Step Up For Students: Florida Scholarships and Eligibility for 2026–27

Step Up For Students administers Florida scholarship programs that help eligible families access different educational options. In Florida, families have access to a number of scholarships designed to give students more flexibility in their educational outcomes. 

This article explains what Step Up For Students is, the major scholarship options, eligibility requirements, and what educators and students should know about educational choices.

What Is Step Up For Students?

Step Up For Students is a nonprofit scholarship funding organization in Florida that runs several Florida choice programs. It is designed for eligible Florida families to gain access to educational opportunities, such as personal learning, tutoring, educational materials and other approved education services, including private schools.

The organization does not function as a traditional school. Instead, it administers scholarship funding and provides families with systems and resources to manage their students’ educational benefits.

This distinction is important for educators and students. A scholarship through Step Up For Students does not show a specific curriculum or teaching method. It gives financial support to help students continue their education.

How Does Step Up For Students Support Education?

The idea behind these programs is educational choice. Instead of each student having to follow exactly one educational path, eligible families can choose options that best suit their circumstances and educational goals.

Depending on the scholarship, assistance may be provided in areas such as:

• Private school tuition and fees
• Tutoring
• Curriculum and instructional materials
• Certain educational technology
• Approved therapies and specialists
• Online or virtual learning
• Other eligible educational expenses

The specific expenses permitted depend on the scholarship program and applicable rules. For example, the Personalized Education Program provides an education savings account (ESA) for eligible students who are not enrolled full-time in a public or private school.

This makes the programs relevant to more than school tuition. In some circumstances, educational funding can be directed toward resources that complement a student’s learning plan.

Major Step Up For Students Scholarship Programs

Step up for students scholarship options are not all designed for the same students. Each program has its own eligibility requirements, purpose of study, and standards for using resources.

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) is one of Florida’s largest student choice programs. It can help qualifying students attend participating private schools by reimbursing applicable tuition and related costs.

The program is particularly important when discussing private school scholarship Florida options because it gives families an alternative to paying the full cost of private education themselves.

Students might switch from one grade to another or select a school to attend during their schooling, and knowing about the FTC might help educators understand why.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options

The Florida school choice system also has another key element: The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO).

The FTC and FES-EO are designed to provide eligible Florida students with access to participating private schools. Current program information states that Florida students eligible to enroll in public school from kindergarten through grade 12 can qualify for these scholarship options.

The availability of these programs means that school choice is not limited to one type of family or one educational circumstance.

Personalized Education Program

The Personalized Education Program (PEP) is different from a traditional private-school scholarship.

PEP is intended for eligible students who are not enrolled full-time in a public or private school. It provides an ESA that families can use for approved educational expenses. Possible learning arrangements include dual enrollment, approved online providers, private tutoring programs, and other eligible options.

For students who need a more flexible educational structure, PEP can therefore be an important part of Florida’s education choice scholarship landscape.

For the 2026–27 school year, PEP applications were accepted from February 1 through April 30, 2026. The application period is now closed.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students With Unique Abilities

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is designed for eligible students with disabilities or diagnoses.

The program provides access to educational options and approved activities tailored to each student’s needs. Depending on eligibility criteria and program criteria, funding may support areas such as private education, training, therapy, specialists, and other approved educational expenses.

For teachers and educational staff, this program is especially valuable because individualized learning needs often require more resources than in a formal classroom setting.

Who Can Qualify for Step Up For Students?

Eligibility for Step Up For Students depends on the particular scholarship, and isn’t a single universal requirement.

For example, qualifying for private scholarships is not the same as qualifying for PEP or FES-UA. The possibilities are as follows:

• Student grade level
• Florida residency
• Enrollment status
• Educational circumstances
• Whether the student has qualifying disabilities
• Whether the student is a new or renewing scholarship recipient
• Program capacity and application requirements

The official 2026–27 data shows that FTC and FES-EO eligibility extends to Florida students who can enroll in public school in kindergarten through 12th grade, while students with disabilities may qualify for FES-UA beginning at age three.

Students and families should always review these specific scholarship requirements before assuming that eligibility for a program means they automatically qualify for further education.

How Does the Step Up For Students Application Work?

The procedure for Step Up For Students Application usually includes the following steps: Creating a Step Up For Students account; submitting necessary documents and information; and completing the application process for selected scholarships.

Applicants may be asked for documentation in regards to Florida residency, student eligibility, etc. For example, the 2026–27 renewal checklist requires two different types of valid proof of Florida residency from the primary or secondary guardian.

Application timelines also vary by program and applicant type.

For the 2026–27 academic year, Step Up For Students recommends separate deadlines for new and returning applicants. 

Applications for new special schools, special skills, and PEP scholarships were scheduled to run from February 1 to April 30, while the deadline for new special school and special skills applications was later, November 15.

That’s why checking the current application calendar is important before planning around a scholarship.

What Should Teachers Know About These Scholarships?

Teachers have access to students whose tuition is covered through different types of scholarships. Understanding the basics can help teachers communicate with students and families.

However, teachers do not need to manage scholarships. Their most important role is usually to focus on improving the student’s learning while understanding how an alternative educational plan may impact learning.

For example, an instructor might consider:

Different Learning Environments

A student may attend a private school, participate in homeschooling, receive tutoring, or work with an accredited engineer.

These environments may have different schedules, instructional methods, assessment methods, and expectations.

Individual Educational Needs

There are volunteer programs that can be customized to fit the needs of the individual, or those students with special learning needs. These learners can be supported by teachers to have clear objectives and apply suitable learning strategies.

Communication with Families

Families managing scholarship funds may have questions about educational resources, instruction, curriculum, or academic services. Teachers can provide educational referrals and refer families to appropriate official program resources for funding questions.

Student Transition

The transition of students from one learning environment to another may require time for the transition. Teachers can support by recognizing the gaps in the previous learning, establishing realistic learning goals and making an environment conducive for learning.

What Should Students Know?

Students must realize scholarships are not just about the money. It may impact the place and/or method in which they learn.

Before choosing an educational option, students should consider:

• What learning environment suits them best?
• Do they learn better independently or with direct instruction?
• What academic subjects require additional support?
• Will the selected program meet graduation or academic requirements?
• What resources are available for tutoring or enrichment?
• How will progress be measured?

Older students should also think about how their educational path relates to future goals such as college, career education, dual education, or vocational education.

The goal of Florida school choice is not to identify one universally superior educational model. Different students may benefit from different approaches.

What Are Education Savings Accounts?

An education savings account (ESA) is a mechanism some scholarship programs use to provide educational funding for approved expenses.

Instead of simply sending a traditional tuition payment to a school, an ESA can give eligible families greater control over how approved educational resources are selected.

PEP, for example, uses an ESA structure that allows eligible families to direct scholarship funds toward approved educational expenses.

This model requires families to understand program rules carefully. Not every educational product or service can be provided automatically, so families should consider whether an expense is warranted before using scholarship funds.

Benefits of Understanding Educational Choice

Knowledge of Florida scholarship programs can benefit the wider academic community.

For educators, it provides context when students have different schooling arrangements or transition between programs.

For students, understanding available educational options can encourage more thoughtful decisions about their learning pathway.

For academic institutions, awareness of these programs can make communication with scholarship families more effective.

Most importantly, educational choice works best when decisions are based on the student’s actual academic needs rather than simply choosing an option because it is available.

Step Up For Students and the Role of Educators

Teachers remain central to student learning, regardless of the cost of a student’s education.

Scholarships do not guarantee quality teaching, effective assessment, academic guidance, or strong relationships between students and faculty. Instead, scholarship funding can potentially provide additional pathways through which those educational goals are pursued.

As such, Step Up For Students can be used as a complement to normal teaching methods, not as a replacement.

Teachers can engage with students and families more effectively by having an understanding of the terminology, program classification and basic competency requirements.

Final Thoughts

Step Up For Students is an important component of Florida’s Educational Choice System, which provides families with access to educational opportunities and other types of educational resources. Knowing about these programs can result in school changes, publication changes, and changes in lesson plans for teachers and students.

Families are encouraged to read the requirement, deadline and approved cost of the specific scholarship they are interested in to ensure accurate information since program requirements may change annually.