Scholarships for 
Personalized Education 
Program Students

Supporting Florida's Students Through Personalized Education

Florida students who are not full-time private nor full-time public school students now have access to the Personalized Education Program (PEP) through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Eligible students are provided an education savings account (ESA) that can be used to fund their educational needs.

For the 2023-24 school year, the program will serve 20,000 students and will grow by 40,000 PEP students annually.

Personalizing Education for Florida Students

Who Is Eligible?

Scholarships are available to all K-12 students who are residents of Florida and do not wish to enroll in full-time private or public school, regardless of household income. Students must be at least age 5 by September 1st of the school year in which they wish to enroll. An example of who may be interested in a PEP scholarship would be Florida’s home education students who are willing to satisfy the PEP requirements that include reporting to Step Up For Students instead of their home district.
First priority will be given to families whose household income is 185% of poverty or below as outlined in the income priority guidelines or who meet the following criteria:
  • Renewing students of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and/or Family Empowerment Scholarship
  • Children in foster care or out-of-home care

Second priority is extended to households whose income is 400% of poverty or less.

Frequently Asked Questions >

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How Does It Work?

PEP Scholarships provide access to an education savings account (ESA) that functions like a bank account from which you direct funds to pay for:
Instructional Material
Curriculum
A virtual program approved by the FLDOE

Fees for services provided by a Choice Navigator*

Contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes
Tuition for a full-time or part-time enrollment in a home education instructional program
Fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests and other assessments
Tuition and fees for private tutoring programs
Tuition as a private pay student at Florida Virtual School
Education at an eligible postsecondary educational institution or approved apprenticeship program

What is Required?

There are three main requirements for PEP students.

  • Student Learning Plans: PEP students must submit a Student Learning Plan (SLP) annually. An SLP is simply a customized learning plan developed by parents to guide instruction for their students and to address the services needed to fulfill the academic needs of their student.
•  Norm-Referenced Test: PEP students must take a Florida Department of Education approved national norm-referenced test and submit results to Step Up For Students annually.
  • PEP Students must either:
    • Withdraw from full-time public or private education and register with Step Up For Students as a PEP student OR
    • Notify their school district of their intention to terminate their home education program and then enroll as a PEP student with Step Up For Students.
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