If you're unable to access the phone number linked to your EMA account or you're not receiving your MFA code, you may request an MFA reset. Please note: only the Primary Parent listed on the account can request this reset. For security reasons, we’re unable to process MFA resets for secondary contacts or other family members.
If you're the Primary Parent and need help, feel free to call us directly so we can assist you. Reach us at 1 (877) 735-7837, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.
There are a few common reasons why an order might not be approved. Here are the most frequent ones:
- Previously Purchased or Reimbursed Items
- iPad/Tablet or laptop already reimbursed within the past 24 months
- Item Restrictions or Limitations
- Multiple tablets listed (only one allowed every 24 months)
- Sales Tax Issues
- Items missing sales tax
- Additional sales tax charged incorrectly
- Documentation or Justification Required
- Incorrect Student ID submitted
- Items ordered more than 2 weeks ago may no longer be available
- Ineligible Expenses
- Dual DVD players
- Cotton thermal blankets
Here is how to invoice in EMA for your services. You can only invoice after a parent reserves funds for your services in their EMA account under Marketplace.
Step-by-Step Provider Invoice Guide
- Log in to EMA and go to the Billing section
- Click the Service Orders tab to view reserved orders
- After services are provided:
• Click the blue pen icon to enter service dates and provider info
• Click the green check to save
• If you can’t provide the service, click the red “X” to remove it - Saved orders move to the Service Invoicing tab
- Review details and click Invoice
• Confirm accuracy in the pop-up
• Click Yes to submit, or No to make changes - Go to the Reporting tab to track invoice status and export reports
Need more help? Watch our 3-minute video
Invoice Status and What It Means
Pending — Funds reserved; waiting for service to be rendered
In Process — Service completed; invoice submitted
Approved — Invoice accepted; payment pending
Paid — Payment issued
Deleted — Order removed before payment
Creating Invoice — Temporary status after submission — usually resolves in a few business days
How to Find a Provider in EMA
- Log in to your EMA account
- Click Marketplace on the left menu
- Choose Find Providers
- Select the student you’re shopping for
- Use filters or search by name, email, website, or location to find services. Just click on a provider’s name to see their services and locations. You’re welcome to reach out to them directly to make sure they’re the right fit for your student.
- Once ready, select the service, choose quantity, and click Add to Cart
- Go to your cart and click Reserve Funds
- You are all set! Now you can call the provider to schedule services
Watch this video to follow along in a few easy steps.
Here’s what each status in EMA means for your student’s application:
• Draft – Not yet submitted. Complete all sections, upload documents, and submit.
• Submitted – Received but not yet reviewed. Check back soon.
• Pending – Under review. No action needed — just check back later.
• On Hold – More information or documents are needed.
• Complete – Review is finished.
To check your student’s scholarship status:
Go to My Students in the left menu → Find your student → Find their tile where their status is displayed to the right of their chosen scholarship program.
To verify Florida residency, documents must:
- Be current (dated within two months of submission)
- Match the primary or secondary parent/guardian’s full name and physical street address on the application
Note: Renewal students (received funds in 2024–25) still need valid documentation
Submitting documentation
Submit 1 document from Column A or 2 different documents from Column B as shown on this page.
What “Current” Means
Documents must be:
- Dated within 30 days before or 30 days after the application submission date
- Exceptions: Annual or semi-annual documents (e.g., SSI, VA, insurance) must still reflect a valid timeframe
- “Submission date” = when you clicked Submit and your application entered Document Attached status
If You Don’t Have Standard Documents
You may submit a letter explaining your situation. The processing team will review and determine:
- If your document can be accepted
- Which column it qualifies under
Military Families
Active-Duty PCS to Florida (Unique Abilities, Private School, and PEP Eligible)
- Upload PCS orders in the Proof of Residency section
- Use the Florida unit address in your parent/guardian profile
Relocating out of Florida (Unique Abilities and PEP Renewal Only)
- Use the Florida base address from which you were relieved
- Upload PCS orders
- Upload either:
- Leave and Earnings Statement, or
- IRS Form 2058 (Domicile Declaration)
- Home of record or legal residence must still be Florida
Visit our Military Families page for more details.
Not Eligible
First-time applicants stationed outside Florida with Florida as legal domicile are not eligible. Military families must qualify for the scholarship as new families while living in Florida and can only relocate out of Florida in subsequent years.
If you had a Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA), or PEP Scholarship and enrolled in a public school, your scholarship will end and the remaining funds will be returned to the state.
As a public-school student, you may be eligible for a Transportation Stipend.
You may withdraw from PEP at any time by logging into EMA and selecting “Decline.”
• If you already withdrew from Home Education after accepting PEP: you will need to reestablish your Home Education Program by sending a new Letter of Intent to your school district.
• If you did not withdraw from Home Education: declining PEP will simply end your PEP enrollment, and your Home Education Program with the district will remain in place.
No. Florida law allows only one active scholarship application per student at a time. If your child is denied, or if you decline an awarded scholarship, you may then submit an application for a different scholarship.
For more information, you can view program handbooks on the “Resources” tab of our website.
Yes. If you are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and have been given permanent change of station orders to move to Florida, you will be eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the PEP Scholarship before you make your move. You can apply with your newly assigned base address or new Florida residential address (if you have one) and upload your permanent change of station paperwork with your application.
You have 30 days to enroll your student in a new private school. If you have not enrolled your student within 30 days your remaining scholarship funds will be returned to the state.
No. Florida law prohibits applying for more than one scholarship at a time for an individual student. You can apply for a new scholarship once you’ve been denied or have declined an awarded scholarship.
The student’s scholarship account must be closed and any remaining funds will be returned to the state after:
- Denial or revocation of program eligibility by the Commissioner of Education for fraud or abuse, including, but not limited to, the student or student’s parent accepting any payment, refund, or rebate, in any manner, from a provider of any authorized services received;
- Two consecutive fiscal years without any account activity; or
- A student remains unenrolled in an eligible private school for 30 days while receiving a scholarship that requires full-time enrollment.
- A student was enrolled in public school or received unpaid public school services at any time during the school year in which you received a scholarship.
Yes. If you are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and have been given permanent change of station orders to move to Florida, you will be eligible for the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO), Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the PEP Scholarship before you make your move. You can apply with your newly assigned base address or new Florida residential address (if you have one) and upload your permanent change of station paperwork with your application.
Scholarships for
Private School
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Good news—Quarter 1 scholarship funding has started for renewal students! Families will begin seeing funds in their account soon for returning students whose enrollment was completed in EMA by June 15, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET. Funding will occur on a rolling basis and it may take up to two weeks for all accounts to be updated. If you haven’t received your payment or heard anything about your funding status by August 25, please reach out to us.
The enrollment completion is the "Guardian Approval Date" found in the "My Students" tab under the "Enrollments" section.
Who’s next?
- New and Renewal students enrolled in EMA by July 15, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET will receive their Quarter 1 funding in September.
Everything You Need, Every Step of the Way
Discover
Every Student Deserves A Choice
Private School Scholarships
Step Up For Students proudly offers the Private School Scholarship that covers tuition and fees at eligible private schools, and any remaining funds can be used to support your child’s education through expenses like registration, books, testing and other approved fees.
Students, regardless of household income, who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school, can receive a scholarship worth an average of $8,000 to attend a private school that best meets their needs. These scholarships are available through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO).
How Does It Work?
Apply for a scholarship through Step Up For Students. If approved, you can use the scholarship to attend an eligible private school, and any remaining funds can be accessed through your education savings account to pay for:
- Instructional material
- Curriculum
- Tuition for full-time or part-time education at an eligible postsecondary educational institution or approved apprenticeship program
- Fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests and other assessments
- Contracted services provided by a public school or school district
- Tuition as a private pay student at Florida Virtual School,
- Fees for a “Choice Navigator,” which is an optional service provider intended to help guide parents through the myriad of choices that will become available to them through their ESA.
Award Amounts
Are We Eligible?
Scholarships are available to all students, regardless of household income, who are residents of Florida and eligible to enroll in a K-12 public school.
Scholarships are awarded in the following order of priority:
Students whose household income does not exceed 185% of federal poverty level as outlined in the income priority guidelines or who are in foster care or out-of-home care
Students whose household income is between 185% and 400% of the federal poverty level as outlined in the income priority guidelines.
Other Helpful Documents
Hope Scholarship
The Hope Scholarship, created to support families whose K–12 students have experienced a bullying incident as described here, allows students to participate in the Private School Scholarship Program. Families may apply at any time throughout the year following an eligible incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, students who have experienced a bullying incident as described in Florida statute may apply for a Private School Scholarship at any time in the school year, regardless of application deadlines by using the Hope Notification Form.
Stepping Up To Success
