Florida Step Up for Students 2026: Scholarship types, eligibility, and how to apply

What is Step Up for Students?

Step Up for Students is a Florida nonprofit that connects families with scholarship funding to support more personalized K-12 education. It administers several distinct scholarship programs — each designed for a different family situation — and has become the primary gateway for Florida families seeking alternative education funding.

Thanks to expanded legislation, more Florida families than ever can access these scholarships regardless of income. The programs cover a wide range: private school tuition, specialized therapies, tutoring, curriculum, and enrichment programs including Outschool classes. Understanding which program applies to your family is the first step.

Which Step Up for Students scholarship is right for your family?

Step Up administers five active scholarship programs. They're not interchangeable — eligibility, funding amounts, and approved uses vary significantly. Here's how to identify which one applies to you.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)

Open to all Florida K-12 students eligible for public school enrollment, regardless of household income. Average award: approximately $8,000 per year for the 2025-26 school year. Once tuition and fees are covered for a private school, remaining funds can be used for online learning, tutoring, and educational materials. Applications for 2026-27 opened on February 1, 2026.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

For students ages 3 through grade 12 (or up to age 22) with one of 23 qualifying diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, dyslexia, and speech or language impairments. Award amounts for FES-UA are higher than FES-EO and vary based on grade level, county, and the level of special education services the student would otherwise receive — families may receive $10,000 or more per year. Funds can be used for private school tuition, therapies, tutoring, curriculum, approved online classes, and assistive technology. Applications for 2026-27 opened on February 1, 2026.

Personalized Education Program (PEP)

For families pursuing parent-directed learning (homeschooling). Average award: approximately $8,000 per year. Available to K-12 Florida students; the child must be at least age 5 by September 1 of the school year. Funds can cover curriculum, tutors, online classes, and other approved educational expenses. Important: The PEP Scholarship is at capacity for new students for the 2026-27 school year. Renewing students should check stepupforstudents.org for current enrollment status and renewal deadlines.

New Worlds Scholarship Accounts

For VPK through 5th grade public school students who have been identified as needing additional reading or math support. Funds can be used for tutoring, curriculum, and enrichment programs. This program is specifically designed for students still enrolled in public school who need supplemental support.

Hope Scholarship

For K-12 students who have experienced bullying, harassment, or other qualifying incidents at a Florida public school. Applications are accepted year-round after a verified Hope Notification Form is submitted. Award amounts are similar to FES-EO.

Scholarship comparison: Which program fits your family?

Here's a side-by-side look at the key differences to help you identify the right starting point.

FES-EO: Any Florida K-12 student | ~$8,000/year avg | Private school tuition, remaining funds for tutoring and enrichment | No income requirement

FES-UA: Students with one of 23 qualifying diagnoses, ages 3-22 | $10,000+/year (varies) | Private school, therapies, tutoring, online classes, assistive tech | Requires diagnosis or IEP/504

PEP: Homeschool families, K-12 (age 5 by Sept 1) | ~$8,000/year avg | Curriculum, tutors, online classes, materials | At capacity for new students in 2026-27

New Worlds: VPK-5th grade public school students needing reading/math support | Varies | Tutoring, curriculum, enrichment | Must be enrolled in public school

Hope: K-12 students who experienced qualifying bullying/harassment | Similar to FES-EO | Private school tuition and expenses | Requires verified incident report

Who is eligible for Step Up scholarships?

FES-EO, FES-UA, and PEP are open to all income levels. However, families earning at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (approximately $93,000 for a family of four in 2025-26) may receive priority consideration if applications exceed available funding. Applying early each year — by April 30 for renewing families — improves your chances of receiving priority status.

FES-UA requires a formal qualifying diagnosis or a current IEP or 504 Plan. The 23 qualifying conditions include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, dyscalculia, speech and language impairments, intellectual disabilities, and others. Check the full list at stepupforstudents.org before applying.

How to apply for Step Up for Students: A step-by-step guide

Step 1: Gather your documents

The documents you need depend on which scholarship you're applying for, but commonly required items include:

• Proof of Florida residency (driver's license, utility bill, or lease)
• Proof of income if applying for priority consideration (recent tax return or pay stubs)
• Birth certificate or proof of your child's age
• Formal diagnosis documentation or IEP/504 Plan (for FES-UA applicants)
• Hope Notification Form verified by your school district (for Hope Scholarship applicants)

Step 2: Apply through the Step Up for Students website

All applications are submitted through the Step Up for Students online portal at stepupforstudents.org. Applications for the 2026-27 school year opened February 1, 2026. Renewing families should apply by April 30, 2026, to maintain priority status.

Step 3: Wait for approval and fund activation

Processing times vary. FES-EO and PEP approvals typically take several weeks from application submission. FES-UA approvals may take longer if additional documentation is requested. You'll receive confirmation through the Step Up portal and by email.

Step 4: Access your funds

Once approved, funds are managed through an Education Savings Account (ESA) tied to your scholarship. You'll use this account to pay for approved educational expenses — either by paying providers directly through the approved marketplace, or by paying out of pocket and submitting receipts for reimbursement.

How to use Step Up funds for Outschool classes

Florida families with FES-UA or PEP funds can use their scholarship to access Outschool classes in three ways:

1. Purchase through MyScholarShop (MSS): Outschool's self-paced, asynchronous classes are listed directly in MyScholarShop, the Step Up online marketplace. You can browse and pay for these classes using your ESA funds without needing separate reimbursement.
2. Purchase Learning Passport Credits through the Education Marketplace Assistant (EMA): These program-funded credits can be used to book live classes with pre-approved EMA educators on Outschool, eliminating the need to pay out of pocket.
3. Pay out of pocket and request reimbursement: For live online Outschool classes, you can pay at the time of enrollment and submit your receipt through your ESA platform (EMA or your portal) for reimbursement. Keep all purchase confirmations.

Questions about Outschool eligibility or how to submit for reimbursement: email support@outschool.com.

2025-26 and 2026-27 application dates and deadlines

Step Up scholarship applications follow an annual cycle. Here are the key dates for the upcoming school year.

• February 1, 2026: Applications opened for FES-EO, FES-UA, and PEP for the 2026-27 school year.
• April 30, 2026: Renewing families should apply by this date to maintain priority status for the 2026-27 award cycle. This deadline has passed for 2026-27 — families who missed it should still apply, as funds may be available.
• Year-round: Hope Scholarship applications are accepted at any time following submission of a verified Hope Notification Form.
• Check stepupforstudents.org: For 2027-28 program year applications, dates will be announced on the Step Up website. Sign up for email updates to receive notification when applications open.

Frequently asked questions about Step Up for Students

Does Step Up cover online classes for my child?

Yes, if the provider is approved and purchases are made through the correct channel. FES-UA and PEP families can use their funds for online classes through MyScholarShop (self-paced) or EMA (live classes with approved educators). Outschool is an approved provider. FES-EO funds remaining after private school tuition can also be used for online learning and tutoring through approved vendors.

How long does Step Up approval take?

It varies by program. FES-EO and PEP approvals typically take several weeks from the time your complete application is submitted. FES-UA may take longer if Step Up needs to verify your child's qualifying diagnosis. Log into your Step Up portal regularly to check your application status and respond to any requests for additional documentation promptly.

What is the difference between FES-EO and FES-UA?

FES-EO is the general educational options scholarship, open to all Florida K-12 students regardless of income or learning needs. FES-UA is specifically for students with one of 23 qualifying disabilities and provides higher funding amounts to reflect those students' additional needs. If your child has a qualifying diagnosis, applying for FES-UA (rather than or in addition to FES-EO) is usually the better choice because of the higher award potential.

Can I use Step Up funds alongside other financial aid?

Step Up scholarships can generally be used alongside other forms of financial assistance, but there are coordination rules. You cannot receive both an FES-EO and an FES-UA scholarship for the same child simultaneously. If your child receives a McKay Scholarship (for students with disabilities in public school), you may not be eligible for FES-UA at the same time. Check with Step Up directly if you're managing multiple funding sources.

What happens to unused Step Up funds at the end of the year?

Unused funds do not typically carry over to the next year. Check your specific scholarship's terms on the Step Up portal or contact Step Up's family support team before the end of the scholarship year to make sure you've used available funds appropriately.

Is Step Up for Students available to homeschoolers?

The PEP Scholarship is designed specifically for parent-directed (homeschool) learning. FES-UA is also available to homeschoolers whose child has a qualifying diagnosis. Note that PEP is currently at capacity for new students for 2026-27 — check stepupforstudents.org for updated availability and 2027-28 enrollment information.

Can my child use Step Up funds to pay for tutoring?

Yes. FES-UA, PEP, and New Worlds funds can be used for approved tutoring services, including live online tutoring through platforms like Outschool. Keep documentation of sessions and costs for your records and any reimbursement submissions.

Getting started with Step Up for Students

Step Up for Students gives Florida families real tools to build an education that fits their learner's specific needs — whether that means a private school, a structured homeschool program, online classes, therapies, or some combination of all of them. The scholarship system is more flexible than most families realize when they first hear about it.

If you're a Florida family starting from scratch: visit stepupforstudents.org, identify the program that matches your child's situation, gather your documentation, and apply. If the PEP is at capacity for new students, check back for 2027-28 — and consider whether FES-UA or FES-EO might be a fit in the meantime.

For families already enrolled, Outschool's Florida-eligible classes are available across dozens of subjects. Many families find that pairing structured curriculum at home with live online classes on Outschool gives their kids specialist instruction that's genuinely hard to replicate alone. See what Florida homeschooling looks like in practice, or browse Outschool classes by subject to find something your kid is actually excited about. Try a class — no commitment required.