Florida has several education scholarships and related supports, each with its own eligibility, spending rules and application process. Step Up For Students (SUFS) administers multiple scholarships; it is an administrator, not the name of a single state program.
SUFS helps families apply for and manage FTC, FES-EO, FES-UA and PEP scholarships. Its Education Market Assistant (EMA) supports scholarship accounts and purchases. Use the handbook and purchasing guide for your specific scholarship: a SUFS vendor listing does not establish eligibility for every program or purchase.
Florida DOE also lists A.A.A. Scholarship Foundation- FL, LLC and Sunshine State Kids as approved scholarship funding organizations for 2026-27. Confirm directly which programs each organization administers. The UF Lastinger Center runs the separate New Worlds Reading Initiative, not SUFS's New Worlds Scholarship Accounts. Official administrator list
Compare programs and pathways
Each program has its own application, eligibility and spending rules. An ongoing program does not mean applications are open or that funding is guaranteed. Awards are not automatically combined.
Education savings accountOngoing program
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)
This Florida scholarship branch supports eligible students attending participating private schools.
Who it serves
Florida residents eligible to enroll in K-12 public school may qualify, regardless of household income. Renewal and income-based priorities apply.
Funding and scope
Private-school scholarship amounts vary by grade and county. Use the current FES-EO award schedule, not a Unique Abilities or PEP award.
Apply through an approved scholarship funding organization.
Do not combine its rules with the Unique Abilities branch.
Tax-credit-supported scholarship funding organizations award Florida education scholarships.
Who it serves
Florida residents eligible for K-12 public school may qualify for the private-school pathway, regardless of household income. Renewal and income priorities apply; PEP has separate participation rules.
Funding and scope
Private-school awards vary by grade and county. PEP is a pathway within FTC, not an additional scholarship to add to a private-school award.
Income restrictions were removed, but statutory priority groups remain.
Personalized Education Program participation is a pathway within FTC.
PEP is the FTC pathway for eligible students using personalized education rather than full-time private-school enrollment.
SUFS reports that 2026-27 PEP applications closed April 30, 2026; its site offers updates for the next application cycle.
Who it serves
PEP serves eligible Florida K-12 students using parent-directed education, with its own enrollment, student learning plan and assessment requirements. It is distinct from district-registered home education.
Funding and scope
Award amounts vary by grade and county. Funds cover eligible expenses under FTC-PEP rules; the scholarship is not interchangeable with FES-UA.
Parents develop an individualized learning plan.
Not a separate funding statute or an automatic home-education reimbursement entitlement.
These are not confirmed new funding opportunities. Check the status and official source before planning a purchase.
Supplemental supportExisting balances only
New Worlds Scholarship Accounts
Existing New Worlds account balances can support students' specific literacy and mathematics needs.
SUFS is not accepting new applications because there is no new funding. Existing recipients may use remaining balances under the account rules. This is separate from the UF-administered New Worlds Reading book program.
No new accounts are awarded effective July 1, 2025.
Remaining funds remain accessible under program rules.
Descriptions are summaries of official sources, not verbatim quotations or individual eligibility decisions.
Funding reference: Family Empowerment Scholarship
This reference applies to Family Empowerment Scholarship, not every program in Florida. Other programs have separate awards and rules.
2026-2027 school year
FES-EO: $7,463–$12,217 by county and grade. FES-UA: $9,627–$39,091 by county, grade, and special-education matrix level; the highest amount is limited to the highest matrix level. These are annual published schedules, not a single statewide award. Some continuing FES-UA students have protected prior awards.
Providers and vendors associated with Florida program lists. A state listing does not establish approval for every program. Confirm the exact program, administrator, purchase and payment method with the business.