Florida FES-EO: parent guide
Use Florida's private-school scholarship application pathway for FES-EO, with Step Up For Students or another approved administrator, and keep school admission separate from scholarship eligibility.
By ParentSurf / Sources reviewed
About this guide
An independent guide to Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), not an official application or an eligibility decision. Rules, application windows and available funds can change. Confirm your circumstances with the program before changing enrollment or committing money.
Before you start
Choose Educational Options, not Unique Abilities
FES-EO is the private-school branch of the Family Empowerment Scholarship. Check Florida residency and K-12 eligibility, plus the administrator's current priority and enrollment rules. FES-UA has a different disability-based application and spending framework.
Your next steps
Start with the approved administrator
Step Up For Students (SUFS) is a major administrator, not a separate scholarship. Its private-school application covers FTC/FES-EO; families should follow the administrator's award classification instead of treating those as two awards to combine.
Prepare the current checklist
Use SUFS's new or renewal checklist for identity, residency and any priority documentation. Apply through the official account, add the correct children and review the submitted scholarship choice before accepting an award.
Confirm a participating school and tuition
Complete the school's admissions process and confirm its scholarship participation. Coordinate enrollment and tuition approval with your administrator. Read the applicable purchasing guidance before using any remaining funds for other educational expenses.
Preparation checklist
Use this to get organized. The current official application or handbook controls the full requirements.
- Student and guardian information for the scholarship application
- Residency and applicable priority evidence from the current checklist
- School acceptance, tuition details and scholarship participation confirmation
Submit identity, financial, student and medical records only through the verified official process. Do not upload application documents to ParentSurf or include them in a public review.
Important distinctions
- Acceptance by a private school does not establish scholarship eligibility or funding.
- A FES-EO award does not authorize spending under FES-UA's different rules.
Official resources & further reading
State agencies and their program administrators are the source of application requirements. Older editions are labeled; check the program site for newer guidance.
- Private-school scholarships and application guidance
Step Up For Students
- Scholarship application document checklist
Step Up For Students
- School and provider partnerships
Step Up For Students
- Private-school scholarship participation requirements
Florida Department of Education
- Non-school provider handbook
Step Up For Students
- Family Empowerment Scholarship branches
Florida Department of Education