Fund
Funding Requirements
To receive scholarship funding there are a few important steps you'll need to complete.
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. Step Up For Students has created a Student Learning Plan template within the EMA platform. For more information, please see our PEP Family Handbook.
Annual Assessment Requirement
Each year, PEP students must complete a Florida Department of Education-approved nationally norm-referenced assessment or the statewide assessment. To remain eligible for future scholarship funding or switch to another scholarship program, assessment results must be submitted to Step Up For Students.
For a list of approved assessments and additional information, visit the Florida Department of Education.
If your student has a disability and a physician, psychologist, or IEP team determines that standardized testing is not appropriate, they may qualify for an exemption. See our PEP Family Handbook for more information.
Scholarship Funding Schedule
After Step Up For Students confirms the student's eligibility, the PEP Scholarship funds will be divided into four equal quarterly amounts and distributed according to the schedule outlined below. From the date below, it may take two weeks for the funds to be deposited.
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 |
Funding Amounts
The Florida Legislature sets scholarship amounts each year. Your child’s funding is based on:
- Grade level
- County of residence
The funding amount, based on the student’s grade level and county of residence will be determined by Quarter 1 funding, and any grade level or county changes made after Quarter 1 funding will not impact funding for that school year.
Quarterly Attestation and Withdrawal Deadlines
Pursuant to section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, the SFO must verify a student's continued eligibility to participate in the scholarship program at least 30 days before each quarterly payment.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, families will need to complete an attestation prior to each quarterly distribution confirming that their student is not enrolled full-time in public school. Families will be notified when it is time to complete their attestation and if any additional information is needed for their student.
Quarter | Attestation in EMA Completed By | If Applicable, Withdrawn From Public School By: |
Quarter 1 | Renewal students included in the August payment: August 15* Students included in the September payment: September 15 Note: If you have a renewal and new student, you will need to complete the attestation for both students by August 15. | July 31, 2026 |
Quarter 2 | November 15 | September 30, 2026 |
Quarter 3 | February 15 | December 31, 2026 |
Quarter 4 | April 15 | December 31, 2026 |
Funding Rollover & Balance Limits
Unspent scholarship funds can carry over from one school year to the next, giving your family confidence and flexibility as you plan for future learning needs. Please note that Florida law does not allow additional deposits into a child’s account once the balance is greater than $24,000. Any interest earned on your child’s scholarship account is carefully tracked by Step Up For Students and added to their account balance at the end of each quarter.
Interest Accrual Period | Funding Received for School Year |
July - September | October 31 |
October - December | January 31 |
January - March | April 30 |
April - June | July 31 |