Personalized Education Program (PEP)

Personalized Education Program (PEP) is sponsored by Florida Department of Education / Step Up For Students. This program offers K-12 students not enrolled full-time in public or private schools an Education Savings Account (ESA) to use for schooling resources, tutoring, and instructional materials. It is open to all eligible Florida students regardless of income.

Personalized Education Program - 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. 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 My student is showing in a "Pending Review" status but I saw a different status before.

Why did it change? Your student will remain in a “Pending Review” status as we work to prioritize renewal students. To be considered for the PEP Scholarship, please make sure that you have selected the "Accept Scholarship" button on your 2026-27 application no later than May 31, 2026.

By law, Step Up For Students must give priority to eligible renewal students who received a PEP Scholarship during the previous school year. Then, new scholarships are provided on a first-come, first-served basis unless the student is seeking income prioritization. My student is showing in a "Pending Review" status for the PEP Scholarship.

What does this mean? By law, Step Up For Students must give priority to eligible renewal students who received a PEP Scholarship during the previous school year. Then, new scholarships are provided on a first-come, first-served basis unless the student is seeking income prioritization.

To be considered for the PEP Scholarship, please make sure that you have selected the "Accept Scholarship" button on your 2026-27 application no later than May 31, 2026. Your student will remain in a “Pending Review” status as we work to prioritize renewal students. 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.

Will I have to pay back PEP Scholarship funds I've already spent if I leave the program? No. Any funds you have already spent do not need to be repaid if you leave the program. Please note that parents and guardians must notify Step Up For Students immediately if their scholarship student enrolls in public school or intends to apply for a different scholarship program.

Failure to notify Step Up For Students may result in loss of scholarship. Will PEP scholarship funding be returned to the state if my student leaves the program? Yes.

Your student’s remaining PEP Scholarship funds will be returned to the state if you leave the program and also if: • The Florida Department of Education Commissioner deems your student ineligible due to fraud or abuse • Two consecutive fiscal years (July 1 – June 30) pass with no spending activity from your student’s account.

As a reminder, a student’s scholarship eligibility concludes when they turn 21, graduate from high school, or enroll full-time in a public school. Following the end of eligibility, families may continue to access and utilize any remaining funds in the student’s scholarship account for approved educational expenses until the balance is fully spent.

Once all funds have been used, or the account is closed, the student will no longer receive additional scholarship funding. When should I terminate my Home Education program with my school district? You should end your Home Education program once your child’s PEP Scholarship is funded.

Your award letter can be used as proof that your student is now participating in the scholarship program. For more guidance on what to do after your child is awarded a scholarship, watch this video . Please see the Scholarship Participation Requirements section in the PEP Family Handbook for further information.

What do I do if we are awarded and funded PEP, but am still unsure and want to go back to Home Education? How does withdrawing work? To decline a scholarship: Go to the application where the scholarship was previously accepted Select the Decline Scholarship option Once declined, the status will update in EMA under the Application Details and a timestamp will show when the decline was made.

For a visual guide on how to decline a scholarship, click here . This information is also available in the PEP Family Handbook. What if I do my evaluation early, and apply for PEP but I don't get awarded?

Will I be truant? How does this work? Your child could be found truant if you do not complete an evaluation and do not receive a funded PEP scholarship.

New PEP students should complete the home education evaluation as a precaution. Please do not withdraw as a home education student in your school district if you have not been funded, or do not wish to use, a PEP scholarship. I’m renewing my child’s PEP scholarship.

Do I need to complete an evaluation before I apply? No. A home education evaluation is not required for new or renewal PEP applications. However, students who were funded with a PEP scholarship in the previous school year must take a Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) approved norm-referenced test during the year they use PEP.

Test scores must be submitted to your Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) and can be uploaded directly to your account in EMA. For more information, including a list of approved assessments, please see the Annual Assessment Requirement section in the PEP Family Handbook . How can I apply if I haven’t completed my home education evaluation yet?

Will I miss my chance to apply for the PEP Scholarship? No, you won’t miss your chance. By law, Home Education and the PEP Scholarship are two separate education options in Florida.

A home education evaluation is not required when applying for a new or renewal PEP Scholarship. PEP Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once your PEP Scholarship is funded, you will need to notify your school district of your intent to use the PEP Scholarship and formally withdraw your student from Home Education with the district.

My student is on PEP. Will they need to take a test and submit scores to Step Up? Yes.

All PEP students in grades K–12 are required to take a state-approved norm-referenced test each year and submit the results to their Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO). For more information, including a list of approved assessments, please see the Annual Assessment Requirement section in the PEP Family Handbook . What is the Student Learning Plan?

A Student Learning Plan (SLP) is a personalized plan created by parents or guardians to guide their child’s instruction and identify the services needed to support their academic success. All FTC-PEP scholarship students must complete and annually update a Student Learning Plan (SLP) in EMA. For a step-by-step tutorial on how to create and update your Student Learning Plan, please watch this video .

For more information on the Student Learning Plan, please visit the FTC-PEP Family Handbook . Am I required to complete a Student Learning Plan (SLP) if my student attends a physical school at least two days a week? Yes.

Every PEP student must have a Student Learning Plan, regardless of whether they attend a physical school part-time or learn entirely at home. What do I do if my student’s physical school is not listed as an option? Check with your preferred school to make sure they have contacted the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) about participating.

The FLDOE approves private schools to participate in serving scholarship students. Remember that you can use this Private School Directory to help you find the school you need for either Private School Scholarships, Unique Abilities Scholarships, or PEP Hybrid students. A new private school opened that will enroll home education students.

Can I use PEP funds to pay the required tuition? Yes. PEP students may enroll in a FTC-PEP Hybrid eligible private school if they must attend in-person at least two full school days per week and have a Student Learning Plan (SLP) that addresses instruction that occurs outside those days.

Please note that there are additional requirements for PEP-Hybrid eligible private schools. For more information please see the PEP Hybrid Eligible Private School Students section of the PEP Family Handbook . Scholarships for Personalized Education Program Students PEP Scholarship applications for the 2026-27 school year are now closed.

The deadline to apply for renewing and new students was April 30, 2026. Good news—Quarter 1 scholarship funding has started for renewal students ! Families will begin seeing funds in their account soon for renewal students.

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. New and any remaining Renewal students will receive their Quarter 1 funding in September.

Scholarship accounts must have a balance of less than $24,000 in order to receive additional funds. If your student's balance is above this amount, you must reduce your student's current balance by spending some of the available funds. A 2025-26 Student Learning Plan (SLP) must be submitted in EMA to be considered for funding.

For students who received PEP Funding in the 2024-25 school year, the student's 2024-25 assessment results must be submitted in EMA to be considered for funding. Supporting Florida’s Students Through Personalized Education Florida students who are not full-time private or public school students can access the Personalized Education Program (PEP) through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

This scholarship provides an education savings account (ESA) to fund the educational needs of eligible students. The program can serve up to 140,000 students in the 2026-27 school year. PEP Scholarships provide access to an education savings account (ESA) that functions like a bank account.

Families direct these funds to pay for: Fees for services provided by a Choice Navigator* Contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes Tuition for an eligible home education instruction program Fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests and other assessments Tuition and fees for private tutoring programs Tuition as a private pay student at Florida Virtual School Education at an eligible postsecondary educational institution or approved apprenticeship program Digital materials exclusive of digital devices such as a laptop Scholarships are open to any K-12 Florida residents not enrolled in full-time private or public school regardless of household income.

Students must be at least age 5 by September 1st of the school year they wish to enroll. First priority is given to families with a household income of 185% of poverty or below as outlined in the income priority guidelines , renewing students of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and/or Family Empowerment Scholarship, and children in foster care or out-of-home care.

Second priority is extended to families with a household income of 400% of poverty or below. Parents who want their students to receive priority funding because of household income must submit their income tax return to apply for a PEP Scholarship. PEP FAQs PEP Hybrid FAQs Are you a military family living in Florida or relocating here?

Get details on how to access scholarships for your child's education— learn more here . 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 Declare a grade level, which is used to determine student eligibility and scholarship values. Submit and maintain a Student Learning Plan (SLP) annually. Parents develop this customized learning plan to guide instruction for their students and address the services needed to fulfill their child’s academic needs.

It does not determine what a parent can purchase with scholarship funds. Withdraw as a full-time public school student or terminate a home education program with their school district and enroll as a PEP student with Step Up For Students. Take a norm-referenced test annually, and submit the results to Step Up.

Parents/Guardians of PEP students may choose from the same list of assessments that are approved for other scholarship students attending participating private schools. Alternatively, parents/guardians may arrange with their school district of residence to have their student take Florida's statewide assessments given to public school students.

These assessments must be taken at a scheduled date and time and at a school site designated by the district*. These results are required for grades K-12 and will need to be submitted to Step Up before funding is distributed. * You must contact your school district’s assessment office by their local deadline to register for statewide testing.

Do not contact your local public school or arrive for testing without making prior arrangements through the district office. There are no specific hourly requirements for students, and parents are not required to keep a record of the number of instructional hours/days.

Home Education Termination Letter Scholarship Application Checklist FTC Award Amounts Purchasing Guide Purchasing Guide Feedback Form How to create your FTC/FES-EO account How to complete an FTC/FES-EO application Document checklist for FTC/FES-EO applications Income Priority Guidelines Persons in family/household Based on guidelines published by the Department of Health & Human Services in National Registry on January 2023 *A School Choice Navigator is an optional service provider intended to help guide parents through the myriad of choices that will become available to them through an ESA.

A Choice Navigator is a educational professional who holds a valid Florida teacher certification, adjunct teacher certification, a bachelor or graduate degree in the subject area where any instruction is given, demonstrated mastery of subject area knowledge, or is certified through training from an internationally recognized research-based training program approved by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE).)

Choice Navigator Frequently Asked Questions How does a person become a Choice Navigator (what are the requirements)?

A Choice Navigator holds a valid Florida teacher certification, adjunct teacher certification, a bachelor or graduate degree in the subject area where any instruction is given, demonstrated mastery of subject area knowledge, or is certified through an internationally recognized research-based training program approved by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). How much does it cost to pay for a Choice Navigator?

The cost of the service will be determined by each Choice Navigator. Are Choice Navigators required? No, they are optional for all scholarship students.

They are intended to help guide parents and guardians through the many educational choices available to them. What authority does the Choice Navigator have over the PEP student? None.

The Choice Navigator is merely a guide to help you. Is the choice navigator required to meet with the student? Does the Choice Navigator have to meet with the parents in the student’s home?

Is there a list of teachers qualified to be a Choice Navigator if I can’t find one on my own? Step Up will create a list of approved Choice Navigators once we have collected their information. How do I find a Choice Navigator?

Frequently Asked Questions What is the Personalized Education Program (PEP)? PEP, funded through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, is an education savings account program that allows parents to customize the education of students who are not attending public or private schools full-time.

PEP will allow parents to purchase instructional materials, pay for part-time tuition at public or private schools and even tuition and fees in home education instructional programs. What are the requirements for a PEP student? Must be registered with a Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) approved scholarship-funding organization (SFO) Must not be enrolled full-time in a public school,