sensory Impaired
• Intellectual Disability (severe cognitive impairment)
• Language Impairment
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
• Prader-Willi Syndrome
• Rare Diseases (defined by NORD)
• Specific Learning Disability
• Speech Impairment
• Spina Bifida
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impairment, including blindness
• Williams Syndrome

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Applying for a Scholarship 

Timeline

The table below outlines when new and renewal applicants must submit their applications:  

Type of Student	Application Period
Renewal Student	February 1 to April 30, 2026
New Student	February 1 to November 15, 2026

⚠️ Important: Renewal applications submitted after the April 30, 2026, deadline, will be considered a new application. 

Creating Your EMA Account 

Before you can apply, you will need to set up an account in EMA (Education Market Assistant). This is Step Up For Students’ secure online platform where you can manage everything related to your child’s scholarship. 

With EMA, you can: 

• Apply for the scholarship
• Upload required documents
• Track scholarship funds
• Make purchases through MyScholarShop
• Submit reimbursement requests
• Find service providers

How to Get Started Go to www.stepupforstudents.org and click the “Appy/Login” button (Chrome or Firefox browser recommended) 

• Select “Log In to EMA” 
• You will be directed to the EMA (Education Market Assistant) home page  
• Select “Sign Up” and follow prompts 
• Watch this video tutorial or follow this step-by-step guide 

⚠️ Important: When creating your account, you must use the phone number, physical address, and email address of either the primary or secondary parent or guardian listed on the student’s account. Only these individuals may access your account, using someone else’s contact information is not allowed and may delay your application. 

Entering Your Information 

Every year, you will need to complete an application for your student through EMA.  

• First-time applicants to Step Up For Students must create an EMA account.  
• If you already have an EMA account (for example, because another child in your household has applied for the same or a different scholarship) do not create a new account. Instead, log in to your existing account,  
• Renewal applicants must log in to their existing EMA account to submit a renewal application.  

👉 What you will need to do in EMA: 

1. Log in to your EMA account.
2. Fill out the application form.
3. Upload required documentation (proof of age, Florida residency, and either an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis)
4. Review and sign the Sworn Compliance Statement and Terms & Conditions.
5. Submit the application.

⚠️ Important:  

• When applying for the FES-UA scholarship, please keep the following rules in mind:
  One Program at a Time: You cannot apply for FES-UA and another scholarship program for the same student at the same time. (Programs include Florida Tax Credit, Personalized Education Program, Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, and Transportation Stipend.) Choosing a Scholarship or School Type: If you are considering moving your student from another scholarship program to FES-UA, make sure their school accepts FES-UA before making any changes.
• One Parent or Guardian Account: Each student can only be linked to one parent or guardian account in EMA.
  • If a student appears on multiple accounts, it may delay application processing or funding.
  • If guardianship changes or a parent passes away, please contact the Customer Engagement Center to make necessary changes.
• Schools and Providers Cannot Apply on Your Behalf: Schools and providers cannot request or use your EMA login credentials. Allowing another party, including a provider or school representative, to access or manage your EMA account is prohibited and doing so could result in the loss of the scholarship. 
• Use Your Own Information: Parents or guardians must use their own phone number, physical address, and email address in their guardian profile.

Uploading Required Documentation  

To complete your application, you will need to upload documentation that confirms your child’s eligibility. 

👉 What you will need:  

• Proof of Age 
• Proof of Florida residency 
• Social Security Number 
• Documentation of a qualifying diagnosis or IEP (See Appendix A for list of qualifying diagnosis) 

This checklist gives you the full list of documents for new and renewal applications so you can be sure nothing is missing.

Students applying for the first time who are between ages three (3) and five(5) on September 1^st of the application year must upload a valid birth certificate or non-expired passport to confirm their age. Please refer to this video for questions on requirements or how to upload files as well as practical tips regarding documentation.

 Documenting a Qualifying Diagnosis or IEP To document your student’s unique ability, you must submit a copy of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a validated diagnosis that identifies one of the conditions listed in Appendix A.

An IEP must be an official, district provided IEP written within the past three (3) years and in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable rules of another state.

A validated diagnosis must be documented by one of the following licensed professionals:

• Florida-licensed Physician or physician licensed by another U.S. state or territory 
• Florida-licensed Physician assistant legally authorized to sign or certify documentation on behalf of a Florida-licensed Physician  
• Florida-licensed Autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 
• Florida-licensed psychologist 

To help process your application faster, you will have the option to provide the provider’s professional license number when submitting documentation for your student’s diagnosis.

For Florida-licensed providers, you may locate this information through the Florida Department of Health's license verification website. If the provider is licensed in another U.S. state or territory, please use the comparable license lookup tool for that jurisdiction.

Requirements for Renewal Applicants 

In most cases, documentation only needs to be submitted once. However, renewal applicants may be required to submit updated documentation if  the student previously qualified under the high-risk category but will turn six (6) years old on or before September 1^st of the upcoming school year, then the student will no longer be allowed to qualify under that category, and documentation of a different eligible condition must be submitted.

Proof of Residency for Active-Duty Military Families  

Students who are dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces may have different documentation needs for Proof of Residency.

Military Living in Florida  

If your military family currently resides in Florida – whether you are applying for the first time or renewing – you will need to provide proof of residency documentation from the Proof of Florida Residency chart on our Scholarship Application Checklist.  

Military Moving into Florida  

Students who are dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to move into Florida can apply for a Unique Abilities scholarship as new students.

If a new student is moving to Florida, but has not yet established residency, the parent or guardian must:

• Upload the Leave and Earnings Statement dated within two months of when the application was submitted and PCS orders in the Proof of Residency section of the scholarship application.
• Be sure the physical address in their guardian profile matches the newly assigned Florida unit address on the PCS orders they submit.
• After you have established residency in Florida, update both your physical and mailing addresses in the guardian profile and submit the new Florida Proof of Residency documents.

Military Moving out of or Living out of Florida 

Students who are dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces with Students who are dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to move out of Florida after living in Florida during their first year on the FES-UA scholarship can apply for an FES-UA scholarship as renewal students.

These families must:

• Upload the Leave and Earnings Statement dated within two months of when the application was submitted demonstrating that Florida is their legal residence and PCS orders in the Proof of Residency section of the scholarship application.
• Complete a PCS Order Verification Request in EMA.
• After your PCS Order Verification Request is approved, you can list your out-of-state address as a Military Address. This lets you get reimbursed for items shipped there.

You can also visit our dedicated military family webpage for more information.

⚠️ Important: A parent or guardian with a legal domicile in Florida but who is currently on orders to another state is not eligible to apply for the scholarship for the first time.  Previous ties to Florida, such as having lived in the state or holding a past Florida identification card, are not sufficient for eligibility. Applicants must demonstrate current Florida residency at the time of application.

Capacity Limitation 

Each year, Florida law sets a maximum number of FES-UA scholarships that can be awarded. If the number of applications reaches that limit, some eligible students may not receive funding. 

What does this mean for families: 

• Submit your application and required documents as early as possible. 
• Applications may close before the published deadline if the program reaches capacity. 

Capacity Exceptions 

Some students are excluded from the scholarship capacity limitation. This means they may still receive a scholarship even if the program is full. A capacity exemption does not extend or bypass application deadlines. Applications submitted must still meet the applicable deadline requirements.

Students who qualify for a cap exception include: 

• Children of law enforcement officers (s. 943.10(1)), F.S 
• Children of active-duty U.S. military members 
• Adopted children 
• Foster children  
• Students who: 
  • Received specialized instructional services under the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK-SIS) (s. 1002.66, F.S) and have a current IEP 
  • Attended a Florida public school or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind last year 
  • Received a John M. McKay Scholarship in the 2021-2022 school year. 

Some exceptions are verified automatically by the Florida Department of Education. Others will require you to upload documentation. EMA will prompt you for the required documentation, and you can review the Uploading Required Documentation for Annual Capacity Exceptions section of the handbook for more guidance.

⚠️ Important: Applicants may experience a delay in application processing while their documentation is reviewed and verified.

Uploading Required Documentation for Annual Capacity Exceptions 

Adoption Status 

To provide proof of adoption status, you must upload a copy of an Adoption Decree or other similar legal documentation under the Additional Documents section of the application.

Active-Duty Military Status 

To provide proof of the active-duty military status of the parent or guardian, you must upload the Service Member’s Leave and Earnings Statement dated within two months of when the application was submitted and Permanent Change of Station orders (if applicable) under the Additional Documents section of the application.

Law Enforcement Officer Status  

To provide proof of the law enforcement officer status of the parent or guardian, you must upload a photocopy of the law enforcement officer’s badge under the Additional Documents section of the application.

Foster Status 

To provide proof of foster status, you must upload a copy of placement documentation, care placement, or other similar legal documentation dated within the last two (2) calendar years under the Additional Documents section of the application.

Submitting Your Application 

Before submitting the application, parents and guardians should carefully review all the information they have entered for accuracy. Providing false or misleading information may result in a revocation of the scholarship and may be punishable as a crime. 

To complete the application submission, the parent or guardian must agree to the Terms and Conditions and sign the Sworn Compliance Statement, acknowledging you will follow all applicable Florida statutes, rules established by the Florida Department of Education, and Step Up For Students guidelines.  

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Eligibility Notification 

After the application has been submitted, Step Up For Students will notify the parent or guardian by email and on a rolling basis whether the student is eligible for the scholarship.

There may be instances when the student may need additional documentation to determine eligibility for the FES-UA scholarship. In this case, Step UpFor Students will place the application on hold and notify the parent or guardian by email. If the student is determined ineligible, the reason will be available on your EMA account.

Award Prioritization  

Scholarship applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarships will be awarded in this order of priority:

1. Renewal applicants: A renewing student is one who was funded for Quarter 4 in the prior school year for the same scholarship they are applying to in the current school year and whose award was not revoked in the prior school year.
2. New applicants: A new student is one who did not receive funding for Quarter 4 in the prior school year for the same scholarship they are applying to in the current school year or who did not meet the application and acceptance deadlines for renewal students.

Application Deadlines 

For students renewing their FES-UA scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year

• By April 30, 2026: renewal students must have submitted their scholarship renewal application.
• By May 31, 2026: parents and guardians of renewal students must have accepted or declined the scholarship.

For students applying for a scholarship for the first time (new students) for the 2026-2027 school year: 

• By November 15, 2026: new students must submit their initial scholarship application. 
• By December 15, 2026: parents and guardians of new students must accept or decline the scholarship. 

All applications submitted or accepted after the renewal application deadline will have the same priority as new applications. 

If applications close, you may register here to receive updates about the 2027-2028 school year. 

How to Accept the Scholarship  

Upon receiving notification from Step Up For Students that the student is eligible, Florida law requires the parent or guardian to accept or decline the scholarship by a certain date.

For a step-by-step visual guide on how to accept or decline the scholarship, click here.

Timeline  

The table below outlines when new and renewal applicants must accept or deny the scholarship by:  

Type of Student	Application Period
Renewal Student	May 31, 2026
New Student	December 15, 2026

Process 

Upon receiving notification from Step Up For Students that the student is eligible, the parent or guardian must log into their EMA account to accept or deny the scholarship.

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Award Notification  

After the scholarship has been accepted, Step Up For Students will notify the parent or guardian by email and on a rolling basis whether their student has been awarded a scholarship or if the scholarship program has reached capacity.

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Enrollment Requirements After Being Awarded 

Once awarded a scholarship, parents and guardians should print the notice for their records.

To receive and use scholarship funds, the student must be enrolled in one of the following programs that meets Florida’s regular school attendance requirements:

• An eligible private school
• A home education program for which they have filed a letter of intent with their local school district.

Student Learning Plan  

FES-UA students enrolled in a Hybrid Eligible Private School who are attending in-person at least two (2) full school days per week must submit a Student Learning Plan (SLP) addressing the remaining instructional time, as required by the Florida Legislature. Families who participate in a Hybrid Eligible Private School must submit an SLP prior to quarterly funding. Please see the Funding Schedule section of the handbook for dates on when scholarship funds are deposited into a student’s account.

Once the student is enrolled in a Hybrid Eligible Private School and have submitted their SLP, they are not required to do it again for the school year,

A Student Learning Plan is a customized plan developed by parents or guardians and updated annually to guide instruction and address a student’s academic needs, including any remaining instructional time.

The Student Learning Plan can be located through the My Students tab in EMA or from the Parent and Guardian Dashboard through View Student and clicking the SLP Section.

Parents and guardians can choose various academic and personal learning priorities from the template, then rate the student’s progress. The SLP acts as a guide for educational planning, and it does not determine or limit what the parent or guardian can purchase with scholarship funds.

Full-Time Equivalent Crosscheck  

A student cannot be enrolled on a full-time basis in a public school while receiving scholarship funds.

Florida law requires the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) to verify that a scholarship student is not also enrolled in a public school on a full-time basis. This process is called the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Crosscheck. 

What is “FTE”?

FTE stands for Full Time Equivalent. It is the term public schools use to measure student attendance for state funding. The Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Crosscheck is a process the state uses to confirm your student is eligible to receive the scholarship.

Where does the Crosscheck apply?

The crosscheck simply verifies that your student is not being counted for funding at any of the following:

• Florida public schools 
• Charter schools 
• Florida Virtual School (unless you are paying for enrollment privately) 

For more information, please visit our crosscheck information page.

If the crosscheck shows your student is still listed as being enrolled in a public school, the student’s scholarship account cannot be funded. When this happens, you will see an Action Needed message in EMA. You will be required to upload documentation to verify your student is not enrolled in public school. Once the documentation is verified, your student’s account may be considered for funding.  

Submitting Required Documentation for FTE Crosscheck 

Approved documentation includes: 

• The Standard Withdrawal Form 
• A letter or email from the student's assigned school district stating the student is not enrolled as a full‑time public school student.  
• A letter or email from the student's assigned public school or selected charter school stating the student is not enrolled as a full‑time public school student.  

If your student was never enrolled in a public school, please use the second or third option mentioned above.  

Public School Enrollment Prohibition 

A student cannot be enrolled in a public school at the same time they are receiving and using scholarship funds. Parents and guardians should ensure proper public school withdrawal. To do this, you may request that the district or charter school complete the Standard Withdrawal Form for Students Entering K-12 Scholarships (Form IEPC-SWF) in accordance with Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.0952.

⚠️ Important: Public School Enrollment Rules: 

• Your child cannot be enrolled in a public school on full-time basis and receive FES-UA funds at the same time. This would count as “double funding” under state law.
• You can still use public school services (such as individual classes or activities), but you must contract with the school for those services and pay either out of pocket or with scholarship funds.
• If your child utilizes public school classes or services, be sure the school reports them as privately paying. If the school incorrectly reports your child as a public-school enrollee, they could lose their scholarship.

Florida public schools include: 

• A charter school
• A College-Preparatory Boarding Academy
• A developmental research or laboratory school
• Early Steps Extended Option
• Florida Virtual School or any other online public school as a non-private-pay student
• The SEED School of Miami
• The Florida Scholars Academy
• The Florida School For The Deaf and The Blind
• Public School VPK
• VPK Specialized Instructional Services (VPK-SIS)
• Any other Florida public school

Voluntary Prekindergarten Enrollment 

Students may use the FES-UA scholarship and the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program at an eligible private school or an approved school readiness provider at the same time.

However, if a student participates in public school VPK or School Readiness programs offered by a public school, the student will be reported as enrolled in public school unless the family is registered as private-pay. Students who are reported as enrolled in public school are not eligible for FES-UA funds, and scholarship funding may be placed on hold or returned to the Florida Department of Education.

• Allowed: VPK at an eligible private school
• Allowed: VPK or School Readiness at an approved private early learning provider
• Not Allowed: Public School VPK unless the student is registered as private-pay

Students may not use FES-UA funds while participating in VPK’s Specialized Instructional Services (VPK-SIS).

Families are encouraged to contact their local Early Learning Coalition for information about approved private VPK and School Readiness Providers.

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Grade Level Changes 

Grade level changes may be initiated by a school during enrollment or by a guardian within EMA when eligible. When a grade mismatch occurs between the grade entered by the school and the grade on the scholarship application, EMA will prompt the guardian to confirm the grade level and, in some cases, require documentation be submitted for review. Grade level changes and disagreements are handled directly between parents and the school.

Grade Level Change Funding Timeframe 

A parent or guardian may submit a grade level change request at any time; however, after the Department of Education assigns the funding award, any subsequent changes to grade level or county of residence will not result in any change to the funding award.

Submitting Required Documentation for Grade Level Change 

Approved documentation includes: 

• A report card 
• School enrollment information 
• Assessment results 
• Portfolio review documentation 

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Receiving Your Scholarship Funds 

Funding for the FES-UA scholarship comes from the State of Florida.

The process for receiving scholarship funds depends on whether the student is enrolled in a private school or participating in a home education program. Please refer to the section that applies to your student.

Students in Private School 

Parents and guardians of students enrolled in an eligible private school, whether full-time or part-time, can choose between either direct billing through EMA or paying out of pocket and requesting reimbursement.

2026–2027 School Year Enrollment and Funding Schedule 

The following chart shows the dates by which a student who is enrolled in a private school must have their enrollment confirmed, and the corresponding dates when scholarship funds will be delivered to Step Up For Students. This chart applies to families who choose an eligible private school as the option to meet Florida’s regular school attendance requirements.

2026-2027 School Year Enrollment Deadlines	Funds Delivered to Step Up For Students
June 15*	August 1*
July 15*	September 1*
September 30	November 1
December 15	February 1
February 15	April 1

* There are two funding dates for the first quarter. 

Only students found eligible and accepted on or before December 15, 2026, can be considered for any funding in the 2026-2027 school year.

Option to Pay Out of Pocket  

If the parent or guardian chooses to pay the private school directly, no additional steps are required for funds to be deposited into the student’s scholarship account. The parent or guardian will pay for eligible expenses out of pocket and then submit a reimbursement request through EMA to be reimbursed from the student’s scholarship account. Please note that tuition and fees paid to an ineligible private school are not eligible for reimbursement.

Home Education Students  

For students participating in a home education program with their school district, no further action is needed for scholarship funds to be deposited into the student’s scholarship account.

How Scholarship Funding Is Determined 

The Florida Legislature determines scholarship funding amounts annually. Families can refer to the 2026-27 funding chart for an overview of funding amounts.

A student’s scholarship funding amount is based on three factors:

• The student’s grade level
• The student’s county of residence
• The student’s matrix level of services

 The funding amount is determined by the Department of Education based on the student's grade level and county of residence at the time the student is submitted for funding consideration for the first time in the school year. After the Department of Education assigns the funding award, any subsequent changes to grade level or county of residence will not result in any change to the funding award

The sections that follow provide additional information about how the matrix level of services affects the funding amount.

Matrix Level of Services 

What is a Matrix Score?  

The Matrix of Services is the document used to determine the cost factor for selected exceptional education students based on the decisions made by an IEP team. In the matrix, five domains are used to group the types of services, and five levels are used to describe the nature and intensity of services within each domain. Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are assigned a matrix level between 1 and 5 (also referred to as 251 and 255), which determines the level of support they would receive in a public school.

👉 How funding works 

• Matrix Levels 1-3 (251-253) or students qualifying through a medical/mental health diagnosis → Funded at the average amount of all students with matrix levels 251-253 in the student’s local school district.
• Matrix Levels 4-5 (254-255) → Students receive higher scholarship amounts based on their diagnosis and documented needs.

⚠️ Important: Step Up For Students does not create or change matrix levels. Only your local school district can assign or revise them.

How to Request a New or Revise an Existing IEP and Matrix Level of Services 

• If your child does not have an IEP/matrix level, you may request an evaluation from your local school district at any time.
• If your child already has an IEP/matrix level, you may request a re-evaluation once every three (3) years, or sooner if correcting an error.

When you request a new or revised matrix level, Florida law requires your public school district to:

• Complete the IEP and matrix level of services within thirty (30) days after receiving notice of the parent or guardian’s request.
• Notify the parent or guardian and the Florida Department of Education within ten (10) calendar days after its completion.
• Step Up For Students will update the student’s application and adjust the scholarship funding based on the information shared by the Florida
  Department of Education.

Federal Special Education Law 

• Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), FES-UA students are considered parentally placed private school or home education students. 
• This means they do not have the same rights as public school students. For example, districts are not required to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to parentally placed private school or home education students. 
• However, FES-UA Students may be entitled to some special education services through their districts if they: 
  • Have a current IEP that identifies a qualifying need or 
  • Complete an evaluation by the district (districts may also use private evaluations). 

👉For additional questions or concerns regarding Matrix Level of Services, please contact your local school district's special education department or Parentally Placed Private School office to request an evaluation or to learn what services may be available. For additional details, see the Florida Department of Education’s guide on Student’s Matrix of Services.

Former Gardiner & McKay Scholarship Recipients 

Students who received a Gardiner or McKay Scholarship during the 2020–2021 school year will receive the amount the student received for the 2020-2021 school year or the newly calculated amount for the current school year, whichever is greater.

In your EMA account, you will see two different amounts: the Award Amount and the Funding Amount. The Award Amount is an estimate of total funding based on the details submitted in your application, while the Funding Amount shows the actual amount being deposited into your student’s scholarship account each quarter. These amounts may not always match for students who are grandfathered from the 2020–2021 school year. While we have made efforts to correct discrepancies, if the Award Amount appears incorrect, please refer to the Funding Amount to verify what your student will receive.

Funding Schedule 

Scholarship funds are deposited into students’ scholarship accounts on a quarterly basis. Step Up For Students receives funds from the State of Florida according to the schedule below and will then deposit the funds into students’ scholarship accounts within two weeks.

Quarter	Type of Scholarship Student	Step Up For Students Receives Funds
Quarter 1	Renewal students	August 1*
Quarter 1	New students	September 1*
Quarter 2	All students	November 1
Quarter 3	All students	February 1
Quarter 4	All students	April 1

* There are two funding dates for the first quarter.  

If a regularly scheduled deposit is delayed, supplemental funding may be provided at a later date.

⚠️ Important: Families participating in a Hybrid Eligible Private School must submit an SLP prior to quarterly funding.

Quarterly Calendar 

Quarter	Dates
Quarter 1	July 1 — September 30
Quarter 2	October 1 — December 31
Quarter 3	January 1 — March 31
Quarter 4	April 1 — June 30

Scholarship Funding Requirements  

To receive scholarship funding:  

• Parents and guardians must accept or decline the scholarship by May 31,2026
• Families participating in a Hybrid Eligible Private School must submit an SLP prior to quarterly funding in EMA.
• FES-UA students in grades 3-10 attending an eligible private school using scholarship funds are required to take a standardized assessment approved by the Florida Department of Education. Students with disabilities for whom standardized testing is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement. For more information please see the Annual Assessment Requirement section of the handbook.

Funding Proration 

Scholarship funding will be prorated based on the date the guardian has accepted the student's awarded scholarship.

Below is a breakdown of the proration: 

• Students with an awarded and accepted scholarship by September 30, 2025, will receive 100% of the total funding amount for that school year. 
• Students who miss the September 30, 2026, deadline but have an awarded and accepted scholarship by December 15, 2026, will receive 50% of the total funding amount for that school year. 
• If a student is not awarded a scholarship by January 15, 2026, they will not be funded for the 2026-2027 school year. 
• If a student is awarded and has not accepted the scholarship by January 15, 2026, they will not be funded for the 2026-2027 school year.  
• If an awarded and accepted scholarship has been declined but later accepted again, the Funding Proration would be based on the most recent acceptance date. 

Funding Rollover & Balance Limits 

Unspent scholarship funds may be rolled over from one school year to the next. These funds remain accessible and can be used for eligible expenses in future years, as long as the student continues to meet scholarship requirements.

However, Florida law prohibits depositing additional funds into a student’s scholarship account if the scholarship account balance exceeds $50,000.

Accrued Interest 

Florida law requires Step Up For Students to track any interest earned on a student’s scholarship account and apply it to the account balance. The earned interest will be deposited into the student’s scholarship account based on the quarter in which it was earned.  Step Up For Students does not earn profit from this interest, nor does it use these funds for any other reason.

The table below shows the interest deposit schedule: 

Interest Accrual Period	Earned Interest Deposit Date
July - September	October 31
October - December	January 31
January - March	April 30
April - June	July 31

Funding Errors and Adjustments  

If excess funds are mistakenly deposited into a student’s scholarship account, Step Up For Students will recover the excess funds. Parents and guardians should monitor their student’s account carefully and should avoid spending funds that may have been deposited in error.

If a student switches scholarship programs mid-year, Step Up For Students may also recover excess funds associated with their previous scholarship.

When a student or guardian account has an error that prevents funding, Step Up For Students will make three (3) attempts to contact the guardian to assist in the correction of the issue. After the third unsuccessful attempt, the student scholarship application will be actioned to a declined or withdrawn status for the school year at issue.

Funding Transfers Among Scholarship Funding Organizations   

Students may only receive scholarship funding from one Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) at a time, however a parent or guardian may choose to transfer from one SFO to another. If a student transfers to another scholarship program, any unused funds from their previous scholarship account will remain accessible and may continue to be spent on eligible expenses until the balance is exhausted. Funds from the scholarship account the student transferred from must be used in accordance with the rules of that scholarship program.

Students participating in the FTC scholarship may transfer between SFOs, but their scholarship funds will not transfer with them. FTC funds are privately raised by each SFO. 

The steps required to transfer depend on your situation, so please refer to the section below that applies to your student. If a student completes a transfer, please note the transfer of funds may take several weeks.

Student Applied with Another SFO and Has Not Been Funded 

If the parent or guardian applied with a scholarship funding organization (SFO) other than Step Up For Students, and the student has not yet been awarded a scholarship or received any funds, they must first decline the pending scholarship with the current SFO before applying through Step Up For Students.

Student Applied with Another SFO, Has Been Funded and Wants to Transfer 

If the student has already been awarded a scholarship and received funds through another SFO, the parent or guardian must first submit a new application through Step Up For Students and receive eligibility confirmation. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the parent or guardian should then contact the current SFO to request a scholarship transfer to Step Up For Students.

Switching Between Scholarship Programs 

Families may request to switch from one scholarship program to another once per school year.

Private School and Unique Abilities families whose students have already been awarded should confirm their student’s initial scholarship program or decline their initial scholarship to apply for and accept a different scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year by June 15, 2026, for renewal students and July 15, 2026, for new students. Students who have confirmed before this deadline may remain eligible for funding consideration for Quarters 1-4 through the program they have accepted. This means up to 100% of the student’s scholarship award may come from the new program, pending funding approval from the Florida Department of Education and all applicable deadlines being met.  

The final deadline to accept a 2026-2027 scholarship through the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) and Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) is December 15^th for new students. However, renewal students must accept by May 31^st to maintain renewal priority. Even if your student was funded in Quarter 4 of the previous year on their current scholarship, if you accept their scholarship after May 31^st, they will be considered a new student. 

Deferral Note: Guardians who want to decline their student’s scholarship for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 and may want to reaccept their scholarship for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 must decline their scholarship by June 15, 2026, for renewal students and July 15, 2026, for new students.   

⚠️ Important: Parents and guardians should only accept the scholarship if they are sure that their student will use the scholarship at the start of the year. If a student accepts the scholarship, is presented for funding consideration, and is found by the Florida Department of Education to be enrolled full-time in a Florida public school, their scholarship will be forfeited for the entire year. Parents and guardians who are unsure of their students’ plans should not accept the scholarship at this time. It may be accepted later when the student’s plans are confirmed. 

Switching Process: Guardians wishing to switch scholarship programs after June 15^th (for renewal students) or July 15^th (for new students) may do so only between October 2^nd and the last business day of October of the application year. Changes made during this period may allow students to remain eligible for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 funding (50%) under the new program. Program switchers must comply with relevant application and acceptance deadlines for the new scholarship program for which they are applying.  

All switches are subject to Florida Department of Education approval, and total funding may not exceed the annual award amount for the new scholarship program. 

⚠️ Important: Families should contact Step Up For Students before requesting a program switch to confirm eligibility, funding impact, and timing requirements.

Funding Discontinuation  

No additional funds will be deposited into a student’s scholarship account if the student becomes ineligible. A student becomes ineligible if any of the following apply:

• The student is found to be enrolled in a public school
• The student graduates from high school
• Turn twenty-two (22) years old on or before September 1^st of the upcoming school year

Funding Revocation 

A student’s scholarship account will be closed and any remaining funds, including any contributions to the Florida Prepaid College Plan (Prepaid 529 Plan) or the Florida 529 Savings Program (Investment 529 Plan), will be returned to the state if any of the following occurs:

• The Florida Department of Education Commissioner deems the student ineligible due to fraud or abuse
• Three (3) consecutive years pass after high school graduation without enrollment in an eligible postsecondary program

Two (2) consecutive fiscal years (July 1^st – June 30^th) pass with no spending activity from the student’s account

Students whose accounts have been closed may submit new applications and be considered for scholarship eligibility in subsequent years. The Commissioner of Education has the authority to determine whether to deny or withdraw a student's eligibility for any upcoming year.

⚠️ Important: When a student’s scholarship account is closed, any funds that were deposited into a Florida Prepaid College Program or Florida 529 College Savings Program account—during any year of scholarship participation, including prior years—must be returned to the state.

Invoice Approval Requirement 

Parents and guardians must approve private school tuition and fee invoices in EMA within thirty (30) calendar days of the school submitting them.

• If the invoice is not approved within this timeframe, it will be deleted. 
• For students funded under FES-UA, the funds are returned to the student’s scholarship account. 

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How to Spend Your Scholarship Funds 

Making Successful Purchases 

Your child’s scholarship funds are flexible and can be used in a few different ways. The goal is to give you options to match your student’s needs.

There are several methods a parent or guardian can use to spend scholarship funds:

• Direct billing for full-time private school enrollment through EMA 
• Direct billing for services such as tutoring or therapy through Find Providers on EMA Marketplace 
• Purchasing products directly through MyScholarShop on the EMA Marketplace 
• Paying out of pocket for eligible expenses and requesting reimbursement 

What is the EMA Marketplace? 

Think of it as an online store and service finder. There are two options in the EMA Marketplace:

• MyScholarShop allows you to purchase eligible instructional materials and curriculum
• Find Providers allows you to purchase services, such as tutoring and therapy, from pre-approved vendors

⚠️ Before you spend the funds, check these two things: 

• Eligibility of the expense 
  • Look at the Purchasing Guide or Appendix B to confirm the item or service is allowed.  
  • It is important to note that items or services approved in the past may not be approved currently.  
• Available Balance 
  • Check your student’s account in EMA to confirm they have sufficient funds. Reimbursements cannot be approved for amounts that are higher than your available balance. 

⚠️ Important: All purchases and reimbursements must follow Florida law, Florida Department of Education rules, and Step Up For Students’ internal policies and procedures.

Eligible Expenses  

Scholarship funds must be used for eligible expenses that meet the individual educational needs of the student.

For a comprehensive list and detailed guidance on eligible expenses, please consult the Purchasing Guide. For a summary chart of eligible expenses and payment types, please refer to  Appendix B of this handbook.

The following categories of items and services are eligible expenses:

• Instructional materials
• Curriculum and curriculum materials
• Specialized services
• Tuition and fees:
  • At an eligible private school
  • At a hybrid eligible private school
  • For home education instructional programs*
  • At an eligible post-secondary institution, including those participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
  • At a Florida Department of Education approved pre-apprenticeship program
  • For a dual enrollment program that is creditable toward high school completion and a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree under Florida Statute 1007.271. More information is available from the Florida Department of Education.
  • For a private tutoring program
  • For part-time tutoring services or Choice Navigator services
  • At an approved online or virtual provider
  • As a private pay student for Florida Virtual School (FLVS)
• Standardized testing and academic fees, including test administration and proctoring
• Contributions to approved college savings programs
  • Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program (Prepaid 529 Plan)
  • Florida 529 Savings Program (Investment 529 Plan)
• Contracted services provided by a public school or school district
• Fees for specialized summer education programs
• Fees for specialized after-school education programs
• Transition services provided by job coaches
• Annual home education evaluation fees
• Tuition and fees for an approved VPK Program provider, an approved School Readiness provider, or an eligible private school
• Fees for horse therapy
• Fees for music and art therapy

⚠️ Note: For purposes of the scholarship program, a home education instructional program as an authorized use of funds is different than a home education program as defined in Florida Statute 1002.01(1).

Out-of-State Expenses  

Some expenses outside of Florida may be eligible but must meet specific criteria.

Activities and Field Trips 

• Physical Education (P.E.) activities outside of Florida, including: 
• Dance lessons 
• Gym and fitness memberships, class passes, or on-demand fitness classes 
• Sports lessons, team participation fees, or stand-alone athletic event fees 
• Field trips outside of Florida, including: 
• Cultural programming events 
• Museum admission
• Museum or library memberships 
• State and National Park admission 
• Ticketed events (such as plays, musicals, or orchestral performances) 
• Zoo and aquarium admission, memberships and programs 

These out-of-state activities and field trips require pre-authorization before reimbursement.

Exception for Military Families 

Approved military families living outside of Florida do not need pre-authorization for out-of-state activities and field trips. They may submit reimbursement requests directly with the required documentation.

⚠️ Important: Military families living outside of Florida may not use scholarship funds for tuition and fees at private schools located outside of Florida. Only private schools located in Florida are eligible to participate in the scholarship program. Eligible private schools are listed in the Florida Private Schools Directory.

Other Out-of-State Rules 

• Service Providers: Services must be delivered in Florida with the only exception being credentialed providers who can work virtually (e.g., tutors, Choice Navigators), services must be delivered in Florida. 
• Internet Services: In-home internet (including mobile hot-spots and streaming services) must be provided to the Florida residential address listed on the student’s scholarship application. 

Purchases and Shipping 

Purchases through MyScholarShop must be shipped to the mailing address on file for the scholarship account.

• MyScholarShop orders may not be shipped outside of Florida.
• Reimbursement purchases can be made out-of-state but must be shipped to a Florida address, including P.O. Boxes. Please note, the billing address is not the same and cannot be used in place of the shipping address.

Exception: Approved military families living out of state may be reimbursed for authorized purchases shipped out of state. 

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How to Use Direct Billing  

Private School  

Parents and guardians of students that will be enrolled in an eligible private school full-time or part-time can choose to pay the private school by either direct billing through EMA or paying out of pocket and requesting reimbursement. A list of eligible private schools can be found in the Florida Private Schools Directory.

Full-Time Private School  

Full-time private schools may choose to create an account in EMA and offer families the option to use direct billing. If your student plans to attend a full-time, in-person private school that participates in EMA for direct billing, you’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure successful payment to the private school.

First, you must contact the private school and provide them with your student’s Award ID which will be provided to you on your EMA account upon being awarded the scholarship. The school will then enroll the student in EMA using the tuition and fee rate agreed upon by both the school and the parent. Once the school completes the enrollment, the parent or guardian will receive a notification to confirm it.

Once enrollment has been confirmed and quarterly funding has been deposited into the student’s account, an invoice will be generated each quarter. Both the school and the parent or guardian must review and approve each invoice to verify its accuracy. Once approved by both parties, scholarship funds will be disbursed to the private school within seven (7) business days.

⚠️ Important:  

• If a student attends the school for at least ten (10) days during a quarterly payment period, the school will receive the full distribution for that quarter.
• The agreed-upon tuition rate between the private school and the parent or guardian may not exceed the school’s published rate for the student’s grade level.
• Some private schools may offer financial assistance, so the agreed-upon rate may include discounts or other considerations.
• If the school’s tuition exceeds the scholarship award amount, the parent or guardian is responsible for paying the difference, either by working directly with the school or by using available rollover funds in the scholarship account.
• The student’s scholarship award is allocated for the private school’s tuition and fees and applied to the quarterly payments before any remaining funds can be used for other eligible expenses.

Part-Time Private School  

Part-time private schools may choose to create a service offering on EMA and offer families the option to use direct billing. If your student plans to attend a part-time, in-person private school that participates in EMA for direct billing, you’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure successful payment to the private school.

First, you must log in to your EMA account and click Marketplace on the left-hand side of the dashboard. Click Find Providers to search for your student’s school. Next, you must select your student using the dropdown arrow in the Select Student box. Be sure to choose the correct student for whom you are reserving tuition and fees. Use the filters to select Eligible Private School as the service category and Tuition as the service type, then click search.

Select your student’s school from the list and choose the correct location from the dropdown. Review the tuition rate listed by the school, select the quantity, and click Add to Cart. Please note, your student must have sufficient funds to reserve services.

Click the shopping cart icon, review your selections, and click Reserve Funds. Check the Yes box and click Confirm to give the school access to your contact information and reserve funds. Once funds are reserved, the provider can submit the guardian-initiated invoices for payment without further guardian approval. For more guidance on the part-time private school direct option, please watch this brief video.

Full-Time or Part-Time Pre-Kindergarten  

Beginning the 2025-2026 school year, scholarship funds can be used for full-time or part-time in-person pre-kindergarten programs offered by an eligible private school. Private schools may choose to create an account in EMA and offer families the option to use direct billing. If your student plans to attend a pre-kindergarten program that participates in EMA for direct billing, you’ll need to follow the steps below to ensure successful payment to the private school.

First, you must contact the private school and provide them with your student’s Award ID which will be provided to you on your EMA account upon being awarded the scholarship. The school will then enroll the student in EMA using the tuition and fee rate agreed upon by both the school and the parent. Once the school completes the enrollment, the parent or guardian will receive a notification to confirm it.

Once enrollment has been confirmed and quarterly funding has been deposited into the student’s account, an invoice will be generated each quarter. Both the school and the parent or guardian must review and approve each invoice to verify its accuracy. Once approved by both parties, scholarship funds will be disbursed to the private school within seven (7) business days.

⚠️ Important: Schools and providers cannot request or use your EMA login credentials. Allowing another party, including a provider or school representative, to access or manage your EMA  account is prohibited and doing so could result in the loss of the scholarship.

Transferring Among Private Schools  

Students who do enroll in private schools may transfer their scholarships between participating private schools. Parents or guardians who are dissatisfied with a private school, or relocate within Florida, have the option to find a different eligible private school. Before a parent or guardian withdraws their student from the private school, they should notify the school and understand the school’s transfer policy.

A student may not be enrolled in a new eligible private school in EMA until the student has been withdrawn from the prior school in EMA.

The transfer process may include final payment to the private school the student is leaving. If a payment is owed to that school, it must be approved by the parent or guardian. If the school has been overpaid, Step Up For Students will invoice the school for the overpayment.

If a student transfers to a different participating school in the same quarter, the first school the student attended for ten (10) days or more during that quarter will receive the full quarter’s payment.

Quarter	Dates
Quarter 1	July 1 — September 30
Quarter 2	October 1 — December 31
Quarter 3	January 1 — March 31
Quarter 4	April 1 — June 30

The parent or guardian and the two schools may negotiate any amount owed to the new school from the quarterly payment made to the first school. This is not required, but, in the spirit of partnership for the good of the student, it is highly recommended.

Parents or guardians should allow five (5) business days for the current school to withdraw the student. If the student has not been withdrawn after five (5) business days, please contact our Customer Engagement Center.

Services 

Step Up For Students allows parents and guardians to pay directly for some eligible educational services. Providers wishing to participate in direct billing payment for educational services from scholarship students must set up a provider account in EMA and submit a service catalog.

Requests for payment directly to a provider may only be approved after the service has been rendered.

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How to Use MyScholarShop 

MyScholarShop allows you to purchase eligible instructional materials and curriculum.

Parents and guardians can log in to EMA to access MyScholarShop, which becomes accessible within a few days after funds are deposited into a student’s account.

If an item is not in MyScholarShop or the program Purchasing Guide, it may still be an eligible expense. If an item is in MyScholarShop, it may not be an eligible item for all scholarship programs.

If a parent pays out of pocket for an item identical to one available through MyScholarShop, but pays a lower price, the parent must be reimbursed for that item.

Parents or guardians should submit a pre-authorization form if they are unsure an item is eligible.

To learn more about MyScholarShop, watch the video here.  

MyScholarShop Guidelines 

• Parents and guardians should ensure they have enough available funds in the student’s scholarship account to cover the entire purchase. 
• If an item requires pre-authorization, the pre-authorization request must be approved before a parent or guardian places the order. The approved pre-authorization number must be included in the appropriate field to avoid a delay or denial of order. 
• If an item has an associated purchasing rule, such as size or frequency limitation, those same rules apply in MyScholarShop.  
• MyScholarShop orders will ship to the mailing address listed in the guardian profile in EMA. If the mailing address was  recently updated, please confirm the address before placing the order.  
• Step Up For Students reserves the right to deny purchase requests. 
• These policies do not apply to in-store purchases or purchases from vendor websites. 

MyScholarShop Returns 

Returns must be completed directly through the vendor from whom the item was purchased, not through Step Up For Students. Individual vendors list their return policies and instructions in MyScholarShop.

Please note that items may not be returned to the store location.

Once the vendor has received the item, it may take up to a few weeks for the funds to be credited to the student’s scholarship account.

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How To Request Reimbursement 

Parents or guardians who choose to pay for eligible tuition and fees, items, or services out of pocket may apply to have those expenditures reimbursed from their student’s scholarship account.

Parents and guardians will submit all reimbursement requests through EMA. Step-by-step instructions for submitting a reimbursement request in EMA are available here.

⚠️ Important:

• Products or services paid for by another agency or source (for example, health insurance, Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSAs), or a School Readiness program) may not be submitted for reimbursement. 
• Step Up For Students approves reimbursements within the guidance of Florida statutes related to the scholarship program, as well as Florida Department of Education rules and Step Up For Students policies and procedures and reserves the right to close or deny any reimbursement request submitted for payment. 

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Reimbursement Timeline 

Reimbursement requests are year-specific. Items or services must be purchased using 2026-2027 scholarship funds between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. Requests for reimbursements using scholarship funds from the 2026-2027 school year must be submitted by July 31, 2027.

Parents and guardians should anticipate that reimbursement requests may take up to sixty (60) days to be reviewed and processed after all necessary documentation has been received. To prevent delays in the review process, please verify that your invoice or receipt includes all necessary information regarding the category of the reimbursement request, proof of payment details, and any other required documentation, such as credentials. If a reimbursement request is placed "on hold" pending additional documentation or revisions, including amount adjustments, the 60-day review period starts over when the requested information is received.

To avoid interruptions in the review process, please confirm that your invoice or receipt contains all necessary information related to the category for your reimbursement request, proof of payment, and any additional required documentation, such as credentials.

The table below outlines the timeframe in which eligible purchases may be made and the deadlines for submitting the corresponding reimbursement requests.

Reimbursement Type	Eligible Purchase Window	Reimbursement Request Window
Reimbursements	July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027	July 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027
Eligible Reimbursements Before Scholarship Year Begins	Any time before July 1, 2026	July 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027
Eligible Reimbursements for Services in Advance	Within four (4) months of the reimbursement request, or within one (1) year if the provider attests the service is nonrefundable	July 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027

Eligible Reimbursements Before Scholarship Year Begins 

The categories listed below are eligible for advance purchase, meaning they can be purchased before July 1^st of the year the student is awarded a scholarship. However, reimbursement requests must be submitted between July 1^st and July 31^st of the year the student is awarded a scholarship. This is intended to give families flexibility to plan ahead, while ensuring that the correct year’s scholarship funds are used.

• Eligible Private School Tuition and Fees 
• Home Education Instructional Program Tuition and Fees 
• Public School Contracted Services 
• Dual Enrollment Classes 
• Full-Time Private Tutoring 
• Postsecondary Institution Tuition and Fees  
• State-Approved Virtual Instruction Provider 
• State-Approved Online Course 
• Curriculum 

The only exception to this process would be an eligible private school or Home Education Instructional Program (HEIP) fees, which can be paid for and reimbursed in the previous school year once the Eligible Private School is marked compliant by the Florida Department of Education (usually in April) or the HEIP is approved by SUFS, if the parent has funds available to do so. Reimbursements submitted prior to annual school compliance will be denied.

Eligible Reimbursements for Advance Services 

Parents and guardians can submit a reimbursement request for services up to four months in advance. For example, if a tutor asks for payment in advance, a parent can apply on August 15^th for reimbursement of tutoring fees paid through December 15^th. An invoice showing specific dates or a general term like “semester 1” may both be accepted, as long as the service period falls within the four-month limit.

Requests submitted for services more than four (4) months in advance may be approved through the remainder of the school year, up to one (1) year, if the provider attests that the services paid in advance are non-refundable.

Parents and guardians must submit a signed and dated letter from the provider stating the payment is non-refundable or submit published policies from the provider showing these requirements.

Reimbursement Process  

After you submit a reimbursement, it will progress through these statuses:

• Submitted: Step Up For Students has received the reimbursement request. 
• In Review: Step Up For Students is reviewing the reimbursement request. 
• Approved: If a reimbursement request is approved, the payment will be issued to the parent or guardian from the student’s scholarship account via direct deposit (ACH), PayPal or by check.  
• Parents or guardians will be asked to submit personal banking information to receive ACH payments. If a payment is rejected by the banking institution, the funds will return to the student’s scholarship account after thirty (30) days. 
• Reimbursements for multiple scholarship students on scholarship programs will be paid separately. 
• Denied: The reimbursement request will not be fulfilled for the identified purchase. Step Up For Students will provide the denial reason via email to the email address in EMA. Common denial reasons include incorrect or insufficient documentation for the purchase, or the purchase was submitted using the wrong category. Please refer to the How To Appeal A Denied Reimbursement section for information on the appeals process. 
• On Hold: The reimbursement request needs further action, information, or documentation from the parent or guardian. Step Up For Students will provide information via email to the email address in EMA. If additional documents are requested for an On Hold reimbursement and none are submitted within thirty (30) days, it will automatically be denied, and the parent or guardian will need to submit a new reimbursement request. 

How To Appeal a Denied Reimbursement 

If a reimbursement request is denied, parents or guardians may appeal the decision once through EMA. To do this, go to the Reimbursements tab on the left side of the dashboard. Find the denied reimbursement request and open it. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will see a red APPEAL button. Click this button to start your appeal for the original reimbursement request. Here, you can update the initial reimbursement request and provide additional documentation.

After the appeal decision is made, additional appeals for the same item will not be reviewed.

Step Up For Students is unable to review appeals or resubmission requests that are sent via email or through any other customer service channel.

Reimbursement requests placed on hold for longer than thirty (30) days after a request for additional documentation will be denied and need to be submitted again.

Submitting Reimbursement Supporting Documentation 

For a reimbursement request to be approved, Step Up For Students requires specific documentation outlined in the following sections, “Supporting Documentation for Proof of Payment” and “Supporting Documentation for Eligible Uses of Scholarship Funds.”  

Step Up For Students may request additional documentation or clarification when the reimbursement request is reviewed. The parent or guardian will be notified by email to the email address in EMA.

Invoices and receipts must include a clear breakdown of all costs, such as the base cost, taxes, fees, and the total amount paid. The provider’s name on the invoice or receipt must match their submitted credentials. Handwritten notes, or unofficial documents, cannot be accepted. Please make sure your provider’s invoice or receipt reflects the total amount charged to your payment method.

Supporting Documentation for Proof of Payment 

The following documents can serve as proof that the parent or guardian paid for the purchase:

• A receipt including the complete transaction date (MM/DD/YY), and the amount paid.
• An invoice including the complete transaction date (MM/DD/YY) and demonstrating that it has been paid in full. Demonstration that it has been paid in full includes a “paid in full” stamp, the display of the invoice amount and payment amount, or a zero balance.

Receipts and invoices must include a clear breakdown of all costs, such as the base cost, taxes, fees, and the total amount paid.

For purchases made with buy now and pay later services, parents and guardians will only be reimbursed for the amount paid at the time of reimbursement submission.

Requests for reimbursement of cash purchases from private sellers that are not affiliated with a company or institution (garage sale, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, private tutors, private therapists) will be denied. Handwritten notes or unofficial documents will also be denied.

Certain expenses require provider vetting by law. For these reimbursements, your receipt or invoice must include the provider's first and last name. For more information on which expenses require a provider/instructor/tutor name, please see the Supporting Documentation for Eligible Uses of Scholarship Funds section of the handbook.

⚠️ Note: Parents or guardians utilizing a payment plan for Florida Theme Park admission must wait until the ticket or pass has been paid in full (or up to $299) before submitting their reimbursement request.

Proof of Payment For Private School Tuition Using Tuition Management Systems 

A private school’s tuition management system (e.g., FACTS, Blackbaud, TADS) may include the information needed to provide proof of payment.

The billing statement should include:

• School’s name and address
• Scholarship student’s first and last name as listed in EMA
• Description of each payment to be reimbursed (including but not limited to tuition, registration fee, book fees, etc.)
• Amount of each transaction
• Date of full payment (MM/DD/YY)

A tuition management system account may show activity related to multiple students and transactions. Each reimbursement request should include the specific scholarship student, and the specific transactions, for which the parent or guardian is seeking reimbursement.

If a private school’s tuition management system groups students by family and does not show spending for individual students, a parent or guardian can submit an invoice from the school with appropriate documentation as stated in Tuition and Fees at an Eligible Private School.

⚠️ Important: Payments made to a non-eligible private school will not be reimbursed.

Proof of Payment for Credit Card Points, Gift Cards, & Cash Equivalents  

Purchases made using reward or loyalty points, credits, or gift cards may only be eligible for reimbursement if the proof of payment clearly shows the cash value of the payment method.

For example: A parent or guardian makes an eligible purchase for $40.48. They pay $30 with their credit card and $10.48 using reward points.

They can be reimbursed for the full purchase price of $40.48 if the receipt from their purchase clearly shows a full price of $40.48, and the full purchase was for eligible expenses.

If the receipt does not show the full purchase price, they can only be reimbursed for $30 – the portion paid with a credit card.

Supporting Documentation for Eligible Use of Scholarship Funds 

Eligible items and services fall into different categories, and each category has its own documentation requirements. The sections below are organized by category and outline the documentation required to demonstrate that an item or service qualifies for scholarship funding reimbursement. Details on eligible uses of scholarship funds are available in the program Purchasing Guide.

Instructional Materials, Curriculum, or Curriculum Materials 

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Item(s) purchased
• Full date of purchase, including year
• Amount of the purchase, including item price, subtotal, taxes, fees, discounts, and total
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

If multiple items are listed on the receipt, please underline or highlight the item(s) included in the reimbursement request. If possible, purchase the item(s) in a separate transaction.

Internet Resources, Including Mobile Hot Spots 

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Service address that matches the physical address listed in the guardian profile in EMA
• Description of the item purchased (e.g., which internet package purchased)
• Full date of purchase or service
• Amount of the purchase, including item price, subtotal, taxes, fees, discounts, and total

Your proof of payment date will need to correspond with the due date on the invoice.

Streaming Services 

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Description of the item purchased (i.e. the streaming package purchased)
• Full date of purchase or service, including year
• Amount of the purchase, including item price, subtotal, taxes, fees, discounts, and total
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

The service or billing address does not need to be included for Streaming Services.

Physical Education (P.E.) 

The invoice or receipt must include: 

• Type of service rendered 
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester), including the year 
• Service rate 
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section). 

Electives & Enrichment 

Reimbursement requests for elective classes, enrichment or lessons must include documentation demonstrating the provider meets the requirements for part-time tutoring or Choice Navigator services, or has one of the following:

• A valid or expired Florida educator’s certificate
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in the relevant subject area as demonstrated by a full LinkedIn profile or resume.
• Current enrollment in a postsecondary educational institution as a student of the relevant subject area
• Degree from a postsecondary educational institution in the relevant subject area
• Certification or national accreditation in the relevant subject area

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Instructor’s first and last name
• Provider’s company name, if applicable
• Type of service rendered
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Service rate

Summer Programs & Day Camps 

Summer day camps and seasonal enrichment programs may be eligible when they provide structured instruction in an academic, artistic, or skill-based area and are led by providers who meet the Electives & Enrichment instructor qualifications listed above.

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Instructor or provider’s name
• Provider or organization name (if applicable)
• Type of program or class offered
• Dates or session period (including year) of participation
• Service rate or tuition amount
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

If the summer program includes multiple activity types, only the instructional component is eligible for reimbursement.

👉 Sports-related camps can be submitted under Sports Lessons and do not require provider credentials. 

⚠️ Important: Traditional overnight summer camps that provide general recreation, lodging, or non-instructional activity programming are not eligible for reimbursement. To submit a reimbursement request, families should follow the same documentation requirements listed under Electives & Enrichment.

Specialized Services 

The invoice or receipt on business letterhead must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Type of service rendered
• Amount due for the service
• First and last name of the service provider who rendered the service
• Service provider’s license number
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

⚠️ Important: If the invoice includes medical billing codes rather than the type of service rendered, it may result in delays in processing.

Florida Department of Education Approved Pre-Apprenticeship Program 

The invoice or receipt on craftsperson or company letterhead must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Name of the Florida Department of Education-approved pre-apprenticeship course
• Craftsperson name, company name (if applicable) and license number or listed on the Florida Department of Education website
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Program rate
• Total amount due for the service
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

More information about Florida Department of Education approved pre-apprenticeship programs can be found here.

Full-Time Private Tutoring Program 

Full-time private tutoring is an option for students to satisfy state attendance requirements outlined in Florida Statute 1002.43 Parents must select a credentialed provider and participate in a minimum number of instructional hours by grade level.

The invoice or receipt on business letterhead must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Tutor’s first and last name
• Tutor’s Florida Department of Education certification number
• Tutor’s company name, if applicable
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Include it is for full-time tutoring
• Tutor’s hourly rate
• Total amount due for the service
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

⚠️ Important:

• Full-time tutors who have not previously received payment via scholarship funds will be required to submit a Step Up For Students Full-Time Tutor Participation Agreement and W-9.
• To ensure correct processing, each reimbursement request should include documentation in English of the service provider’s license number and/or credentials.

Part-Time Tutoring Services or Choice Navigator Services 

The invoice or receipt on business letterhead must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Tutor’s or navigator’s first and last name
• Tutor’s company name, if applicable
• Type of service rendered
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Tutor’s hourly rate (not required for Choice Navigator services)
• Total amount due for the service
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

⚠️ Important:

• To ensure correct processing, each reimbursement request should include documentation, in English, of the service provider’s license number and/or credentials.
• If the provider of these services has not already been approved in EMA, reimbursement requests for these services should include documentation of their credentials. Options for acceptable documentation are detailed in the program Purchasing Guide.

Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program (Prepaid 529 Plan) 

The Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program (Prepaid 529 Plan) transitioned from reimbursement to direct pay on June 30^th, 2026.. This change is intended to simplify and improve the process for families.

As of June 30^th, 2026 families will no longer be able to submit reimbursements and must use direct pay.

Florida 529 College Savings Program (Investment 529 Plan)

Florida 529 College Savings Program (Investment 529 Plan) contributions must occur via direct payment. Florida 529 College Savings Program reimbursement requests submitted for payment to the parent or guardian will be denied.

Please note families must enter their Florida 529 College Savings Program (Investment 529 Plan) account number in the "NOTES" section once the service order is reviewed in the Shopping Cart.

Governance of Scholarship Funds Transferred to Florida Prepaid 529 and Investment 529 Plans

Scholarship funds that are transferred to a Florida Prepaid account (Prepaid 529 Plan and Investment 529 Plan) remain subject to both the terms and conditions of Florida Prepaid and the rights and restrictions of the scholarship program under Florida Statute 1002.394. In other words, once the scholarship funds are transferred to Florida Prepaid, they continue to be governed by the rules of the FES-UA scholarship program. As such, the beneficiary of a Florida Prepaid account containing scholarship funds must remain the student who received the scholarship, all uses of scholarship funds must follow FES-UA allowable expenses, and if the student loses scholarship eligibility or their account is closed, then scholarship funds in the Florida Prepaid account revert back to the scholarship funding organization.

Contracted Services Provided By A Public School or District 

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Name and address of the school
• Services provided
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• A statement showing the amount paid (or billed)
• Proof of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

Tuition & Fees At An Eligible Private School  

Requests for reimbursement of tuition and fees at a participating private school submitted by the Requests for reimbursement of tuition and fees at a participating private school submitted by the parent or guardian must include a complete invoice and proof of payment containing the following information:

• School’s published tuition and fee rates
• Annual tuition rate for the scholarship student
• Name and address of the private school
• Scholarship student's first name and last name (The student’s name on the invoice must match Step Up For Student's records. Nicknames, middle names as first names, etc. are not accepted.)
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• School year the payment is for
• Method of Payment (see Proof of Payment section)
• Itemized charges for each tuition or fee payment

⚠️ Important:

• School lunch and before- and after-school care are not eligible expenses. You may review the Purchasing Guide to view all prohibited fees.
• If a student withdraws or transfers, refunds (if any) will be based on the school’s policy and must be paid back to Step Up For Students for credit to the student’s scholarship account. The parent or guardian may not accept refunds of scholarship dollars from the school.
• Tuition and/or fees paid to an ineligible private school that does not participate in the scholarship program are not eligible for reimbursement.

Eligible fees include:

• Academic services fee
• Activity fee, including choir, band, etc.
• Application fee (payable in the fiscal year preceding the academic year)
• Athletics fee
• Club fee
• Book fee
• Enrollment fee
• Graduation fee
• Registration fee (payable in the fiscal year preceding the academic year)
• Security fee
• Technology fee
• Test fee
• Uniform fee (basic uniform pieces purchased from a school-required vendor including sports uniforms)

Prohibited fees:

• Annual funds
• Before- or after-school care
• Costs associated with scholarship management
• Food fees, including breakfast and lunch
• Fundraising fees, donation fees, giving fees, volunteer waiver fees
• Nursery or daycare fees
• Optional fees
• Shoes and accessories fees

If the private school uses a tuition management system (e.g., FACTS, Blackbaud, TADS), only the annual fee for use of the billing service will be eligible for reimbursement. Any fees charged for use of a credit card will not be reimbursed.

Tuition and/or fees paid to an ineligible private school that does not participate in the scholarship program are not eligible for reimbursement.

Tuition & Fees As A Private-Pay Student For Florida Virtual School (FLVS) 

The invoice or receipt  must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Name of course paid for (or billed)
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• A statement showing the amount paid (or billed)
• Proof of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

If the student withdraws from the course within fourteen (14) days, a refund will be issued to the entity/individual from which payment was received.

Tuition & Fees At An Eligible Postsecondary Institution, A Home Education Instructional Program, or An Approved Online or Virtual Provider 

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Name of the institution or course provider
• Course description
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Amount of tuition and fees
• Proof of payment, on institution letterhead, if applicable (see Proof of Payment section)

For first-time Home Education Instructional Program providers who have not previously been vetted, reimbursement requests must also include:

• Tuition and fees schedule
• Descriptions of courses or activities

Tuition & Fees For An Approved VPK Program Provider or An Approved School Readiness Provider  

The invoice or receipt must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Name and address of the approved provider
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Description of the services provided
• Amount of tuition and fees
• Proof of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

Tuition and fees must be for the educational needs of the student and may cover a full-day program, and must be accurately described in the invoice. Fees for nursery or daycare will not be covered.

School lunch and other fees that are not mandatory or are not educational are not covered by the scholarship. If a student withdraws or transfers schools, refunds (if any) will be based on the provider’s policy and must be paid back to Step Up For Students

Fees For Specialized After-School Education Programs or Specialized Summer Education Programs  

The invoice or receipt must include

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Description of the services provided
• Amount of fees
• Proof of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

⚠️ Important:

• Specialized summer education programs, including overnight and day educational camps, require pre-authorization.
• Any pre-authorization submitted for camps not developed specifically for students with special or unique needs must include a letter from a therapist or doctor describing how this specific program will benefit your student's needs. Camp lodging and food costs will not be covered.

Fees For Annual Home Education Evaluation or Testing and Academic Services, Including Test Administration & Proctoring 

The invoice or receipt must include: 

• Student’s first and last name 
• Full date of the evaluation/test, including year 
• Description of the services provided  
• Amount of fees for the evaluation/test 
• For an assessment not listed on the Florida Department of Education  list of approved norm-referenced assessments: Documentation of the teacher’s Florida Department of Education certification number or psychologist’s Florida Department of Health license number 
• Proof of payment (see Proof of Payment section) 

Transition Services Provided By Job Coaches 

Transition services provided by job coaches at eligible private schools may be included in the school’s fees (see Tuition and Fees for required documents)

The invoice or receipt for transition services provided by a job coach outside an eligible private school must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Description of the services provided
• Total amount due for the service
• Proof of payment (see Proof of Payment section)
• Documentation confirming that the job coach meets at least one of the criteria outlined in the  Authorized Uses of Scholarship Program Funds section.

Fees For Horse Therapy 

Includes equestrian therapy services provided at a center that is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH).

The invoice or receipt on business letterhead must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Type of service rendered
• Amount due for the service
• First and last name of the therapist who rendered the service
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

⚠️ Note: If the invoice includes medical billing codes rather than the type of service rendered, it may result in processing delays.

Fees For Music & Art Therapy 

Includes services provided by a therapist who is certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists or Credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc.

The invoice or receipt on business letterhead must include:

• Scholarship student’s first and last name
• Time period of service rendered (e.g., date range of services, or Semester 1, or Winter Session, or Fall Semester)
• Type of service rendered
• Amount due for the service
• First and last name of the therapist who rendered the service
• Method of payment (see Proof of Payment section)

⚠️ Note: If the invoice includes medical billing codes rather than the type of service rendered, it may result in processing delays.

Shipping Guidelines 

• MyScholarShop Purchases: All purchases made through MyScholarShop must be shipped to the Florida mailing address listed on the student’s scholarship account.  
• Reimbursed Purchases: For purchases submitted for reimbursement, items must be shipped to either a Florida address or a Florida P.O. Box. 
• Parents/guardians who are active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces and received permanent change of station orders to Florida or, at the time of renewal, whose home of record or state of legal residence is Florida are exempt from this and may have items shipped to an address outside of Florida. 

Fees Guidelines 

• Shipping fees: All shipping types, including import/export duty, expedited, and overnight fees are eligible uses of scholarship funds and are reimbursable.
• Credit card fees: Credit card fees are reimbursable with the exception of credit card fees added to a private school tuition and fees invoice.

⚠️ Important: Shipping and credit card fees denied prior to the implementation of this policy will not be reimbursed retroactively.

Pre-Authorization Requests 

Pre-authorization requests can be submitted for expenses planned in the future. Once a request is approved, it can be used to submit a reimbursement or to make a MyScholarShop purchase.

Payment method information must be kept up to date in EMA to complete a pre-authorization.

Include detailed information about the item or service requested for pre-authorization, along with any supporting documents for the purchase.

If the pre-authorization request is approved, the item or service on the proof of purchase must match the approved pre-authorization; otherwise, the request may be denied.

If the pre-authorization request is put on hold, log into EMA to see the reason why it was put on hold, provide the required information or documentation, and re-submit the pre-authorization request.

If the pre-authorization request is denied, the reason for the denial will be listed in EMA. Denied pre-authorization requests may not be appealed, so no further action may be taken.

Parents and guardians should allow up to sixty (60) days for pre-authorization requests to be reviewed and processed after all required documentation has been submitted. The status of pre-authorization requests can be monitored in EMA. The deadline to submit pre-authorization requests for 2026-2027 is May 28, 2027.

Additional Purchasing Guidelines  

Receiving Payments, Refunds, or Rebates 

Parents or guardians may not receive a payment, refund, or rebate of scholarship funds from a provider.  

Subscriptions or Online Programs 

Families with more than one scholarship student may choose to purchase a family or multi-user subscription plan when it is more cost-effective than buying individual student plans. 

• Each Scholarship student is eligible for reimbursement of their portion of the plan, up to the cost of an individual plan. 
• Parents must submit a separate reimbursement request for each scholarship student’s share. 

If the plan also covers non-scholarship family members, only the scholarship students’ prorated portion can be reimbursed. 

Frequency of Purchase Limitations 

Scholarship program rules limit the frequency with which families can purchase certain items using scholarship funds.

These rules apply by calendar year. For example, a laptop may have a two-year purchasing frequency, meaning a student who purchased a laptop on November 10, 2026, will be eligible to purchase another laptop using scholarship funds on or after November 11, 2028.

Frequency of purchase rules allow for one of each item under a specific category/type/description within one (1) or two (2) years. For example, a student may use scholarship funds to purchase an art easel (Instructional Materials/Elective Equipment/Art Equipment). The student may also then purchase a kiln (Instructional Materials/Elective Equipment/Art Equipment) without violating the frequency of purchase rule for Art Equipment, but they may not purchase more than one easel.

If you purchased an item or device using scholarship funds prior to a frequency of purchase rule being implemented, that purchase will still count toward the rule.

Frequency of purchase rules apply to all scholarship programs, even if a student changes programs. For example, if a parent or guardian purchased a desk with FES-UA funds on November 10, 2026, so the student would not be eligible to purchase a desk using any other scholarship until November 11, 2028

Information on the categories that the frequency of purchase rule applies to can be found on the Purchasing Guide.

Items That Are Lost, Stolen, or Broken Beyond Repair 

If an item purchased with scholarship funds is broken beyond repair, it may be replaced with a similar item of equal or lesser value.

A parent or guardian must submit a pre-authorization request and documentation from a repair shop or service technician showing the item is beyond repair. Photos of the damaged item do not qualify as sufficient documentation.

If the item can be repaired, scholarship funds may be used to cover the cost of repair, but they cannot be used to cover the cost of a replacement.

If an item was stolen, a parent or guardian must submit a pre-authorization request and police report for review.

Replacement of lost items will not be approved.

If a replacement item is authorized, the two (2) calendar-year period will reset. For example, a student who purchased a laptop on July 10, 2025, but then is authorized to purchase a replacement device on October 10, 2026, will not be eligible to purchase another laptop using scholarship funds until on or after October 11, 2028.

Maintenance Agreements & Warranties for Eligible Devices 

Maintenance agreements for eligible devices purchased with FES-UA funds are eligible FES-UA expenses. Maintenance agreements/warranties are service agreements with a device manufacturer or vendor to support regular service on that device.

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Placement In Residential Programs 

If a scholarship student is placed in any residential program, the parent or guardian must confirm how participating students meet the mandatory school attendance requirement.

If the program uses any Florida public school, including a full-time online school, the student may lose their scholarship eligibility if the online school reports them to the state for funding.

If the program includes a private school that is approved by the Florida Department of Education to participate in scholarship programs, the student’s scholarship funds may be available to cover the cost of tuition and fees.

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Dual Enrollment  

Both private school and home education FES-UA students may use scholarship funds for eligible dual enrollment expenses if that program counts toward high school completion and a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree under Florida Statute 1007.271. Students taking courses not creditable toward a high school diploma are not considered dual enrollment students.

Participation in an early admission dual enrollment program does not affect a student’s eligibility for the FES-UA scholarship.

Please review the requirements below for your FES-UA participation option:

FES-UA Students Enrolled in an Eligible Private School:  

FES-UA students enrolled in an eligible private school may participate in the dual enrollment program if their private school has entered into an articulation agreement with the postsecondary institution where they will be taking courses.  

The articulation agreement must be in place for dual enrollment courses to be offered at no cost to the student.  

FES-UA Students Enrolled in a Home Education Program:  

FES-UA students enrolled in a home education program may participate in the dual enrollment program if the student and the student’s parent have entered into a home education articulation agreement with the postsecondary institution where they will be taking courses. The articulation agreement will outline the costs to be covered.

👉 For more information on articulation agreements, please refer to the Florida Department of Education’s Dual Enrollment webpage.

Please note, paying out of pocket for an out-of-state college summer program that awards college credit does not jeopardize FES‑UA scholarship eligibility, provided the student continues to meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the FES‑UA Family Handbook.

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Parent & Guardian Responsibilities 

To make sure your child remains eligible for the FES-UA scholarship, there are a few important responsibilities you’ll need to keep in mind.

⚠️ Quick Checklist:

• Annual Assessment – Your child must complete an annual educational evaluation
• Private or Home Education Enrollment Only – Your child cannot be enrolled in public school on a full-time basis while receiving FES-UA funds.
• Keep Contact Information Current – Update your information in EMA if anything changes
• Use Funds Correctly – Spend scholarship funds only on eligible expenses
• Protect Your Child’s Privacy – Do not share your EMA login or password.

Annual Assessment Requirement 

Students in grades 3-10 attending an eligible private school using scholarship funds are required to take a standardized assessment approved by the Florida Department of Education.

Students must participate in one of the following:

• A nationally norm-referenced test identified by the Florida Department of Education pursuant to Florida Statute 1002.394(8)(a), or the statewide assessments pursuant to Florida Statute 1008.22.
• An annual educational evaluation in accordance with Florida Statute 1002.41 (1)(f);
• A preassessment and post assessment selected by the provider if the child is four (4) years of age and is enrolled in a program provided by an eligible Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program provider.
• The participating provider shall report the student’s scores to the parent or guardian.

More information, including a list of approved assessments, is available at the Florida Department of Education.

Students with disabilities for whom a physician, psychologist, or IEP team determines that standardized testing, preassessment, or post assessment is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement. These students must submit the Standardized Testing Exemption Form to Step Up For Students.

Maintaining Up-to-Date Contact Information

Parents and guardians must keep their contact information current in EMA, especially their primary email address, as this is how Step Up For Students will communicate important information.

To update proof of residency, parents or guardians should contact Step Up For Students.

To avoid important communications from going to spam or junk folders, parents and guardians should update their email filters to accept messages from Step Up For Students.

Use of Funds

Parents and guardians are required to keep scholarship funds in an account managed by the Scholarship Funding Organization. Parents and guardians can direct how funds are used, but it is prohibited for parents and guardians to personally access the funds.

Additionally, parents and guardians cannot be paid with scholarship funds for services provided to their own scholarship student.

Confidentiality 

To protect the confidentiality of personal and financial information stored in EMA, only the parent or guardian listed on the account is permitted to access and manage it.

Parents and guardians must not share account login credentials with anyone, including school and service provider personnel, or other individuals. Sharing login information or allowing another person to access the account may result in loss of scholarship eligibility and funding, and financial or criminal penalties.

Step Up For Students is not responsible for changes to the account or unauthorized transactions made by someone other than the parent or guardian listed on the account.

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Continuing Program Eligibility 

Once a student’s scholarship has been funded, a parent or guardian may submit a renewal application each year as long as they meet residency requirements and remain eligible to enroll in a Florida public school. The student will remain eligible until they return to public school, graduate high school, or turn twenty-two (22) years old. If a student graduates high school before the end of the school year, the parent or guardian must contact Step Up For Students. Failure to do so may be considered fraud and may result in financial or criminal penalties.

Renewal students do not have to requalify for the scholarship unless their qualifying disability status changes.

A student will need to apply for the scholarship as a new student if they:

• Do not renew their scholarship and “sit out” a year.
• Leave the program and later seek to resume participation.

Remaining Funds After Eligibility Ends 

If a student turns twenty-two (22) years old, graduates high school, or enrolls in a public school on a full-time basis but still has funds remaining in their scholarship account, the parent or guardian may continue to access and spend those funds on eligible expenses until no funds remain in the scholarship account.

Accounts will be closed and have their funds returned to the state if there is no spending activity within two (2) consecutive fiscal years (July 1 – June 30), or if, after high school completion, there is any period of three (3) consecutive years during which the student has not been enrolled in an eligible postsecondary educational institution or a program offered by the institution.

Contributions made to the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Savings Program (Prepaid 529 Plan) or to the Florida College Savings Program (529) (Investment 529 Plan) qualify as account activity.

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Leaving the Scholarship Program  

Parents and guardians must notify Step Up For Students immediately by declining the scholarship in their EMA account, if a scholarship student:

• Enrolls, and is reported to the state for public funding, in any public school, including Florida Virtual School or another online school. (Students may use their scholarships to pay for courses or other services provided by these institutions.)
• Intends to apply for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Education Options, a Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship, the Transportation Stipend, or New Worlds Scholarship Accounts program.
• Receives Specialized Instructional Services under the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program described in Florida Statute 1002.66.
• Moves out of state (except for renewing students of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces who receive permanent change of station orders out of state while maintaining legal residence in Florida).

How to Decline a Scholarship:  

• The parent or guardian must log in to their EMA account
• Go to the application where the scholarship was previously accepted
• Select the Decline Scholarship option
• Once declined, the status will update in EMA under the Application Details and a timestamp will show when the decline was made.

For a visual guide on how to decline a scholarship, click here.

⚠️ Important: Parents and guardians cannot decline the scholarship  if the student is currently enrolled in a school within EMA, they must first be withdrawn or disenrolled before the decline can be submitted.

Failure to notify Step Up For Students could result in a:

• Loss of funding
• Loss of future eligibility
• Financial or criminal penalties

If state records show a student enrolled in a public school after receiving scholarship funds, the funds deposited into the student’s account for that school year will be returned to the state of Florida.

If a student is found enrolled in public school or another scholarship program, their parent or guardian will be notified by email and should contact Step Up For Students immediately.

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Actions That May Lead to Loss of the Scholarship 

Actions that may lead to a loss of the scholarship include, but are not limited to:

• Misrepresenting or withholding information on the scholarship application or reimbursement documentation.
• Failure to enroll a K-12 student in a private school or to file a letter of intent to participate as a Home Education Student with their Florida public school district.
• Failure to satisfy state compulsory attendance requirements as provided in Florida Statute  1003.01(16)(b), (c), or (d).
• Failure to satisfy attendance requirements outlined by their eligible private school, if applicable.
• Failure of the student to take a required nationally norm-referenced test or the statewide assessment, if applicable.
• Moving or residing outside of the state of Florida. With the exception of renewal FES-UA scholarship students of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to move out of Florida.
• Enrolling in a public school, including the Florida Virtual School, the Florida School For The Deaf and Blind, the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida Scholars Academy, a developmental research school, a charter school, or any other Florida public school, on a full-time basis.
• Utilizing another state scholarship.
• Fraudulent activity, including taking possession of any scholarship funds by refund, resale, rebate, or credit from a provider or purchase.
• Allowing another party, including a provider or school representative, to access or manage a student’s scholarship account.
• Step Up For Students determines the student is not eligible for program renewal.
• The Commissioner of Education suspends or revokes program participation or use of funds.
• The student graduates high school or reaches twenty-two (22) years of age, whichever occurs first.

The above actions, or any violation of scholarship statutes, rules, policies, or procedures may result in the loss of the scholarship, loss of future scholarship eligibility, and/or financial or criminal penalties.

Data Security 

Step Up For Students will never ask a parent or guardian for the following information via email, phone call, live chat, or text message:

• Password to their secure online account
• Full social security number (only the last four digits may be requested for verification)
• Credit card number or banking details
• Personal identification numbers (only the PIN provided on the scholarship application may be requested for verification)

Parents or guardians who receive any communication requesting this type of information or receive a suspicious email must not respond or click on any links. Instead, report the activity immediately on the Contact Us page on the Step Up For Students website.

Account Security 

Parents may be asked to provide their student ID or award ID when enrolling through EMA or when verifying information during a customer service call. These IDs are also included in official award letters and communications. However, Step Up For Students staff will never disclose or share a student ID or award ID with parents or guardians over email, phone, live chat, or text message.

If you receive any communication offering to provide your student ID, award ID, or other sensitive information, do not respond or click any links. Instead, report the activity immediately on the Contact Us page on the Step Up For Students website.

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Additional Resources 

Step Up For Students has created additional resources to help you navigate the scholarship program. To explore these tools, visit:

• Document Library
• Resources Page
• FES-UA Scholarship Information
• FES-UA Purchasing Guide
• Program Facts
• Find a School Tool

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Handbook Disclaimer  

Please note that the information and terms outlined in this handbook are subject to change as laws or rules are amended. To ensure you have the most current information, we update this handbook regularly.

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Handbook Feedback Form 

Step Up For Students welcomes feedback from parents and guardians to help improve this handbook. We encourage you to share your suggestions using the Parent Handbook Feedback Form. For feedback regarding the FES-UA Purchasing Guide, we encourage you to share your suggestion here.

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Appendix A  

Anaphylaxis

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.0251, the medical term for the life-threatening allergic reactions that may occur when allergic individuals are exposed to specific allergens. Anaphylaxis is a collection of symptoms affecting multiple systems in the body.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association, an autism diagnosis requires persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by all of the following: deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships.

Cerebral Palsy

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(6), a group of disabling symptoms of extended duration which results from damage to the developing brain that may occur before, during, or after birth and results in the loss or impairment of control over voluntary muscles. For the purposes of this definition, cerebral palsy does not include those symptoms or impairments resulting solely from a stroke.

Down Syndrome

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(14), a disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21.

Dual Sensory Impaired

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.0322, the presence of both hearing loss and a visual impairment, or an etiology or a medical diagnosis that indicates a potential dual sensory loss, the combination of which adversely affects the student’s educational performance. The term includes congenital deaf blindness, congenital visual impairment with acquired hearing loss, congenital hearing loss with acquired visual impairment, and acquired hearing loss and visual impairment including blindness, as defined in Rules 6A-6.03013(1)(a) and (b) and 6A-6.03014(1)(a), F.A.C. If a student is found eligible for both deaf or hard of hearing and visual impairments as primary or other exceptionalities, then the student must be made eligible for dual sensory impairment.

Emotional or Behavioral Disability

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03016, a student with an emotional/behavioral disability who has persistent (is not sufficiently responsive to implemented evidence-based interventions) and consistent emotional or behavioral responses that adversely affect performance in the educational environment that cannot be attributed to age, culture, gender, or ethnicity.

Hearing Impairment

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03013, a student who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and has hearing loss aided or unaided, that impacts the processing of linguistic information, and which adversely affects performance in the educational environment. The degree of loss may range from mild to profound.

High-Risk Child

Per Florida Statute § 393.963(23), a child is considered “high-risk” if they are from three (3) to five (5) years of age before September 1^st of the school year with one or more of the following characteristics:

• A developmental delay in cognition, language, or physical development.
• A child surviving a catastrophic infectious or traumatic illness known to be associated with developmental delay when funds are specifically appropriated.
• A child with a parent or guardian with developmental disabilities who requires assistance in meeting the child’s developmental needs.
• A child who has a physical or genetic anomaly associated with developmental disability.

Under Florida Statute 393.063(23), a child can qualify as high-risk based on developmental delay only between the ages of three (3) and five (5). Although developmental delays may be diagnosed for children age six (6) and older, the high-risk definition is limited to ages three to five (3-5). Children at age six (6) are no longer eligible as high risk based on developmental delay alone and will need to establish eligibility under another disability from Florida Statute 1002.394(2)(e) to continue participating in the program. For example, a student can qualify as speech delayed until age five (5), after that the student would need to qualify under speech impairment.

Hospital or Homebound

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03020, a student who has a medically diagnosed physical or psychiatric condition which is acute or catastrophic in nature, or a chronic illness, or a repeated intermittent illness due to a persisting medical problem and which confines the student to home or hospital and restricts activities for more than six months.

Intellectual Disability

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(23), significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior which manifests before the age of eighteen (18) and can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely.

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(23)(a), “adaptive behavior” means the effectiveness or degree with which an individual meets the standards of personal independence and social responsibility expected of his or her age, cultural group, and community.

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(23)(b), “significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning” means performance that is two (2) or more standard deviations from the mean score on a standardized intelligence test specified in the rules of the agency.

Language Impairment

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.030121, language impairments are disorders of language that interfere with communication, adversely affect performance and/or functioning in the student’s typical learning environment, and result in the need for exceptional student education. A language impairment is defined as a disorder in one or more of the basic learning processes involved in understanding or in using spoken or written language. These include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. 

The language impairment may manifest in significant difficulties affecting listening comprehension, oral expression, social interaction, reading, writing, or spelling. A language impairment is not primarily the result of factors related to chronological age, gender, culture, ethnicity, or limited English proficiency.

Muscular Dystrophy

As defined by the Center of Disease Control, muscular dystrophies are a group of muscle diseases caused by mutations in a person’s genes. Over time, muscle weakness decreases mobility, making everyday tasks difficult. There are many kinds of muscular dystrophy, each affecting specific muscle groups, with signs and symptoms appearing at different ages, and varying in severity.

Orthopedic Impairment

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.030151, orthopedic impairment means a severe skeletal, muscular, or neuromuscular impairment. The term includes impairments resulting from congenital anomalies (e.g., including but not limited to skeletal deformity or spina bifida), and impairments resulting from other causes (e.g., including but not limited to cerebral palsy or amputations).

Other Health Impairment

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.030152, other health impairment means having limited strength, vitality or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that is due to chronic or acute health problems. This includes, but is not limited to, asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, diabetes, epilepsy, aheart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and acquired brain injury.For conditions not explicitly listed in the rule, a student may be considered under OHI if, and only if, the documentation includes a description of how the condition affects the student’s strength, vitality, or alertness; and evidence the condition adversely affects the student’s educational performance (e.g., reduced stamina, difficulty sustaining attention, missed instruction, or other effects on performance or participation).

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(28), a disorder caused by the loss of the terminal segment of the long arm of chromosome 22, which occurs near the end of the chromosome at a location designated q13.3, typically leading to developmental delay, intellectual disability, dolichocephaly,  hypotonia, or absent or delayed speech.

Prader-Willi Syndrome

Per Florida Statute § 393.063(29), an inherited condition typified by neonatal hypotonia with failure to thrive, hyperphagia or an excessive drive to eat which leads to obesity usually at eighteen (18) to thirty-six (36) months of age, mild to moderate intellectual disability, hypogonadism, short stature, mild facial dysmorphism, and a characteristic neurobehavior.

Rare Diseases

Per Florida Statue § 1002.394(e), rare diseases which affect patient populations of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, as defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Specific Learning Disability

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03018, a specific learning disability is defined as a disorder in one or more of the basic learning processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest in significant difficulties affecting the ability to listen, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematics. Associated conditions may include, but are not limited to, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, or developmental aphasia. A specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of a visual, hearing, motor, intellectual, or emotional/behavioral disability, limited English proficiency, or environmental, cultural, or economic factors.

Speech Impairment

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.03012, speech impairments are disorders of speech sounds, fluency, or voice that interfere with communication, adversely affect performance and/or functioning in the educational environment, and result in the need for exceptional student education. A speech impairment diagnosis must be provided by a licensed professional listed under the Qualifying for Unique Abilities Scholarship section.

Spina Bifida

Per Florida Statute §393.063(41), a person with a medical diagnosis of spina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Per Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.030153, a traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects educational performance. The term applies to mild, moderate, or severe, open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas such as cognition, language, memory, attention, reasoning, abstract thinking, judgment, problem-solving, sensory, perceptual and motor abilities, psychosocial behavior, physical functions, information processing, or speech. The term includes anoxia due to trauma. The term does not include brain injuries that are congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma.

Visually Impaired

Any impairment in vision regardless of significance or severity that, even with correction, adversely affects the student’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness, including ocular, brain-based and neurological disorders, but does not include esotropia (crossed eyes), hyperopia (farsightedness), and myopia (nearsightedness). A visual impairment diagnosis must be provided by a licensed professional listed under the Qualifying for Unique Abilities Scholarship section.

Williams Syndrome

As defined by the National Organization for Rare Disorders, a rare genetic disorder characterized by growth delays before and after birth (prenatal and postnatal growth retardation), short statute, a varying degree of mental deficiency, and distinctive facial features that typically become more pronounced with age.