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Florida's Step Up for Students scholarship gives families real money — often $8,000–$10,000 per child per year — that can pay for tutoring directly. But knowing the funds exist is one thing. Knowing exactly which scholarship you have, what tutoring it covers, how to find an approved tutor, and how the EMA portal pays them is the part most parents have to work out alone.
This guide walks through every step. By the end you'll know which Step Up program lets you pay for tutoring, which kinds of tutoring count, how to find an approved provider, and how to start without paying anything out of pocket.
Quick answer
Florida ESA funds — the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) and the Personalized Education Program (PEP) — pay for 1-on-1 tutoring through Step Up for Students. You log in to the EMA portal, find a Step Up-approved tutoring provider like Tutero, send them a direct-pay request, and the funds go straight from Step Up to the tutor. No out-of-pocket payment, no reimbursement waiting period. The other Step Up programs (FES-EO and FTC) only cover private school tuition — not tutoring.
Which Step Up scholarships actually pay for tutoring?
Only the two ESA-style scholarships pay for tutoring: FES-UA (Unique Abilities) and PEP (Personalized Education Program). FES-EO and FTC are tuition-only and cannot fund tutoring unless your private-school tuition is fully covered and there is a leftover balance — which rarely happens.
- FES-UA (Unique Abilities Scholarship): for students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, and many more). Average award around $10,000. Highly flexible ESA — covers tutoring, therapies, curriculum, technology.
- PEP (Personalized Education Program): for K-12 students who are NOT enrolled full-time in public or private school (charter, magnet, and Florida Virtual School do not count as eligible non-enrollment for PEP). Award around $8,000. Covers tutoring, curriculum, materials, and parent-directed learning.
- FES-EO and FTC: Tuition-only. Designed for full-time enrollment at an approved private school. Tutoring not eligible.
What kinds of tutoring can ESA funds cover?
Step Up ESA funds cover academic tutoring delivered by an approved provider in any K-12 subject — math, reading, writing, science, history, foreign languages, test prep — and across any grade level from kindergarten through 12th. The tutoring can be 1-on-1 or small-group, online or in-person, weekly or intensive. The only condition is that the tutor or tutoring company must be Step Up-approved and listed in the EMA portal's provider directory.
- 1-on-1 academic tutoring — the most common use. Math tutoring, reading support, writing coaching, science help, foreign language.
- Test prep tutoring — SAT, ACT, AP exam prep, FAST state-test preparation.
- Subject specialists — students with a learning difference often work with a tutor trained in structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham), executive-function coaching, or specialised math instruction.
- Group tutoring or small classes — homeschool co-op classes that bill through an approved provider.
- Tutoring across grade levels — there's no age cap inside K-12. Kindergarten phonics, 5th-grade fractions, 8th-grade pre-algebra, 11th-grade chemistry, and 12th-grade SAT prep are all eligible through your Step Up scholarship.
How do I find a Step Up-approved tutor in Florida?
Use the EMA portal's provider directory. Once you log in to your scholarship account, the directory lists every business and individual approved to receive Step Up funds. Filter by service type ("tutoring") and location ("Florida" or your county). Each listing shows the provider's profile, what they teach, and whether they take direct payment.
Choosing well matters more than choosing fast. The directory has thousands of providers — the market tripled in two years, growing from roughly 5,000 to over 17,000 individual providers between 2023–24 and 2025–26. Quality varies. Look for providers with certified, qualified tutors, transparent pricing, and a track record with Step Up families. Tutero is a fully approved provider and a good first call if you want a managed-service experience instead of vetting individual freelancers yourself.
How does the EMA portal pay my tutor?
The EMA portal supports two payment methods: direct payment (recommended) and reimbursement. Direct payment is by far the simplest — you arrange tutoring, the tutor sends an invoice through EMA, you approve it, and Step Up pays the tutor straight from your scholarship balance. You never touch the money.
- Choose an approved tutoring provider from the EMA directory.
- Agree on the schedule with the tutor before lessons start.
- Tutor submits a direct-pay invoice in EMA after lessons begin.
- You approve the invoice in your EMA dashboard.
- Step Up sends payment to the tutor, and your balance updates automatically.
Reimbursement is the alternative — you pay out of pocket first, then submit receipts. Reimbursement works for purchases (curriculum, technology) but is harder for ongoing services like tutoring. Always pick direct payment for tutoring if your provider supports it. Tutero bills entirely through direct payment.
How much does tutoring cost when paid through ESA funds?
Covered by your Step Up scholarship — $0 out of pocket. The scholarship covers tutoring fees through the EMA direct-pay portal, so families never pay a provider directly. Tutero is an approved Step Up provider — your scholarship covers sessions across elementary, middle, and high school grades, with all invoicing handled inside EMA.
What matters for families is how many lessons your award stretches to. A $10,000 FES-UA balance comfortably funds two weekly 1-on-1 lessons across the school year with a buffer for summer review. An $8,000 PEP award covers a weekly lesson in one core subject plus a second weekly lesson in a supporting subject. Talk to your approved provider about lesson cadence rather than focusing on rates — the scholarship pays the bill.
What are the rules I have to follow to keep my funds in good standing?
Step Up's compliance rules for ESA tutoring are reasonable but strict. Get them right early and you'll never have a denied invoice. Get them wrong once and you'll spend weeks unwinding it.
- Use only approved providers. Tutoring purchased outside the EMA directory cannot be reimbursed. Verify the provider's status before the first lesson.
- Submit invoices on the first day of class, not before, not weeks after. This is a hard rule — providers who submit late routinely get queried.
- Don't use bookmarked Step Up links to log in — they break authentication and trigger login issues. Always go to stepupforstudents.org directly.
- Tutors are not responsible for student portfolios. If you're homeschooling under PEP, the parent owns the portfolio — don't expect the tutor to assemble it.
- Keep the FES-UA renewal current. Renew by April 30 each year to avoid a funding gap.
How do I get started with tutoring this term?
The fastest path is a four-step sequence: confirm your scholarship type, log in to EMA, choose a provider, and book the first lesson. Most families can have their first lesson scheduled within a week of logging in.
- Confirm your scholarship — log in at stepupforstudents.org and check that your award is FES-UA or PEP (the only two that fund tutoring).
- Open the EMA provider directory — filter by "tutoring" and your subject of need.
- Talk to two or three providers — ask about their tutor screening, scheduling flexibility, and how direct payment works on their end. Read our tutor profiles if Tutero is one you're considering.
- Schedule your first lesson — agree on weekly cadence (most families start with one or two lessons per week).
- Approve the first direct-pay invoice in EMA the day lessons start.
Bottom line
Florida ESA funds turn tutoring from a luxury into a structured part of your child's education at no out-of-pocket cost. The keys are: confirm you have FES-UA or PEP (not FES-EO or FTC), find a quality approved provider, set up direct payment, and submit invoices on schedule. Tutero is a fully approved Step Up provider and handles the EMA paperwork, scheduling, and matching for you — usually a first lesson within a week. Browse our tutoring service or read parent stories to see how Florida families are using their funds.
Florida's Step Up for Students scholarship gives families real money — often $8,000–$10,000 per child per year — that can pay for tutoring directly. But knowing the funds exist is one thing. Knowing exactly which scholarship you have, what tutoring it covers, how to find an approved tutor, and how the EMA portal pays them is the part most parents have to work out alone.
This guide walks through every step. By the end you'll know which Step Up program lets you pay for tutoring, which kinds of tutoring count, how to find an approved provider, and how to start without paying anything out of pocket.
Quick answer
Florida ESA funds — the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) and the Personalized Education Program (PEP) — pay for 1-on-1 tutoring through Step Up for Students. You log in to the EMA portal, find a Step Up-approved tutoring provider like Tutero, send them a direct-pay request, and the funds go straight from Step Up to the tutor. No out-of-pocket payment, no reimbursement waiting period. The other Step Up programs (FES-EO and FTC) only cover private school tuition — not tutoring.
Which Step Up scholarships actually pay for tutoring?
Only the two ESA-style scholarships pay for tutoring: FES-UA (Unique Abilities) and PEP (Personalized Education Program). FES-EO and FTC are tuition-only and cannot fund tutoring unless your private-school tuition is fully covered and there is a leftover balance — which rarely happens.
- FES-UA (Unique Abilities Scholarship): for students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, and many more). Average award around $10,000. Highly flexible ESA — covers tutoring, therapies, curriculum, technology.
- PEP (Personalized Education Program): for K-12 students who are NOT enrolled full-time in public or private school (charter, magnet, and Florida Virtual School do not count as eligible non-enrollment for PEP). Award around $8,000. Covers tutoring, curriculum, materials, and parent-directed learning.
- FES-EO and FTC: Tuition-only. Designed for full-time enrollment at an approved private school. Tutoring not eligible.
What kinds of tutoring can ESA funds cover?
Step Up ESA funds cover academic tutoring delivered by an approved provider in any K-12 subject — math, reading, writing, science, history, foreign languages, test prep — and across any grade level from kindergarten through 12th. The tutoring can be 1-on-1 or small-group, online or in-person, weekly or intensive. The only condition is that the tutor or tutoring company must be Step Up-approved and listed in the EMA portal's provider directory.
- 1-on-1 academic tutoring — the most common use. Math tutoring, reading support, writing coaching, science help, foreign language.
- Test prep tutoring — SAT, ACT, AP exam prep, FAST state-test preparation.
- Subject specialists — students with a learning difference often work with a tutor trained in structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham), executive-function coaching, or specialised math instruction.
- Group tutoring or small classes — homeschool co-op classes that bill through an approved provider.
- Tutoring across grade levels — there's no age cap inside K-12. Kindergarten phonics, 5th-grade fractions, 8th-grade pre-algebra, 11th-grade chemistry, and 12th-grade SAT prep are all eligible through your Step Up scholarship.
How do I find a Step Up-approved tutor in Florida?
Use the EMA portal's provider directory. Once you log in to your scholarship account, the directory lists every business and individual approved to receive Step Up funds. Filter by service type ("tutoring") and location ("Florida" or your county). Each listing shows the provider's profile, what they teach, and whether they take direct payment.
Choosing well matters more than choosing fast. The directory has thousands of providers — the market tripled in two years, growing from roughly 5,000 to over 17,000 individual providers between 2023–24 and 2025–26. Quality varies. Look for providers with certified, qualified tutors, transparent pricing, and a track record with Step Up families. Tutero is a fully approved provider and a good first call if you want a managed-service experience instead of vetting individual freelancers yourself.
How does the EMA portal pay my tutor?
The EMA portal supports two payment methods: direct payment (recommended) and reimbursement. Direct payment is by far the simplest — you arrange tutoring, the tutor sends an invoice through EMA, you approve it, and Step Up pays the tutor straight from your scholarship balance. You never touch the money.
- Choose an approved tutoring provider from the EMA directory.
- Agree on the schedule with the tutor before lessons start.
- Tutor submits a direct-pay invoice in EMA after lessons begin.
- You approve the invoice in your EMA dashboard.
- Step Up sends payment to the tutor, and your balance updates automatically.
Reimbursement is the alternative — you pay out of pocket first, then submit receipts. Reimbursement works for purchases (curriculum, technology) but is harder for ongoing services like tutoring. Always pick direct payment for tutoring if your provider supports it. Tutero bills entirely through direct payment.
How much does tutoring cost when paid through ESA funds?
Covered by your Step Up scholarship — $0 out of pocket. The scholarship covers tutoring fees through the EMA direct-pay portal, so families never pay a provider directly. Tutero is an approved Step Up provider — your scholarship covers sessions across elementary, middle, and high school grades, with all invoicing handled inside EMA.
What matters for families is how many lessons your award stretches to. A $10,000 FES-UA balance comfortably funds two weekly 1-on-1 lessons across the school year with a buffer for summer review. An $8,000 PEP award covers a weekly lesson in one core subject plus a second weekly lesson in a supporting subject. Talk to your approved provider about lesson cadence rather than focusing on rates — the scholarship pays the bill.
What are the rules I have to follow to keep my funds in good standing?
Step Up's compliance rules for ESA tutoring are reasonable but strict. Get them right early and you'll never have a denied invoice. Get them wrong once and you'll spend weeks unwinding it.
- Use only approved providers. Tutoring purchased outside the EMA directory cannot be reimbursed. Verify the provider's status before the first lesson.
- Submit invoices on the first day of class, not before, not weeks after. This is a hard rule — providers who submit late routinely get queried.
- Don't use bookmarked Step Up links to log in — they break authentication and trigger login issues. Always go to stepupforstudents.org directly.
- Tutors are not responsible for student portfolios. If you're homeschooling under PEP, the parent owns the portfolio — don't expect the tutor to assemble it.
- Keep the FES-UA renewal current. Renew by April 30 each year to avoid a funding gap.
How do I get started with tutoring this term?
The fastest path is a four-step sequence: confirm your scholarship type, log in to EMA, choose a provider, and book the first lesson. Most families can have their first lesson scheduled within a week of logging in.
- Confirm your scholarship — log in at stepupforstudents.org and check that your award is FES-UA or PEP (the only two that fund tutoring).
- Open the EMA provider directory — filter by "tutoring" and your subject of need.
- Talk to two or three providers — ask about their tutor screening, scheduling flexibility, and how direct payment works on their end. Read our tutor profiles if Tutero is one you're considering.
- Schedule your first lesson — agree on weekly cadence (most families start with one or two lessons per week).
- Approve the first direct-pay invoice in EMA the day lessons start.
Bottom line
Florida ESA funds turn tutoring from a luxury into a structured part of your child's education at no out-of-pocket cost. The keys are: confirm you have FES-UA or PEP (not FES-EO or FTC), find a quality approved provider, set up direct payment, and submit invoices on schedule. Tutero is a fully approved Step Up provider and handles the EMA paperwork, scheduling, and matching for you — usually a first lesson within a week. Browse our tutoring service or read parent stories to see how Florida families are using their funds.
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.
Florida's Step Up for Students scholarship gives families real money — often $8,000–$10,000 per child per year — that can pay for tutoring directly. But knowing the funds exist is one thing. Knowing exactly which scholarship you have, what tutoring it covers, how to find an approved tutor, and how the EMA portal pays them is the part most parents have to work out alone.
This guide walks through every step. By the end you'll know which Step Up program lets you pay for tutoring, which kinds of tutoring count, how to find an approved provider, and how to start without paying anything out of pocket.
Quick answer
Florida ESA funds — the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) and the Personalized Education Program (PEP) — pay for 1-on-1 tutoring through Step Up for Students. You log in to the EMA portal, find a Step Up-approved tutoring provider like Tutero, send them a direct-pay request, and the funds go straight from Step Up to the tutor. No out-of-pocket payment, no reimbursement waiting period. The other Step Up programs (FES-EO and FTC) only cover private school tuition — not tutoring.
Which Step Up scholarships actually pay for tutoring?
Only the two ESA-style scholarships pay for tutoring: FES-UA (Unique Abilities) and PEP (Personalized Education Program). FES-EO and FTC are tuition-only and cannot fund tutoring unless your private-school tuition is fully covered and there is a leftover balance — which rarely happens.
- FES-UA (Unique Abilities Scholarship): for students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented diagnosis (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, and many more). Average award around $10,000. Highly flexible ESA — covers tutoring, therapies, curriculum, technology.
- PEP (Personalized Education Program): for K-12 students who are NOT enrolled full-time in public or private school (charter, magnet, and Florida Virtual School do not count as eligible non-enrollment for PEP). Award around $8,000. Covers tutoring, curriculum, materials, and parent-directed learning.
- FES-EO and FTC: Tuition-only. Designed for full-time enrollment at an approved private school. Tutoring not eligible.
What kinds of tutoring can ESA funds cover?
Step Up ESA funds cover academic tutoring delivered by an approved provider in any K-12 subject — math, reading, writing, science, history, foreign languages, test prep — and across any grade level from kindergarten through 12th. The tutoring can be 1-on-1 or small-group, online or in-person, weekly or intensive. The only condition is that the tutor or tutoring company must be Step Up-approved and listed in the EMA portal's provider directory.
- 1-on-1 academic tutoring — the most common use. Math tutoring, reading support, writing coaching, science help, foreign language.
- Test prep tutoring — SAT, ACT, AP exam prep, FAST state-test preparation.
- Subject specialists — students with a learning difference often work with a tutor trained in structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham), executive-function coaching, or specialised math instruction.
- Group tutoring or small classes — homeschool co-op classes that bill through an approved provider.
- Tutoring across grade levels — there's no age cap inside K-12. Kindergarten phonics, 5th-grade fractions, 8th-grade pre-algebra, 11th-grade chemistry, and 12th-grade SAT prep are all eligible through your Step Up scholarship.
How do I find a Step Up-approved tutor in Florida?
Use the EMA portal's provider directory. Once you log in to your scholarship account, the directory lists every business and individual approved to receive Step Up funds. Filter by service type ("tutoring") and location ("Florida" or your county). Each listing shows the provider's profile, what they teach, and whether they take direct payment.
Choosing well matters more than choosing fast. The directory has thousands of providers — the market tripled in two years, growing from roughly 5,000 to over 17,000 individual providers between 2023–24 and 2025–26. Quality varies. Look for providers with certified, qualified tutors, transparent pricing, and a track record with Step Up families. Tutero is a fully approved provider and a good first call if you want a managed-service experience instead of vetting individual freelancers yourself.
How does the EMA portal pay my tutor?
The EMA portal supports two payment methods: direct payment (recommended) and reimbursement. Direct payment is by far the simplest — you arrange tutoring, the tutor sends an invoice through EMA, you approve it, and Step Up pays the tutor straight from your scholarship balance. You never touch the money.
- Choose an approved tutoring provider from the EMA directory.
- Agree on the schedule with the tutor before lessons start.
- Tutor submits a direct-pay invoice in EMA after lessons begin.
- You approve the invoice in your EMA dashboard.
- Step Up sends payment to the tutor, and your balance updates automatically.
Reimbursement is the alternative — you pay out of pocket first, then submit receipts. Reimbursement works for purchases (curriculum, technology) but is harder for ongoing services like tutoring. Always pick direct payment for tutoring if your provider supports it. Tutero bills entirely through direct payment.
How much does tutoring cost when paid through ESA funds?
Covered by your Step Up scholarship — $0 out of pocket. The scholarship covers tutoring fees through the EMA direct-pay portal, so families never pay a provider directly. Tutero is an approved Step Up provider — your scholarship covers sessions across elementary, middle, and high school grades, with all invoicing handled inside EMA.
What matters for families is how many lessons your award stretches to. A $10,000 FES-UA balance comfortably funds two weekly 1-on-1 lessons across the school year with a buffer for summer review. An $8,000 PEP award covers a weekly lesson in one core subject plus a second weekly lesson in a supporting subject. Talk to your approved provider about lesson cadence rather than focusing on rates — the scholarship pays the bill.
What are the rules I have to follow to keep my funds in good standing?
Step Up's compliance rules for ESA tutoring are reasonable but strict. Get them right early and you'll never have a denied invoice. Get them wrong once and you'll spend weeks unwinding it.
- Use only approved providers. Tutoring purchased outside the EMA directory cannot be reimbursed. Verify the provider's status before the first lesson.
- Submit invoices on the first day of class, not before, not weeks after. This is a hard rule — providers who submit late routinely get queried.
- Don't use bookmarked Step Up links to log in — they break authentication and trigger login issues. Always go to stepupforstudents.org directly.
- Tutors are not responsible for student portfolios. If you're homeschooling under PEP, the parent owns the portfolio — don't expect the tutor to assemble it.
- Keep the FES-UA renewal current. Renew by April 30 each year to avoid a funding gap.
How do I get started with tutoring this term?
The fastest path is a four-step sequence: confirm your scholarship type, log in to EMA, choose a provider, and book the first lesson. Most families can have their first lesson scheduled within a week of logging in.
- Confirm your scholarship — log in at stepupforstudents.org and check that your award is FES-UA or PEP (the only two that fund tutoring).
- Open the EMA provider directory — filter by "tutoring" and your subject of need.
- Talk to two or three providers — ask about their tutor screening, scheduling flexibility, and how direct payment works on their end. Read our tutor profiles if Tutero is one you're considering.
- Schedule your first lesson — agree on weekly cadence (most families start with one or two lessons per week).
- Approve the first direct-pay invoice in EMA the day lessons start.
Bottom line
Florida ESA funds turn tutoring from a luxury into a structured part of your child's education at no out-of-pocket cost. The keys are: confirm you have FES-UA or PEP (not FES-EO or FTC), find a quality approved provider, set up direct payment, and submit invoices on schedule. Tutero is a fully approved Step Up provider and handles the EMA paperwork, scheduling, and matching for you — usually a first lesson within a week. Browse our tutoring service or read parent stories to see how Florida families are using their funds.
Yes, if you have FES-UA (Unique Abilities) or PEP (Personalized Education Program). Both are ESA-style scholarships that cover 1-on-1 academic tutoring delivered by Step Up-approved providers. FES-EO and FTC scholarships are private-school-tuition only and cannot fund tutoring.
Log in to the EMA portal at stepupforstudents.org, open the provider directory, and filter by service type 'tutoring' and your county. Every approved business and individual is listed with their profile, services, and whether they accept direct payment. Tutero is a fully approved provider listed across all 67 Florida counties.
No, if your tutor accepts direct payment through EMA. Direct pay is the default at most established Step Up providers, including Tutero — your scholarship pays the tutor directly after each invoice cycle. You only pay out-of-pocket if you choose a provider that doesn't support direct billing.
Your Step Up scholarship covers tutoring through the EMA direct-pay portal, so families never pay out of pocket. A $10,000 FES-UA balance comfortably funds two weekly 1-on-1 lessons across the school year with a buffer for summer review. An $8,000 PEP award covers a weekly lesson in one core subject plus a second weekly lesson in a supporting subject — talk to your approved provider about lesson cadence.
No, only the FES-UA scholarship requires a documented diagnosis. PEP is open to any K-12 Florida resident not enrolled full-time in a traditional public or private school. Both scholarships fund tutoring once you're approved — eligibility is the only difference.
Both are eligible. Step Up does not require in-person delivery. Online tutoring through an approved provider is fully covered, which is how most Florida families access top-tier tutors regardless of where they live in the state. Tutero delivers all lessons online.
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