Funding Explorer · Florida

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship - Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP)

Education savings account run by Florida Department of Education (oversight).

Corral is not part of this program. Florida Department of Education (oversight) decides who qualifies and what money can be spent on. This page summarizes the official sources listed at the bottom, as they read when they were checked. Check with the program before you rely on it.

Last updated October 17, 2026

Official pages: Apply or sign up Handbook What the money can buy Approved vendors

Homeschool studentsCan qualify
2026-27 amountSet by a tableFactors: grade, county
Program, 2026-27OperatingThe program is running for 2026-27: funded students can spend 2026-27 money from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, with funds added in quarterly deposits. [S34]
Applications, 2026-27ClosedFebruary 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026

Closed 2026-27 applications: February 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026. Regular 2026-27 applications (new and renewal) ran Feb 1 to Apr 30, 2026 and are closed. Children of active-duty military and children in foster or out-of-home care are exempt from the deadline and can still apply until Apr 15, 2027, but funding is not guaranteed; contact Step Up For Students to apply under an exception. [S43]

Not open yet 2027-28: State law sets the new and renewal application window as Feb 1 to Apr 30 of the prior school year, so Feb 1 to Apr 30, 2027. The scholarship organizations have not yet published their own 2027-28 dates; Step Up runs an interest list. [S37]

Track this account in My Homeschool Follow this program

Free during the beta. Record your award, deposits, purchases and receipts, see what each category needs, and print a family record of it. Corral never connects to the program portal, never asks for its password, and never moves money.

Following puts its announced application dates on your My Homeschool page. Email about it is a separate choice.

Homeschool students

PEP is itself a parent-directed home-instruction option, but the student is registered with a scholarship-funding organization (SFO) instead of the school district. A student registered as a traditional home education student under s. 1002.41 (letter of intent to the district, annual evaluation to the district) is NOT a PEP student and is ineligible for the scholarship while in that program; families moving to PEP must end their district home education registration. [S3]

Who can apply

  • Florida resident, or dependent of an active-duty U.S. Armed Forces member with PCS orders to Florida (or, at renewal, whose home of record/legal residence is Florida). [S9]
  • Eligible to enroll in K-12 in a Florida public school (or received a Hope Scholarship in 2023-24). [S8]
  • Not enrolled full time in a public or private school (part-time private school or an FLDOE-approved PEP Hybrid private school attended in person at least two full days a week is allowed). [S40]
  • Age 5 or older on or before September 1, and younger than 21 on or before September 1 of the application year (Step Up handbook). [S9]
  • Not participating in a district-registered home education program under s. 1002.01(1)/1002.41 while on the scholarship. [S5]
  • No income limit; renewals funded first, then new applicants at or below 185% FPL or in foster/out-of-home care, then 185-400% FPL, then everyone else first-come, first-served. [S42]

How much

Published per-student amounts for 2026-27 by school district (county of residence) and grade band; the same table covers FTC/FES-EO private school and PEP. Range: K-3 $8,238 (Volusia) to $12,217 (Monroe); 4-8 $7,654 to $11,617; 9-12 $7,463 to $11,421. The amounts are set yearly by the Legislature in the state budget, and once FLDOE assigns the amount, later grade or county changes don't change it. Statute ties the calculation to s. 1002.394(12)(a) (100% of FEFP basic-program unweighted FTE funding plus a per-FTE share of certain categoricals, by grade level and district).

[S15]

How it's paid: Funded from tax-credit contributions raised by the SFO, deposited into the student's ESA in four equal quarterly payments. Step Up receives funds Aug 1 (renewal Q1) or Sep 1 (new Q1), Nov 1, Feb 1 and Apr 1, and credits accounts within two weeks. Spending happens through the EMA Marketplace (MyScholarShop for products, Find Providers direct pay for services) or out-of-pocket reimbursement paid by ACH, PayPal or check. AAA Scholarship Foundation runs PEP as reimbursement-only.

Left over at year end: Unspent funds roll over year to year while the student stays eligible. No deposit may raise the balance above $24,000 (balance must be at or below $24,000 by each quarterly check date). A student who is not renewed may keep spending prior-year funds. An account is closed and funds revert after two consecutive fiscal years with no spending, or for fraud.

Dates

DateWhat
February 1, 2026Application window opens (new and renewal) [S43]
April 30, 2026Application deadline (new and renewal) [S1]
May 20, 2026Extra or missing application documents due (Step Up) [S2]
May 31, 2026Accept or decline scholarship (new and renewal) [S37]
May 31, 20262026-27 Student Learning Plan submitted in EMA [S21]
May 31, 2026Renewal students: 2025-26 assessment results submitted [S22]
July 1, 2026Spending window opens for 2026-27 funds [S34]
July 31, 2026Withdrawn from public school to be considered for Quarter 1 funding [S2]
August 1, 2026Quarter 1 funds received by Step Up (renewal students) [S17]
September 1, 2026Quarter 1 funds received by Step Up (new students) [S17]
September 15, 2026Public school attestation due (new students funded in September Q1) [S2]
September 30, 2026Students transferred from Step Up to AAA: accept the transferred PEP award [S48]
October 30, 2026, 5 p.m. ETPending Review PEP students: decline PEP and apply for the Unique Abilities scholarship (FES-UA) [S47]
November 1, 2026Quarter 2 funds received by Step Up [S17]
February 1, 2027Quarter 3 funds received by Step Up [S17]
April 1, 2027Quarter 4 funds received by Step Up [S17]
April 15, 2027Deadline-exception applicants (military dependents, foster care): last day to apply [S35]
April 22, 2027Deadline-exception applicants: documents due [S2]
May 15, 2027Deadline-exception applicants: accept and submit SLP (and prior-year scores) [S2]
May 28, 2027Last day to submit pre-authorization requests [S29]
June 30, 2027Spending window closes for 2026-27 funds [S34]
July 31, 2027Reimbursement request deadline for 2026-27 funds [S34]

Spending

  • Step Up For Students: Marketplace (MyScholarShop, Find Providers) or reimbursement for out-of-pocket purchases. [S30]
  • AAA Scholarship Foundation: Reimbursement only, through its Scholarship Management Platform. [S38]

How Corral reads each kind of purchase for this program. These are starting points from the program’s own lists, not decisions: the program approves or denies each purchase.

Kind of purchaseCorral’s checkWhat the sources say
CurriculumMay be eligible; receipt details neededCurriculum (a complete course of study, including associated online instruction). [S24]
Books and instructional materialsMay be eligible; receipt details neededInstructional materials, including books. [S24]
School suppliesMay be eligible; receipt details neededSchool supplies, manipulatives, lab materials and similar instructional materials. [S24]
Tuition and feesMay be eligible; receipt details neededPart-time enrollment at an eligible private school or an approved PEP hybrid school; a home education instructional program run as a business. [S40]
Online coursesMay be eligible; receipt details neededAn approved private virtual provider or online course, or FLVS as a private-pay student. Full-time online instruction is not allowed. [S24]
Dual credit / college coursesMay be eligible; receipt details neededTuition and fees at an eligible postsecondary institution, dual enrollment, approved pre-apprenticeship. [S24]
Tutoring and teaching servicesMay be eligible; receipt details neededPart-time tutoring by credentialed providers, or a full-time private tutoring program. [S24]
Tests and assessmentsMay be eligible; receipt details neededNorm-referenced tests, AP, industry certification and other assessments, including proctoring. [S24]
Educational therapiesNot yet verifiedNot in the PEP list of eligible categories found; ask the scholarship organization.
TechnologyListed as prohibitedDigital devices and peripherals (computers, tablets, e-readers, phones, monitors, printers, keyboards, headsets) are not allowed for PEP students. [S26]
TransportationListed as prohibitedTransportation, lodging and meals are listed as ineligible. [S25]
Field tripsMay be eligible; receipt details neededIn-state field trips and admissions (museums, zoos, parks, cultural events); one Florida theme park ticket a year up to $299. Out-of-state trips need pre-authorization. [S27]
Lessons and enrichmentMay be eligible; receipt details neededElectives and enrichment lessons with qualifying instructors. [S27]
Internet serviceMay be eligible; receipt details neededIn-home internet at the Florida address. [S24]
Anything elseRequires program confirmationItems or services not listed in the Purchasing Guide need pre-authorization. [S29]

Allowed, as the program lists it

  • Instructional materials, including digital materials and internet resources (in-home internet at the Florida address, not prorated), books, school supplies, manipulatives, lab materials, P.E. and elective equipment, at-home classroom furnishings. [S24]
  • Curriculum (complete course of study incl. associated online instruction); self-paced pre-recorded online courses fall under Curriculum. [S24]
  • Tuition and fees for part-time enrollment at an eligible private school, or at an FLDOE-approved PEP Hybrid private school (in person at least two full days per week). [S40]
  • Tuition and fees for a home education instructional program (must be a business organization; distinct from a s. 1002.01(1) home education program). [S24]
  • Tuition and fees at an eligible postsecondary institution (incl. NC-SARA participants), dual enrollment, and FLDOE-approved pre-apprenticeship programs. [S24]
  • Tuition and fees for an FLDOE-approved private virtual provider or approved online course, or FLVS as a private-pay student (not full-time online instruction). [S24]
  • Full-time private tutoring program (s. 1002.43) and part-time tutoring or Choice Navigator services by credentialed providers. [S24]
  • Fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests, AP, industry certification and other assessments, including proctoring. [S24]
  • Contracted services (classes, programs) from a public school or district on a private-pay basis. [S24]
  • Field trips/admissions (museums, zoos, parks, cultural events), electives and enrichment lessons with qualifying instructors, one Florida theme park admission per year. [S27]

Not allowed

  • Digital devices and peripherals (computers, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, e-readers, phones, monitors, printers incl. 3D, keyboards, headsets, VR headsets, etc.). [S26]
  • Transportation, lodging and meals; food and beverage; household items and home improvements; live animals; pools; motorized vehicles/scooters/watercraft; toy weapons; gaming consoles and subscriptions; concerts and sporting event tickets; non-listed and out-of-state theme parks; water parks; secondary-market tickets. [S25]
  • Private school charges such as before/after-school care, food fees, fundraising/donation fees, annual funds and optional fees; full-time traditional private school tuition. [S25]
  • Full-time online instruction. [S25]
  • Out-of-state activities and field trips that are not pre-authorized; field trips outside the United States. [S25]
  • Parents receiving any payment, refund or rebate of scholarship funds from a provider. [S25]

Category limits

  • One reimbursement request per student per school year for one Florida theme park ticket or pass, up to $299 before tax; student's basic admission only. [S27]
  • Single-admission leisure events (roller/ice skating, bowling, trampoline parks) are listed as eligible 'under $75'; Appendix A wording on the $75 threshold is ambiguous. [S25]
  • One of each item type per 2 calendar years for equipment such as TVs (max 55 inches), projectors, desks, elective equipment, exercise/sports equipment, bicycles and watercraft; prescription eyeglasses one pair per year; limits apply across all scholarship programs. [S28]
  • No deposit may raise the account balance above $24,000. [S19]

Receipts and records

Reimbursements need an itemized receipt or paid-in-full invoice showing the full transaction date (MM/DD/YY), cost breakdown and proof of payment. Services need the student's and provider's names, service period and rate, plus provider credentials (e.g., Florida educator certificate number for full-time tutors and test administrators; a Full-Time Tutor Participation Agreement and W-9 for new full-time tutors). Cash payments to unaffiliated private sellers or individuals are denied. Requests are reviewed within up to 60 days; on-hold requests are denied after 30 days without a response.

Approval before buying

Pre-authorization is required for items or services not listed as eligible in the Purchasing Guide, curriculum not publicly available, items bought outside frequency limits, replacements for broken or stolen items, and out-of-state P.E. activities and field trips (except approved out-of-state military families). Allow up to 60 days; the last day to request for 2026-27 is May 28, 2027.

Vendors

Step Up: purchases through the EMA Marketplace (MyScholarShop for products, Find Providers for services; providers paid directly only after the service is rendered) or out-of-pocket purchases reimbursed. By law, if a parent buys an identical product cheaper than the platform price, the SFO must reimburse it. AAA: reimbursement only via its Scholarship Management Platform.

Four separate questions: is the vendor approved by the program, is the kind of purchase allowed, does this item meet the program’s conditions, and did the program approve the claim. A yes to one is not a yes to the others.

Family members as vendors

Parents/guardians cannot be paid with scholarship funds for services provided to their own scholarship student, and may not receive any payment, refund or rebate from a provider. Cash purchases from unaffiliated individuals (e.g., private tutors paid in cash) are not reimbursable.

Links

  • Apply or join the interest list (www.stepupforstudents.org)
  • Handbook (www.stepupforstudents.org)
  • What you can buy (www.stepupforstudents.org)
  • Approved vendors (www.stepupforstudents.org)
  • Help: Step Up For Students (877) 735-7837, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm ET; AAA Scholarship Foundation 888-707-2465 / https://www.aaascholarships.org/parents/florida/personalized-education-program-scholarship/; FLDOE PEP FAQs https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/pep-faqs.stml

Questions to ask the program

The official sources don’t settle these. Ask Florida Department of Education (oversight) before you count on them:

  • Is there a limit on how many PEP students can be funded this year, and is my child funded or waiting? Official sources disagree on whether the 2026-27 cap is 140,000 students or has been removed.
  • If my child starts partway through the year, such as under the military or foster care exception, how much of the award will we receive? No official proration rule is published beyond receiving only later quarterly payments.
  • My child shows "Pending Review." Will my child be funded this year, could the scholarship be moved to AAA Scholarship Foundation, or should we switch to the Unique Abilities scholarship before October 30, 2026? Step Up says unfunded students may be transferred to AAA if Step Up has no funding, and eligible students may switch to the Unique Abilities scholarship by Oct 30, 2026; neither choice keeps renewal status for 2027-28.
  • Which leisure admissions, such as bowling, trampoline parks or ice skating, are allowed and at what price? The purchasing guide's wording on the $75 limit is unclear.

Sources

  1. [S1] Personalized Education Program - Discover (Step Up For Students) · Banner / Discover · checked October 6, 2026
  2. [S2] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Eligibility Requirements (Renewal Applicants; Application Deadline Exceptions) and Receiving Your Scholarship Funds (Public School Attendance Attestation and Withdrawal Deadlines) · checked October 17, 2026
  3. [S3] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · How Does the FTC-PEP Program Compare to Home Education? · checked October 6, 2026
  4. [S4] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026), Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program · (4) Scholarship prohibitions · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  5. [S5] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (4)(e) · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  6. [S6] Florida Statutes s. 1002.01 (2026), Definitions · (2) · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  7. [S7] Florida Statutes s. 1002.41 (2026), Home education programs · (1)(a), (1)(f) · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  8. [S8] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (3)(b) Initial scholarship eligibility · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  9. [S9] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Eligibility Requirements for the FTC-PEP Scholarship · checked October 6, 2026
  10. [S10] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (6)(d)1. (PEP scholarship cap) · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  11. [S11] Florida - Personalized Education Program (PEP), AAA Scholarship Foundation · FAQs - What is required of parents/guardians of PEP students? · checked October 6, 2026
  12. [S12] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Capacity Limitation · checked October 6, 2026
  13. [S13] Step Up For Students FAQ · Foster / out-of-home care FAQ · checked October 6, 2026
  14. [S14] Personalized Education Program (PEP) FAQs, Florida Department of Education · Eligibility / cap answer · last modified October 5, 2026 · checked October 6, 2026
  15. [S15] 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts: FTC, FES-EO and PEP by District (Step Up For Students PDF) · Table (page 1) · created June 29, 2026 · checked October 6, 2026
  16. [S16] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · How Scholarship Funding Is Determined · checked October 6, 2026
  17. [S17] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Scholarship Funding Schedule · checked October 6, 2026
  18. [S18] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Funding & Rollover & Balance Limits · checked October 6, 2026
  19. [S19] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (11)(e) Balance limit · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  20. [S20] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (7)(b)2.c.-d. Parent responsibilities (PEP) · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  21. [S21] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Student Learning Plans (SLPs) · checked October 6, 2026
  22. [S22] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Annual Assessment Requirements · checked October 6, 2026
  23. [S23] Annual Assessment Requirement, Florida Department of Education · Page body · last modified October 5, 2026 · checked October 6, 2026
  24. [S24] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (6)(d)4. Authorized uses · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  25. [S25] PEP Purchasing Guide (Step Up For Students) · Appendix A - Summary of Prohibited or Ineligible Items · last modified October 7, 2026 · checked October 9, 2026
  26. [S26] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Digital Device Restriction · checked October 6, 2026
  27. [S27] PEP Purchasing Guide (Step Up For Students) · Field Trips - Florida theme park admission · last modified October 7, 2026 · checked October 9, 2026
  28. [S28] PEP Purchasing Guide (Step Up For Students) · General Purchasing Provisions - Frequency of Purchase Limits · last modified October 7, 2026 · checked October 9, 2026
  29. [S29] PEP Purchasing Guide (Step Up For Students) · Pre-Authorizations · last modified October 7, 2026 · checked October 9, 2026
  30. [S30] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Making Successful Purchases · checked October 6, 2026
  31. [S31] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (6)(u) Reimbursement / online platform · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  32. [S32] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Use of Funds · checked October 6, 2026
  33. [S33] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Supporting Documentation for Proof of Payment · checked October 6, 2026
  34. [S34] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Reimbursement Timeline · checked October 6, 2026
  35. [S35] 2026-27 Scholarship Schedule (Step Up For Students PDF) · Application deadlines table · checked October 6, 2026
  36. [S36] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Applying for a Scholarship · checked October 6, 2026
  37. [S37] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (6)(e)1.-2. PEP application and renewal timelines · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  38. [S38] Florida - Personalized Education Program (PEP), AAA Scholarship Foundation · FAQs - How does a parent/guardian of a PEP student access the scholarship funds? · checked October 9, 2026
  39. [S39] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Funding Revocation · checked October 6, 2026
  40. [S40] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Hybrid Eligible Private School Students · checked October 6, 2026
  41. [S41] Florida Statutes s. 1002.395 (2026) · (7)(b)2.e. Unspent funds after non-renewal · 2026 edition · checked October 6, 2026
  42. [S42] 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (Step Up For Students) · Funding Prioritization · checked October 6, 2026
  43. [S43] Personalized Education Program - Apply (Step Up For Students) · Apply · checked October 6, 2026
  44. [S44] Personalized Education Program (PEP) FAQs, Florida Department of Education · How does PEP differ from home education? · last modified October 5, 2026 · checked October 6, 2026
  45. [S45] Florida - Personalized Education Program (PEP), AAA Scholarship Foundation · Summary of AAA's 2026-27 PEP scholarship process · checked October 6, 2026
  46. [S46] FAQ for PEP Survey: 2026-27 PEP Scholarship Transfer Survey, AAA Scholarship Foundation, or Your Scholarship Options (Step Up For Students) · If I consent to a transfer to AAA, will all of my students be transferred? · updated October 8, 2026 · checked October 9, 2026
  47. [S47] FAQ for PEP Survey: 2026-27 PEP Scholarship Transfer Survey, AAA Scholarship Foundation, or Your Scholarship Options (Step Up For Students) · How can I switch to FES-UA? · updated October 8, 2026 · checked October 9, 2026
  48. [S48] Florida - Personalized Education Program (PEP), AAA Scholarship Foundation · Message to Florida families transferring from Step Up for Students · checked October 9, 2026

Last updated October 17, 2026 · rule version 4 · next check by December 1, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.

Changes to this page
  • October 17, 2026: version 4 · Source [S2] now points to the handbook sections that list these dates; wording and date formats tidied (17 Oct 2026).
  • October 9, 2026: version 3 · Added what happens to students still in "Pending Review" (not funded): possible transfer to AAA Scholarship Foundation, or a switch to the Unique Abilities scholarship by Oct 30, 2026. The purchasing guide is now confirmed as the 2026-27 version (9 Oct 2026).
  • October 6, 2026: version 2 · Added operating and application status, parent questions and recheck date (6 Oct 2026).
  • October 6, 2026: version 1