Apply for a Unique Abilities Scholarship
Applications for the 2026–27 school year are now available.
Scholarship Application Deadlines
Renewing students seeking priority need to submit their application by April 30, 2026. Students who apply after this date will be considered new.
New students are welcome to submit applications through November 15, 2026.
Applications may close early if the program reaches capacity. Families who meet certain criteria may qualify for an exception to the capacity limit. See if you qualify.
Active-Duty Military Status: Dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces will be asked 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 for the month the application was submitted under the "Additional Information" section of the application.
Law Enforcement Officer Status: Dependent children of law enforcement officers will be asked to provide proof of the law enforcement officer status of the parent or guardian by uploading a photocopy of the law enforcement officer’s badge under the "Additional Information" section of the application. (s. 943.10(1)), F.S
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 Information" section of the application.
Foster Status: To provide proof of foster status, you must upload a copy of Foster Placement Documentation or other similar legal documentation under the "Additional Information" section of the application.
Children who received specialized instructional services under the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program described in s. 1002.66, F.S. during the previous school year and have a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed by the district school board in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education. This is verified by the Florida Department of Education, so uploading documentation is not required.
Students that attended a Florida public school or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind last year
Students that received a John M. McKay Scholarship in the 2021-2022 school year.
We’re honored to support the families who serve our nation.
If you’re a military family, Step Up For Students can help you access education scholarships designed for flexibility and choice.
Find out what’s available to your family and take the first step toward applying today.
Ready to Apply?
Step 1
Gather Your Documents
To help you complete your application, our checklist outlines the documents you’ll need to verify the following:
1) Child's Age
A birth certificate (or non-expired passport) is required for FES-UA students three to six years old.
Military families have added flexibility. Find out more here!
2) Child's Diagnosis
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
OR
A validated diagnosis from an eligible licensed medical professional
3) Proof of Florida Residency
PROOF OF RESIDENCY ACCEPTED DOCUMENTS
Proof of Residency must be established with two (2) different document types and provided by the primary or secondary guardian.
For more support, please see our checklist.
4) YOUR CHILD's social security number
All submitted documents must be valid and current:
An IEP must be issued by your child’s school district within the past three years.
List the full name of either the primary or secondary guardian, as well as any additional parents or guardians.
Recurring bills or statements must be dated within two months of the application submission date.
Documents must match the primary or secondary guardian's full name and the current physical street address listed on the application.
Both proof of residency documents must be in the name of the same guardian.
An expired driver’s license or ID card will not be accepted.
Step 2
Create Your EMA Account
Start by watching this quick video or if it's easier, you can follow the step-by-step guide—once you are ready, create your parent or guardian profile to begin your journey.
Step 3
Apply for Your Child’s Scholarship
Once your EMA account is ready, you can begin your application with confidence.
Use our application guide for helpful tips and a smooth experience.
From your dashboard, head to the "Available Scholarships" section to apply for “Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)” Scholarship. You will be prompted to make sure all children you wish to apply for are added—remember, you can only submit one application per scholarship program.
The IEP must be an official, district-issued plan created within the past three years and satisfy the guidelines set by the State Board of Education or the applicable rules of another state.
- 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
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 1st 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 6 and older, the high-risk definition is limited to ages 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 aged 5, after that the student would need to qualify under speech impairment.