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The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) — most parents call it the UA Scholarship — is the single most generous educational funding program in Florida for students with diagnosed learning differences. Average awards run around $10,000 per child per year and cover tutoring, therapies, curriculum, and educational technology — the broadest spending categories of any Step Up program.
This guide focuses on the tutoring half. We'll cover who qualifies for UA, why tutoring matters specifically for unique-abilities students, what kinds of tutoring funds cover, how to choose a tutor with the right specialist training, and how the EMA portal handles payment.
Quick answer
The UA Scholarship (FES-UA) is Florida's $10,000-per-year ESA for students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis. It covers 1-on-1 tutoring through Step Up-approved providers with no out-of-pocket cost. Eligible diagnoses include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and many more. Tutoring through UA is most valuable when the tutor has specialist training matched to your child's profile — Orton-Gillingham for dyslexia, structured math intervention, executive-function coaching, or other evidence-based approaches.
What is the Unique Abilities Scholarship in Florida?
The UA Scholarship — formally the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities — is one of Step Up for Students' two ESA-style scholarships. It's the only Step Up program that can begin at age 3 (rather than age 5), making it the choice for early-intervention families. The 2024-25 cycle had over 150,000 students enrolled with awards averaging $10,000.
UA is fully flexible: parents direct the funds, Step Up approves the spending categories, and the EMA portal handles payments to providers. Families can spend on private-school tuition, 1-on-1 tutoring, specialised therapies (speech, occupational, physical, ABA), curriculum and materials, educational technology, and approved part-time enrolment. Most families build a hybrid — some private-school tuition, some tutoring, some therapy — that no single program could match.
Who qualifies for the UA Scholarship?
UA eligibility is diagnosis-based. Your child needs documentation from a qualified healthcare professional — a pediatrician, psychologist, neurologist, developmental pediatrician, or a school district's evaluation team — confirming a qualifying condition. Income and household assets are not factors.
- Eligible diagnoses include: autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hearing or visual impairments, traumatic brain injury, deaf-blindness, and several rarer conditions. The full list is in the FES-UA handbook on stepupforstudents.org.
- Age requirement: 3 years old through 12th grade (or up to age 22 in some cases). UA is the only Step Up program that funds preschool-age children.
- Florida residency. Standard for all Step Up scholarships.
- Documented diagnosis. Recent — typically within the last few years. Older evaluations may need a fresh report.
Why does tutoring matter for unique-abilities students?
Standard classroom instruction is built for the median student. A child with dyslexia reading two grade levels behind, a child with ADHD who needs movement breaks every 12 minutes, a child with autism who learns better with visual supports — none of them are well-served by 25-student lessons running at average pace. The classroom can't slow down to match every learner.
1-on-1 tutoring solves the pacing problem at the source. The tutor sets pace, content, and modality entirely around the individual student. For dyslexia, that's structured-literacy instruction at the student's reading level. For ADHD, it's short focused work blocks with movement breaks. For autism, it's predictable routines, visual schedules, and tutor consistency week-to-week. The research consistently shows 1-on-1 instruction produces the largest gains for students with learning differences — it's the single highest-leverage spend most UA families make. Tutero builds 1-on-1 lesson plans around exactly this profile.
What kinds of tutoring does the UA Scholarship cover?
UA covers any approved-provider academic tutoring that supports the student's individual education plan. The most-used tutoring categories for UA families are these.
- Structured-literacy tutoring — Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Barton, Lindamood-Bell. Essential for dyslexia and reading-disability profiles.
- Math intervention tutoring — for students whose math is several grade levels behind, or whose ADHD makes mainstream math instruction unmanageable.
- Executive function coaching — planning, time management, organisation, and study-skills support. Highly valuable for ADHD and autism profiles, especially in middle school and high school.
- Subject-specific tutoring — math tutoring, English, science, foreign language, history at any grade level.
- Test prep tutoring — SAT, ACT, AP, FAST state tests. UA covers these for high-school students preparing for college applications.
- Specialist subject support — for students who excel in one subject and need depth (gifted-and-disabled "twice exceptional" profiles).
How do I choose the right tutor for a UA student?
UA tutoring works only when the tutor's training matches the child's profile. Choosing well is harder than for general tutoring, and getting it wrong wastes a year of funding.
- Match the tutor's training to your child's diagnosis. Dyslexia → Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton, or comparable structured-literacy training. ADHD → executive-function coaching plus subject expertise. Autism → tutor experience with autism, ideally with visual supports and routine consistency. Generalist tutors are not interchangeable with specialists for unique-abilities profiles.
- Ask for tutor credentials in writing. A bio, a list of certifications and trainings, sample lesson plans. Strong providers share these. Weak providers say "our tutors are highly qualified" without specifics.
- Look for IEP and accommodations experience. Tutors who've worked inside the school system understand IEPs, accommodations, and how to coordinate with the school. They make the home-school-tutor triangle work.
- Check communication frequency. Weekly written summaries, suggested at-home practice, and quick parent responses are non-negotiable for UA tutoring. Without them, you have no way to track progress.
- Confirm direct EMA payment. Avoid reimbursement-only providers. Direct payment means no out-of-pocket cost and a clean monthly cycle.
How do I use UA funds for tutoring through the EMA portal?
The flow is identical to any other ESA-funded tutoring. Direct payment through EMA is the standard at every serious provider.
- Confirm your scholarship — log in at stepupforstudents.org and verify FES-UA is active.
- Browse the EMA provider directory — filter by "tutoring" and your subject of need.
- Vet your shortlist using the questions above.
- Schedule the first lesson with your chosen provider. Most quality managed providers can start within a week.
- Approve the first direct-pay invoice in EMA on the day lessons begin. Step Up pays the tutor directly from your balance.
Why do Florida UA families choose Tutero?
Tutero is one of the most-used tutoring providers for FES-UA families in Florida, and the reasons line up with the criteria above. Every Tutero tutor is a qualified, certified educator — current or former classroom teachers, special-education specialists, or subject-matter experts with verified credentials. Account managers are special-education-trained and understand IEPs, accommodations, and the emotional weight families carry. Lessons are built around each student individually using personalised lesson technology. Direct EMA payment means no out-of-pocket cost.
The match-to-profile work is what separates a good UA tutoring experience from a frustrating one. Tutero family stories document the difference — students who came in two grade levels behind in reading, working at grade level six months later. The throughline is the same: the right specialist tutor, on a consistent schedule, with active parent communication.
Bottom line
The UA Scholarship is one of the most powerful educational tools in Florida for families with unique-abilities students. Use it well by matching tutor specialisation to your child's profile, vetting providers seriously, and setting up direct EMA payment. Tutero is a fully approved Step Up provider with certified, specialist-trained tutors. Read about our tutors or browse our tutoring service to start your search.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) — most parents call it the UA Scholarship — is the single most generous educational funding program in Florida for students with diagnosed learning differences. Average awards run around $10,000 per child per year and cover tutoring, therapies, curriculum, and educational technology — the broadest spending categories of any Step Up program.
This guide focuses on the tutoring half. We'll cover who qualifies for UA, why tutoring matters specifically for unique-abilities students, what kinds of tutoring funds cover, how to choose a tutor with the right specialist training, and how the EMA portal handles payment.
Quick answer
The UA Scholarship (FES-UA) is Florida's $10,000-per-year ESA for students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis. It covers 1-on-1 tutoring through Step Up-approved providers with no out-of-pocket cost. Eligible diagnoses include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and many more. Tutoring through UA is most valuable when the tutor has specialist training matched to your child's profile — Orton-Gillingham for dyslexia, structured math intervention, executive-function coaching, or other evidence-based approaches.
What is the Unique Abilities Scholarship in Florida?
The UA Scholarship — formally the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities — is one of Step Up for Students' two ESA-style scholarships. It's the only Step Up program that can begin at age 3 (rather than age 5), making it the choice for early-intervention families. The 2024-25 cycle had over 150,000 students enrolled with awards averaging $10,000.
UA is fully flexible: parents direct the funds, Step Up approves the spending categories, and the EMA portal handles payments to providers. Families can spend on private-school tuition, 1-on-1 tutoring, specialised therapies (speech, occupational, physical, ABA), curriculum and materials, educational technology, and approved part-time enrolment. Most families build a hybrid — some private-school tuition, some tutoring, some therapy — that no single program could match.
Who qualifies for the UA Scholarship?
UA eligibility is diagnosis-based. Your child needs documentation from a qualified healthcare professional — a pediatrician, psychologist, neurologist, developmental pediatrician, or a school district's evaluation team — confirming a qualifying condition. Income and household assets are not factors.
- Eligible diagnoses include: autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hearing or visual impairments, traumatic brain injury, deaf-blindness, and several rarer conditions. The full list is in the FES-UA handbook on stepupforstudents.org.
- Age requirement: 3 years old through 12th grade (or up to age 22 in some cases). UA is the only Step Up program that funds preschool-age children.
- Florida residency. Standard for all Step Up scholarships.
- Documented diagnosis. Recent — typically within the last few years. Older evaluations may need a fresh report.
Why does tutoring matter for unique-abilities students?
Standard classroom instruction is built for the median student. A child with dyslexia reading two grade levels behind, a child with ADHD who needs movement breaks every 12 minutes, a child with autism who learns better with visual supports — none of them are well-served by 25-student lessons running at average pace. The classroom can't slow down to match every learner.
1-on-1 tutoring solves the pacing problem at the source. The tutor sets pace, content, and modality entirely around the individual student. For dyslexia, that's structured-literacy instruction at the student's reading level. For ADHD, it's short focused work blocks with movement breaks. For autism, it's predictable routines, visual schedules, and tutor consistency week-to-week. The research consistently shows 1-on-1 instruction produces the largest gains for students with learning differences — it's the single highest-leverage spend most UA families make. Tutero builds 1-on-1 lesson plans around exactly this profile.
What kinds of tutoring does the UA Scholarship cover?
UA covers any approved-provider academic tutoring that supports the student's individual education plan. The most-used tutoring categories for UA families are these.
- Structured-literacy tutoring — Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Barton, Lindamood-Bell. Essential for dyslexia and reading-disability profiles.
- Math intervention tutoring — for students whose math is several grade levels behind, or whose ADHD makes mainstream math instruction unmanageable.
- Executive function coaching — planning, time management, organisation, and study-skills support. Highly valuable for ADHD and autism profiles, especially in middle school and high school.
- Subject-specific tutoring — math tutoring, English, science, foreign language, history at any grade level.
- Test prep tutoring — SAT, ACT, AP, FAST state tests. UA covers these for high-school students preparing for college applications.
- Specialist subject support — for students who excel in one subject and need depth (gifted-and-disabled "twice exceptional" profiles).
How do I choose the right tutor for a UA student?
UA tutoring works only when the tutor's training matches the child's profile. Choosing well is harder than for general tutoring, and getting it wrong wastes a year of funding.
- Match the tutor's training to your child's diagnosis. Dyslexia → Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton, or comparable structured-literacy training. ADHD → executive-function coaching plus subject expertise. Autism → tutor experience with autism, ideally with visual supports and routine consistency. Generalist tutors are not interchangeable with specialists for unique-abilities profiles.
- Ask for tutor credentials in writing. A bio, a list of certifications and trainings, sample lesson plans. Strong providers share these. Weak providers say "our tutors are highly qualified" without specifics.
- Look for IEP and accommodations experience. Tutors who've worked inside the school system understand IEPs, accommodations, and how to coordinate with the school. They make the home-school-tutor triangle work.
- Check communication frequency. Weekly written summaries, suggested at-home practice, and quick parent responses are non-negotiable for UA tutoring. Without them, you have no way to track progress.
- Confirm direct EMA payment. Avoid reimbursement-only providers. Direct payment means no out-of-pocket cost and a clean monthly cycle.
How do I use UA funds for tutoring through the EMA portal?
The flow is identical to any other ESA-funded tutoring. Direct payment through EMA is the standard at every serious provider.
- Confirm your scholarship — log in at stepupforstudents.org and verify FES-UA is active.
- Browse the EMA provider directory — filter by "tutoring" and your subject of need.
- Vet your shortlist using the questions above.
- Schedule the first lesson with your chosen provider. Most quality managed providers can start within a week.
- Approve the first direct-pay invoice in EMA on the day lessons begin. Step Up pays the tutor directly from your balance.
Why do Florida UA families choose Tutero?
Tutero is one of the most-used tutoring providers for FES-UA families in Florida, and the reasons line up with the criteria above. Every Tutero tutor is a qualified, certified educator — current or former classroom teachers, special-education specialists, or subject-matter experts with verified credentials. Account managers are special-education-trained and understand IEPs, accommodations, and the emotional weight families carry. Lessons are built around each student individually using personalised lesson technology. Direct EMA payment means no out-of-pocket cost.
The match-to-profile work is what separates a good UA tutoring experience from a frustrating one. Tutero family stories document the difference — students who came in two grade levels behind in reading, working at grade level six months later. The throughline is the same: the right specialist tutor, on a consistent schedule, with active parent communication.
Bottom line
The UA Scholarship is one of the most powerful educational tools in Florida for families with unique-abilities students. Use it well by matching tutor specialisation to your child's profile, vetting providers seriously, and setting up direct EMA payment. Tutero is a fully approved Step Up provider with certified, specialist-trained tutors. Read about our tutors or browse our tutoring service to start your search.
FAQ
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Online maths tutoring at Tutero is catering to students of all year levels. We offer programs tailored to the unique learning curves of each age group.
We also have expert NAPLAN and ATAR subject tutors, ensuring students are well-equipped for these pivotal assessments.
We recommend at least two to three session per week for consistent progress. However, this can vary based on your child's needs and goals.
Our platform uses advanced security protocols to ensure the safety and privacy of all our online sessions.
Parents are welcome to observe sessions. We believe in a collaborative approach to education.
We provide regular progress reports and assessments to track your child’s academic development.
Yes, we prioritise the student-tutor relationship and can arrange a change if the need arises.
Yes, we offer a range of resources and materials, including interactive exercises and practice worksheets.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) — most parents call it the UA Scholarship — is the single most generous educational funding program in Florida for students with diagnosed learning differences. Average awards run around $10,000 per child per year and cover tutoring, therapies, curriculum, and educational technology — the broadest spending categories of any Step Up program.
This guide focuses on the tutoring half. We'll cover who qualifies for UA, why tutoring matters specifically for unique-abilities students, what kinds of tutoring funds cover, how to choose a tutor with the right specialist training, and how the EMA portal handles payment.
Quick answer
The UA Scholarship (FES-UA) is Florida's $10,000-per-year ESA for students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis. It covers 1-on-1 tutoring through Step Up-approved providers with no out-of-pocket cost. Eligible diagnoses include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and many more. Tutoring through UA is most valuable when the tutor has specialist training matched to your child's profile — Orton-Gillingham for dyslexia, structured math intervention, executive-function coaching, or other evidence-based approaches.
What is the Unique Abilities Scholarship in Florida?
The UA Scholarship — formally the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities — is one of Step Up for Students' two ESA-style scholarships. It's the only Step Up program that can begin at age 3 (rather than age 5), making it the choice for early-intervention families. The 2024-25 cycle had over 150,000 students enrolled with awards averaging $10,000.
UA is fully flexible: parents direct the funds, Step Up approves the spending categories, and the EMA portal handles payments to providers. Families can spend on private-school tuition, 1-on-1 tutoring, specialised therapies (speech, occupational, physical, ABA), curriculum and materials, educational technology, and approved part-time enrolment. Most families build a hybrid — some private-school tuition, some tutoring, some therapy — that no single program could match.
Who qualifies for the UA Scholarship?
UA eligibility is diagnosis-based. Your child needs documentation from a qualified healthcare professional — a pediatrician, psychologist, neurologist, developmental pediatrician, or a school district's evaluation team — confirming a qualifying condition. Income and household assets are not factors.
- Eligible diagnoses include: autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hearing or visual impairments, traumatic brain injury, deaf-blindness, and several rarer conditions. The full list is in the FES-UA handbook on stepupforstudents.org.
- Age requirement: 3 years old through 12th grade (or up to age 22 in some cases). UA is the only Step Up program that funds preschool-age children.
- Florida residency. Standard for all Step Up scholarships.
- Documented diagnosis. Recent — typically within the last few years. Older evaluations may need a fresh report.
Why does tutoring matter for unique-abilities students?
Standard classroom instruction is built for the median student. A child with dyslexia reading two grade levels behind, a child with ADHD who needs movement breaks every 12 minutes, a child with autism who learns better with visual supports — none of them are well-served by 25-student lessons running at average pace. The classroom can't slow down to match every learner.
1-on-1 tutoring solves the pacing problem at the source. The tutor sets pace, content, and modality entirely around the individual student. For dyslexia, that's structured-literacy instruction at the student's reading level. For ADHD, it's short focused work blocks with movement breaks. For autism, it's predictable routines, visual schedules, and tutor consistency week-to-week. The research consistently shows 1-on-1 instruction produces the largest gains for students with learning differences — it's the single highest-leverage spend most UA families make. Tutero builds 1-on-1 lesson plans around exactly this profile.
What kinds of tutoring does the UA Scholarship cover?
UA covers any approved-provider academic tutoring that supports the student's individual education plan. The most-used tutoring categories for UA families are these.
- Structured-literacy tutoring — Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Barton, Lindamood-Bell. Essential for dyslexia and reading-disability profiles.
- Math intervention tutoring — for students whose math is several grade levels behind, or whose ADHD makes mainstream math instruction unmanageable.
- Executive function coaching — planning, time management, organisation, and study-skills support. Highly valuable for ADHD and autism profiles, especially in middle school and high school.
- Subject-specific tutoring — math tutoring, English, science, foreign language, history at any grade level.
- Test prep tutoring — SAT, ACT, AP, FAST state tests. UA covers these for high-school students preparing for college applications.
- Specialist subject support — for students who excel in one subject and need depth (gifted-and-disabled "twice exceptional" profiles).
How do I choose the right tutor for a UA student?
UA tutoring works only when the tutor's training matches the child's profile. Choosing well is harder than for general tutoring, and getting it wrong wastes a year of funding.
- Match the tutor's training to your child's diagnosis. Dyslexia → Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton, or comparable structured-literacy training. ADHD → executive-function coaching plus subject expertise. Autism → tutor experience with autism, ideally with visual supports and routine consistency. Generalist tutors are not interchangeable with specialists for unique-abilities profiles.
- Ask for tutor credentials in writing. A bio, a list of certifications and trainings, sample lesson plans. Strong providers share these. Weak providers say "our tutors are highly qualified" without specifics.
- Look for IEP and accommodations experience. Tutors who've worked inside the school system understand IEPs, accommodations, and how to coordinate with the school. They make the home-school-tutor triangle work.
- Check communication frequency. Weekly written summaries, suggested at-home practice, and quick parent responses are non-negotiable for UA tutoring. Without them, you have no way to track progress.
- Confirm direct EMA payment. Avoid reimbursement-only providers. Direct payment means no out-of-pocket cost and a clean monthly cycle.
How do I use UA funds for tutoring through the EMA portal?
The flow is identical to any other ESA-funded tutoring. Direct payment through EMA is the standard at every serious provider.
- Confirm your scholarship — log in at stepupforstudents.org and verify FES-UA is active.
- Browse the EMA provider directory — filter by "tutoring" and your subject of need.
- Vet your shortlist using the questions above.
- Schedule the first lesson with your chosen provider. Most quality managed providers can start within a week.
- Approve the first direct-pay invoice in EMA on the day lessons begin. Step Up pays the tutor directly from your balance.
Why do Florida UA families choose Tutero?
Tutero is one of the most-used tutoring providers for FES-UA families in Florida, and the reasons line up with the criteria above. Every Tutero tutor is a qualified, certified educator — current or former classroom teachers, special-education specialists, or subject-matter experts with verified credentials. Account managers are special-education-trained and understand IEPs, accommodations, and the emotional weight families carry. Lessons are built around each student individually using personalised lesson technology. Direct EMA payment means no out-of-pocket cost.
The match-to-profile work is what separates a good UA tutoring experience from a frustrating one. Tutero family stories document the difference — students who came in two grade levels behind in reading, working at grade level six months later. The throughline is the same: the right specialist tutor, on a consistent schedule, with active parent communication.
Bottom line
The UA Scholarship is one of the most powerful educational tools in Florida for families with unique-abilities students. Use it well by matching tutor specialisation to your child's profile, vetting providers seriously, and setting up direct EMA payment. Tutero is a fully approved Step Up provider with certified, specialist-trained tutors. Read about our tutors or browse our tutoring service to start your search.
Florida residents ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional. Eligible conditions include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia and specific learning disabilities, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hearing or visual impairments, and many more. Income is not a factor — eligibility is diagnosis-based. The full list is in the FES-UA handbook on stepupforstudents.org.
The average UA award is around $10,000 per child per year, with funds released quarterly through the EMA portal. The scholarship covers tutoring fees through the EMA direct-pay portal, so families pay nothing out of pocket. A typical UA balance comfortably funds two weekly lessons across two subjects through the school year with room for summer review. Most families spend 40-60% of their UA award on tutoring.
Yes. Specialist literacy tutoring (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, Barton, Lindamood-Bell) is one of the highest-value uses of UA funds, particularly for dyslexia and reading-disability profiles. The tutor must be Step Up-approved, but specialist credentials (OG certification, Wilson Level 1 training) are not required by Step Up — they're required by you. Ask for written documentation of training.
Yes — UA is the only Step Up scholarship that begins at age 3. Younger students with documented diagnoses can use UA funds for early-intervention tutoring, therapies, and approved early-learning programs. This makes UA particularly valuable for families pursuing structured literacy from kindergarten or earlier, where early intervention has the largest long-term impact.
Yes. UA's flexibility is its biggest strength. Many families use UA for both private-school tuition and supplemental 1-on-1 tutoring at the same time — the school handles core instruction, the tutor handles the specific intervention or subject support the school can't deliver. Speech, occupational, and physical therapy can run alongside both.
Start in the EMA provider directory, filter by tutoring, and shortlist three providers. Run the same five questions with each — credentials, lesson plan, progress reporting, EMA payment, parent references — and ask explicitly about training matched to your child's diagnosis. A reading-disability child needs a structured-literacy specialist, not a generalist. Tutero matches every UA student to a tutor with relevant specialist training.
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