Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) is sponsored by Florida Department of Education / Step Up For Students (SFO). The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) provides financial assistance for K-12 students in Florida to attend private schools.

Florida Private School Scholarships - Step Up For Students Step Up For Students will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, July 6th.

Scholarships Private School Scholarship Unique Abilities Scholarship Personalized Education Hope Scholarship New Worlds Scholarship Transportation Stipend Member Area Become An Advocate Alumni Login Parent Resources MyScholarShop Reimbursements Vendor and Product Listing Find A School Pre-Approved Reading Provider Private Schools Service Providers Product Vendors Partner Resources AUP for Private Schools Handbooks "How To" Videos" Marketing Toolkit School & Provider Login Florida Tax Credit Charitable Giving Auto Dealers - Hope Scholarship Funding Planned Giving Other Ways To Give Donor Advised Funds Make An Impact Vehicle Donations Donor Resources Bill of Rights Contact Team Gift Acceptance Policy InspirED Start shopping on Amazon Smile Income Based Scholarship Reports Family Empowerment For Unique Abilities Reports Hope Scholarship Reports New Worlds Scholarship Reports Resources and Links Financial Reports History White Papers Annual Reports Financial Reports Governance Policies Do you have questions about Step Up’s new family, provider, or school handbooks — or our updated purchasing guides?

Explore the information below for helpful guidance and answers to your questions about these resources, along with other useful content available on our website: For an overview of what’s changed in all of Step Up’s program handbooks (guardian, provider and schools) as well as our Private School/PEP Purchasing Guide: Summary of Changes to Handbooks and Private School/PEP Purchasing Guides Take a look at these resources using these helpful links: Find All of Our Handbooks Here Private School and PEP Purchasing Guide And for a look at what’s new in the FES-UA Purchasing Guide as well as a link to the new guide itself, use these links: Summary of Changes to the FES-UA Purchasing Guide When are applications available for my student?

On February 1 , applications for Private School, Unique Abilities and PEP Scholarships became available for the upcoming school year. As you prepare for the year ahead, here are a few important reminders to help everything go smoothly: Private School & Unique Abilities Scholarship Families: We want to make sure your child’s path continues without interruption. Please submit your renewal application by April 30 .

After this date, applications for renewing students will be reviewed in the same group as new applicants until November 15 . PEP Scholarship Families: To give every student the opportunity they deserve, all renewal and new applications must be submitted by April 30 . After that date, we’re unable to accept additional applications for the PEP scholarship.

How do I reset my Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for my EMA account? 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. Why was my MyScholarShop order denied? 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) 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 How does a provider send the guardian an invoice for services?

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 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 What are the invoicing statuses for a provider’s services that I see in EMA and what do they mean?

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 Deleted — Order removed before payment Creating Invoice — Temporary status after submission — usually resolves in a few business days How do I find a provider for the items or services my student needs?

How to Find a Provider in EMA Click Marketplace on the left menu 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. What are the possible statuses on my student’s application and what do they mean?

Here’s what each Application status in EMA means for your student: 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. Eligible – Student has been found eligible for the scholarship applied for.

Here are the Scholarship statuses in EMA for your student: Pending – Your student’s eligibility status is still under review. Please monitor your EMA account for updates. Awarded – Your application was approved, and the student has been determined eligible for a scholarship.

Please note, your student has not yet been “funded” for the applying school year. Funded – Your student’s scholarship has been funded to your EMA account. You may now utilize the funds in your account.

Pending Review – A New student was determined eligible, but at this time the scholarship may not be awarded for this school year because priority is given to Renewal students and space may not be available. Declined – You have indicated to Step Up For Students that you do not intend to utilize the scholarship for this school year. If you decide to apply for the following school year, you will be considered a “new” applicant.

Withdrawn – You have received scholarship funding but have opted to not continue in your program for this school year. Denied – Your student has not been deemed “eligible” for the scholarship you applied for at this time. If you feel that this is not correct, please contact us to ensure all qualifying information has been received.

To check your student’s scholarship status: How do I provide my Florida proof of residency?

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 2025–26) still need valid documentation All applications must have two different document types.

What “Current” Means 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 A social security number will need to be entered for you and your student.

* If your student is a dependent child of an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and you or the secondary guardian have PCS orders to move into or out of the State of Florida , you must provide updated PCS orders and a recent Leave and Earnings Statement as Proof of Residency.

* Military families currently living in the state of Florida must provide any two Proof of Residency document types, excluding PCS and LES, and may provide documentation for the primary or secondary guardian.

Residency For Active-Duty Military Who Received Permanent Change of Station Orders To Move To Florida Dependent children of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces who received Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to move to Florida but have not yet established Florida residency are eligible for the FES-UA program.

To provide proof of residency, you must: Upload Leave and Earnings Statement and PCS orders Ensure the physical Florida address in the parent or guardian profile matches the Florida unit address listed on the PCS orders. Contact Step Up For Students at (877) 735-7837 once Florida residency is established to upload an updated proof of residency document You may also visit our Military Families page for more details.

Residency For Active-Duty Military Who Are Stationed Outside of Florida Renewal applicants for the FES-UA program whose parent or guardian is stationed outside of Florida are eligible if their home of record or state of legal residence is still Florida. To provide proof of residency, you must: List the address of the Florida base from which you were relieved in your parent or guardian profile.

Confirm that your home of record or legal residence remains in Florida by uploading your Leave and Earnings Statement You may also visit our Military Families page for more details. Important: A parent or guardian with a legal domicile in Florida but who are currently on orders to another state is not eligible to apply for the scholarship for the first time.

Previous ties to Florida, such as having lived in the state or holding a past Florida identification card, are not sufficient for eligibility. Applicants must demonstrate current Florida residency at the time of application. What is the scholarship amount for my county?

You can view the current FTC/FES-EO and PEP scholarship amounts here . You can view the FES-UA scholarship amounts here . Please note: The scholarship amounts are established annually by the Florida Legislature in the state budget.

My student was attending a private school on scholarship, but now we attend a public school. What happened to my scholarship? Am I eligible for anything else?

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. What if my child is awarded and funded for PEP, but I decide I want to return to Home Education through my public school district?

How does withdrawal work? 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. Can I apply for more than one scholarship at a time for my child? 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. I’m active-duty military and currently live out of state, but I’ve been assigned to a base in Florida and plan to move soon.

Are my children eligible for 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. Private School Scholarships Do you have questions about Step Up’s new family, provider, or school handbooks — or our updated purchasing guides?

Explore the information below for helpful guidance and answers to your questions about these resources, along with other useful content available on our website: For an overview of what’s changed in all of Step Up’s program handbooks (guardian, provider and schools) as well as our Private School/PEP Purchasing Guide: Summary of Changes to Handbooks and Private School/PEP Purchasing Guides Take a look at these resources using these helpful links: Find All of Our Handbooks Here Private School and PEP Purchasing Guide And for a look at what’s new in the FES-UA Purchasing Guide as well as a link to the new guide itself, use these links: Summary of Changes to the FES-UA Purchasing Guide Can I be reimbursed for a camera if my student needs one for a photography or videography course?

Yes! Cameras are eligible for reimbursement under all scholarships (PEP, Unique Abilities, and Private School) as equipment for an elective course within the Instructional Material category. They are typically considered equipment for art-related courses such as photography or videography.

When submitting a reimbursement for a camera in EMA, in the Item/Service Details drop-downs you should: Select Instructional Material as the Category Choose Elective Equipment as the Type Enter Photography/Videography Equipment in the Description field Then, follow the remaining prompts to complete the reimbursement request for your camera purchase. When are applications available for my student?

On February 1 , applications for Private School, Unique Abilities and PEP Scholarships became available for the upcoming school year. As you prepare for the year ahead, here are a few important reminders to help everything go smoothly: Private School & Unique Abilities Scholarship Families: We want to make sure your child’s path continues without interruption. Please submit your renewal application by April 30 .

After this date, applications for renewing students will be reviewed in the same group as new applicants until November 15 . PEP Scholarship Families: To give every student the opportunity they deserve, all renewal and new applications must be submitted by April 30 . After that date, we’re unable to accept additional applications for the PEP scholarship.

If I unenroll my student from a private school, how long do I have to choose another private school? 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.

I applied for a Private School Scholarship. Can I also apply for another scholarship as a backup? 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. What might cause my student to lose their 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. I’m active-duty military and currently live out of state, but I’ve been assigned to a base in Florida and plan to move soon. Are my children eligible for 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. 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. 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 Choose a stage below to get started.

Every Student Deserves A Choice Just as every student has their own story, every classroom and school has its own character. We believe students learn best and are given the opportunity to excel in academic environments that cater to their learning needs. At Step Up For Students, we empower Florida students and families to build a stronger future through tailored educational opportunities.

Our Private School Scholarships offer tuition assistance and support a range of educational needs through education savings accounts (ESA). 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). Need Help Finding a Private School?

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: 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.

Scholarship Amounts by County At this time, EMA will continue to display the 2025–26 scholarship amounts while we update our systems. Please note: The scholarship amounts are established annually by the Florida Legislature in the state budget. 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts 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 who are renewing their Private School Scholarship (FTC or FES-EO) 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 .

Has your child experienced a bullying incident? Frequently Asked Questions Military Families For handbooks and other helpful information view our resources page.

Scholarship Application Checklist Transportation Award Amounts FTC/FES-EO Award Amounts FTC/FES-EO Agreed-Upon Purchasing Guidelines SUFS FTC/FES-EO Purchasing Guide FTC/FES-EO Purchasing Guide Feedback Form Cash Wages 1055CW 1070NP Non Income Priority 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 What happened to the Hope Scholarship? 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 .

My student was bullied in their public school after the application deadline. Can I still apply? Yes, students who experience a bullying incident may apply at any point in the school year for a Private School Scholarship.

Will I be able to use the Hope Scholarship to pay for more than tuition and fees? The Private School Scholarship allows you to spend any remaining funds after tuition and fees are paid on things like tutoring or after-school activities. “School choice meant opportunities and inevitable growth.

Thanks to school choice, I learned to love education. I learned to reach for my wildest dreams. Choice brings liberty.

Choice brings opportunity. Choice brings life. ” Step Up Scholarship Alumni “Your education determines your future.

When I received school choice, it changed my future. I want that opportunity for everyone, not just me. ” Step Up Scholarship Alumni “With homeschooling, the curriculum is definitely more challenging.

If I’m having trouble in one subject, we can work on that. And if I'm really good at another subject, and don't need to really do any more in it, then we can move on.

” Step Up Scholarship Recipient How to create your FTC/FES-EO account How to complete an FTC/FES-EO application Document checklist for FTC/FES-EO applications Step Up For Students (SUFS) will never ask for your SUFS account credentials or banking information by phone, text or email. Using third-party services to access your account violates our user agreement and may expose your data. Questions?

Call 1 (877) 735-7837 or email [email protected] . Visit our Security Center to learn more.