Quick answer

Step Up For Students funds pay for the education expenses listed in each program's purchasing guide: part-time tutoring by a credentialed tutor, curriculum and books, learning materials, test fees and, on FES-UA, therapies and digital devices. They do not pay for travel costs, food, household items or entertainment tickets, and PEP does not cover laptops or phones. Check your program's guide before you buy.

‍

What can you buy with Step Up For Students in 2026-27?

The 8 most-used approved categories for Florida families. Step Up For Students publishes a purchasing guide for each program, and the FES-UA Family Handbook includes a chart of authorized uses by program.

1. Tutoring: part-time tutoring is an authorized use on FES-UA and PEP, and on the FTC/FES-EO private school scholarship when funds remain after tuition and fees. It is paid by direct pay through EMA or by reimbursement. The tutor must hold a credential such as a Florida educator's certificate or a degree in the subject they teach. Approved providers are listed under Find Providers in EMA.
2. Curriculum and textbooks: curriculum and instructional materials are authorized on all three scholarships. On PEP, textbooks, workbooks and other books have no annual cap.
3. Manipulatives and supplies: learning manipulatives and science, math and computer lab equipment are listed as eligible.
4. Educational technology: the FES-UA purchasing guide lists laptops, tablets and phones as eligible digital devices, once every two years. PEP lists them as prohibited.
5. Therapies: applied behavior analysis and speech, occupational and physical therapy are FES-UA uses only.
6. Exam and test fees: standardized testing fees are authorized on all three scholarships, and the PEP guide names AP exams and industry certification exams.
7. Electives and P.E.: lessons, equipment and consumables for electives such as art, music, drama and foreign languages, plus sports lessons and student-only gym memberships.
8. FES-UA extras: specialized summer programs, transition services from job coaches, music and art therapy, and contributions to Florida Prepaid or 529 college savings plans.

‍

The quick-reference table below sums up the most common purchases for 2026-27.

Sources: Step Up For Students FES-UA Family Handbook (Appendix B), PEP Purchasing Guide and FES-UA Purchasing Guide.

Want tutoring from a certified Florida teacher, paid from your scholarship? Lessons are 1-on-1 online with the same teacher every week. See how Step Up tutoring with Tutero works.

Step Up For Students

Tutoring is one of the best‑value ways to use your funds

• Certified Florida teachers
• The same teacher every week
• A plan built from your child’s schoolwork

See Step Up tutoring ★★★★★4.9 from 250 Google reviews

$0out of pocket on UA and PEP, paid through EMA

What can't you buy with Step Up For Students?

The 6 categories the purchasing guides list as prohibited:

1. Travel costs: lodging, meals and transportation such as gas or mileage are prohibited on both PEP and FES-UA, even when the trip has an educational purpose.
2. Digital devices on PEP: PEP prohibits phones, desktop and laptop computers, including Chromebooks. FES-UA allows these devices once every two years.
3. Household items and home improvements: general household expenses are prohibited, apart from cooking supplies and at-home classroom furnishings.
4. Food and beverage: prohibited on PEP, and school lunch fees are not eligible on FES-UA.
5. Entertainment tickets and gaming: concerts, sporting event tickets and gaming subscription services are prohibited.
6. Before- and after-school care: not an eligible expense, even when billed by a private school.

‍

What are the grey areas worth flagging before you buy?

Four categories where the details of the purchase decide whether it is covered:

• Family or multi-user subscriptions: only the scholarship student's share is covered, so a family plan is prorated.
• Books: PEP allows textbooks, workbooks and other books without an annual cap, but only two copies of a book.
• Fitness and sports: gym memberships and class passes are covered for the student only, as a P.E. expense.
• Used items from individuals: reimbursement requests for cash purchases from private sellers (garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist) are denied.

‍

How does Step Up's approved-purchase list work for FES-EO vs the ESA scholarships (UA and PEP)?

The scholarship types have different approved lists. FES-EO and FTC (the Private School Scholarship) pay private school tuition and fees first; once those are paid, remaining funds can go to other eligible expenses, and part-time tutoring is one of them. FES-UA (Unique Abilities) is for students with unique abilities and adds therapies, specialized programs and digital devices to the shared categories. PEP, for students not enrolled full-time in a public or private school, covers tutoring, curriculum, books, electives and P.E., but not digital devices. Always check which scholarship a category requires before assuming it is covered.

‍

How do the UA and PEP purchasing guides differ?

Step Up For Students publishes a separate purchasing guide for each scholarship, and the guides were revised as of September 16, 2026, so always open the current version on the official purchasing guides page rather than a saved copy. The two guides share most of their structure, covering instructional materials, curriculum, tuition and fees, testing, and part-time tutoring. The biggest differences are in technology and specialized services.

‍

‍

The FES-UA chart also includes uses PEP does not, such as music and art therapy, transition services and contributions to Florida college savings plans. Frequency limits follow the student across programs, so a device bought on one scholarship counts if your child switches.

‍

What's the safest way to make Step Up purchases as a new family?

For first-time Step Up parents, MyScholarShop is a simple place to start because you buy eligible instructional materials and curriculum inside EMA, so there is no reimbursement claim to file. Not everything eligible is in MyScholarShop, and an item listed there may not be eligible for every program. For services such as tutoring, Find Providers in EMA lists pre-approved vendors who bill your scholarship directly. Many families combine the two: MyScholarShop for curriculum and supplies, and a direct-pay tutoring provider for lessons.

‍

How do you check an item before buying it?

1. Search the EMA Marketplace first. MyScholarShop and Find Providers show what you can buy directly, but an item in MyScholarShop may not be eligible for every program.
2. Open the current purchasing guide for your scholarship. Find the category the item fits and read any frequency or proration notes. Items shared with siblings are prorated to the scholarship student's share, and some items can only be bought once every two years.
3. Check the appendices. The guides list prohibited items and the items that always need pre-authorization in their appendices.
4. Request pre-authorization for anything not listed. Submit it in EMA once the account is funded for the year, with details of the item and its approximate cost, then wait for the decision before paying. Approval covers only that school year, and it does not confirm the provider's eligibility or that funds are available.
5. Keep complete receipts. Each one needs a clear breakdown of the base cost, taxes, fees and total paid. Cash payments to private sellers are not reimbursable.

‍

What are the downsides of the Step Up approved-purchase system?

• Rules change: items approved in the past may not be approved now, so re-check before buying.
• Receipts need detail: invoices and receipts must show a clear breakdown of all costs and the total paid.
• Reimbursement is year-specific: 2026-27 purchases must be made between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, and claimed by July 31, 2027.
• Pre-authorization takes time: allow up to 60 days for a pre-authorization review once all documents are in.
• Appeals are limited: after an appeal decision, further appeals for the same item are not reviewed.

‍

Can Tutero bill your Step Up scholarship directly for tutoring?

Part-time tutoring is an approved expense on every Step Up For Students program, and a tutor with an approved credential can teach your child online, even from outside Florida. With Tutero, your child works 1-on-1 online with a certified Florida teacher, and lessons are billed to the scholarship through EMA, so there is $0 out of pocket on FES-UA and PEP and no reimbursement paperwork.

Want to use your scholarship on tutoring? Book a Tutero consultation (60 seconds). An account manager calls within 24 hours. New to EMA? Read our EMA marketplace guide and our guide to how to use Step Up funds for tutoring.

Related guides: How Step Up reimbursement works, Step Up award amounts 2026-27, PEP scholarship guide and The best ways to spend Step Up funds.

Your next step

Put your Step Up funds to work

Certified Florida teachers, 1-on-1, paid through EMA with $0 out of pocket. Trusted by 575 Florida families.

See Step Up tutoring

Or keep reading: Best ways to spend your funds →

★★★★★

“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”

JillMom of Emma, 6th grade