Quick answer. Step Up for Students covers most direct educational expenses — tutoring, curriculum, manipulatives, approved technology, therapies, exam fees, and extracurricular educational programs — and rejects most general-purpose or family-benefit items like vacations, non-educational electronics, gym memberships, and supplies without an itemized educational link. This guide breaks down the 8 categories that are clearly covered, the 6 that aren't, and the 4 grey areas worth flagging before you swipe.

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What can you buy with Step Up for Students in 2026?

The 8 most-used approved categories for Florida families on FES-EO and FES-UA scholarships:

1. Tutoring — 1-on-1 and small-group tutoring from registered direct-pay providers (like Tutero) or parent-paid reimbursement-eligible tutors.
2. Curriculum and textbooks — homeschool curriculum sets, workbooks, textbooks, and digital curriculum subscriptions.
3. Manipulatives and supplies — math manipulatives, science kits, art supplies with an itemized educational use, and approved consumables.
4. Educational technology — approved devices and software in the FES-UA category specifically (rules differ by scholarship type).
5. Therapies — speech, occupational, behavioral, and physical therapies for FES-UA students with documented need.
6. Exam and test fees — AP exams, SAT/ACT, dual-enrollment fees, and certification exams tied to high school coursework.
7. Extracurricular educational programs — music lessons, art classes, STEM camps, and other educational programs from registered providers.
8. Specialized instruction — adaptive PE, sensory therapy, and individualized academic instruction for FES-UA students.

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

The 6 categories that consistently get rejected:

1. Family vacations — even if framed as "educational travel". The rejection rate on travel claims is near 100%.
2. General-purpose electronics — laptops, tablets, and phones outside the FES-UA approved-tech path or without an itemized educational-purpose link.
3. Gym memberships and recreation — unless tied to a documented PE or therapy need with a registered provider.
4. Food and groceries — meals, snacks, and groceries are not educational expenses regardless of context.
5. Family entertainment — streaming subscriptions, movie tickets, and entertainment unrelated to a documented learning objective.
6. Religious instruction in some categories — eligibility depends on whether the religious instruction is part of an approved homeschool curriculum or a stand-alone purchase. Verify before buying.

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What are the grey areas worth flagging before you buy?

Four categories sit in a "sometimes approved, sometimes rejected" zone where the purchase context matters more than the item itself:

• Educational subscriptions — digital curriculum subscriptions like online math platforms are usually approved if the provider is registered, but consumer educational apps are sometimes rejected. Check the provider's Step Up registration before subscribing.
• Books outside a curriculum — workbooks tied to your homeschool curriculum are approved; general reading books for the family library sometimes aren't.
• Art and music supplies — supplies tied to an approved class or curriculum are reimbursable; general craft supplies for the family aren't.
• Used equipment — secondhand textbooks, instruments, and educational tools may need additional documentation. Receipts from individuals (not registered vendors) are higher-risk.

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How does Step Up's approved-purchase list work for FES-EO vs FES-UA?

The two main scholarship categories have different approved lists. FES-EO (Educational Options) is the broader homeschool/school-choice scholarship — it covers private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, exam fees, and educational programs. FES-UA (Unique Abilities) is for students with documented disabilities and adds therapies, specialized instruction, adaptive equipment, and a wider technology category. Some items (like assistive devices) are FES-UA only and not available to FES-EO families. Always check which scholarship type a category requires before assuming it's covered.

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

For first-time Step Up parents, MyScholarShop is the lowest-risk path because every item on the marketplace has been pre-approved by Step Up — there's no rejection risk, no receipt-submission window, and no provider-registration verification needed. The trade-off is that MyScholarShop's selection is narrower than the broader approved-purchase list, so for tutoring specifically, families often combine MyScholarShop for curriculum and supplies with a direct-pay tutoring provider like Tutero. As you get more confident with the rules, you can branch into the wider approved list with reimbursement-path purchases.

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Disadvantages and trade-offs of the Step Up approved-purchase system

• Approved list changes year to year — what was reimbursable last year may not be this year. Re-verify before buying.
• Receipts must be itemized — bundled or category-only receipts get rejected. Ask for itemized receipts at every purchase.
• Reimbursement window is tight — 60–90 days from purchase. Late submissions cost you the full amount.
• Some categories require pre-approval — large purchases sometimes need pre-approval before you buy. Check your portal first.
• MyScholarShop selection is narrower — pre-approved is safer but limits what you can buy through the marketplace path.

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Tutero is a Step Up direct-pay tutoring provider — no out-of-pocket cost

Tutoring is one of the highest-value categories on the Step Up approved list, and Tutero is registered as a direct-pay provider so there's no out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement paperwork, and no rejection risk on tutoring receipts. We match your child to a vetted 1-on-1 online tutor billed weekly to your Step Up balance — $0 out of pocket, with free tutor swaps if the first match isn't right.

Want to use your scholarship on tutoring this week? Book a free Tutero consultation — we'll handle the Step Up invoicing.