Congratulations!

Students who are not enrolled in full-time public school can utilize their scholarship by selecting the PEP option, which provides you access to an education savings account (ESA) to help fund your student’s parent/guardian directed learning. Please note that PEP students are allowed to be enrolled in a full-time hybrid option, where they have regular and direct contact with teachers at a private school’s physical location at least two school days per week and their student learning plan addresses the remaining instructional time. If applicable, PEP students must also terminate a home education program with their school district. 

Prior to payment, a Student Learning Plan (SLP) must be submitted annually for all PEP students. The SLP is simply a personalized learning plan developed by parents/guardians to help identify their student’s learning priorities and how to best spend scholarship dollars. It provides ideas and links to instructional resources to help your child. Click here to watch a video about SLPs and click here for FAQs.

For students awarded the PEP scholarship for the 2024-25 school year, please do not submit a Student Learning Plan (SLP) at this time. We will notify you when 2024-25 SLPs can be submitted.

IMPORTANT: If your student received the PEP scholarship for the 2023-24 school year, you must submit all end-of-year norm-referenced test results (for the 2023-24 school year) by July 31, 2024. Please monitor your email for more information in the coming weeks. For 2024-25 PEP students, please be aware that you will need to submit your student’s 2024-25 end-of-year norm-reference test results prior to the 2025-26 school year.

For more information on PEP, click here.

The scholarship award amount is based on the student's county and grade level and is determined by a statutory formula. Scholarship award amounts may be prorated, if applicable, based on the student’s award.

Award amounts are distributed quarterly and may be prorated based on the student’s award date. Parents/guardians will be notified each time funding is added to a student’s account.

Reminders:

• For PEP scholarships, funds will be deposited directly into your student's EMA account.
• Available funds for the 2024-25 school year can be used for any approved items or services purchased on or after July 1, 2024. Funds cannot be used for purchases made outside of the academic school year.
• Reimbursements for purchases during the school year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) must be submitted no later than August 31, 2025.
• Be sure to keep track of your student’s scholarship balance. You may be responsible for any funds owed to schools or providers beyond what is available in your student’s account.

Don’t Risk It!

We strongly encourage our FTC, FES-EO and PEP scholarship families to read our FTC, FES-EO and PEP Parent/Guardian Handbook. The handbook includes important resources on how to use your scholarship, including which items/services are preapproved.*

Families should also be familiar with the FTC/FES-EO/PEP Purchasing Guidelines.*

*Note: The 2024-25 Handbook and Purchasing Guidelines are not yet available. While families may reference the 2023-24 versions at this time, they are subject to change for the 2024-25 school year.

Funding is not guaranteed!

A student’s scholarship may be revoked if:

1. The parent/guardian applies for multiple scholarships under the Family Empowerment Scholarship and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs for an individual student at the same time.
2. The student is enrolled on a full-time basis in the Florida Virtual School, the Florida School For The Deaf and Blind, the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for Competitive Academics, the Florida Scholars Academy, a developmental research school, a charter school, or any other Florida public school as they are ineligible to receive a Family Empowerment Scholarship or a Florida Tax Credit scholarship. If the student is enrolled on a full-time basis during the 2024-25 school year, it will result in forfeiture of scholarship participation and the return of any remaining scholarship funds. This does not prohibit students using the Family Empowerment Scholarship or Florida Tax Credit Scholarship from attending one or more of these programs on a part-time basis, provided they are meeting regular school attendance requirements per s. 1003.01(16)(b)-(d), F.S. in some other way. Any participation in a public school on a part-time basis while receiving a scholarship must be paid for by the guardian using either personal or scholarship funds. A scholarship student may not be reported for state funding by a school district and receive a scholarship at the same time.
3. A post-award audit determines the student is not eligible. Additional information and/or documentation related to the application may be requested at any time post-award for auditing purposes.
4. You fail to comply with the provisions of the FTC, FES-EO or PEP scholarships or any parental obligations for the program, including fraudulent application, purchasing, or reimbursement activity.
5. You share your user ID and password with anyone (including schools or providers). Allowing schools and/or providers to access your account may put your scholarship in jeopardy of being misused.

Additional Details:

• After the first year of using the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, your student may continue participating in the scholarship program until he or she graduates from high school or returns to public school – regardless of changes to your income.
• Parents/guardians must apply annually to continue using the scholarship.