See Which Programs May Fit Your Family
Answer a few questions about where your child goes to school and what your child needs. The checker shows the programs that may fit, the ones that could fit if your child's schooling changes, and the ones that do not seem to fit, with the reason for each.
- It takes about two minutes.
- Nothing you answer is saved or sent anywhere. There is no account and no form.
- School comes first in the questions, on purpose: where a child goes to school decides which programs can pay, as much as what a child needs.
This tool gives general information only. It is not an application, and it cannot tell you whether your child is eligible. Step Up For Students makes all eligibility and funding decisions.
Do you live in Florida?
How old is your child?
Where does your child go to school right now?
Not sure which home option fits? If you filed homeschool paperwork with your school district, choose the registered option. If you did not file with the district, choose the second home option.
Has a licensed professional diagnosed your child with a condition that affects learning, movement, hearing, vision, speech, behavior, or health? Or does your child have an IEP?
You do not need an IEP or a 504 plan for a diagnosis to count. Step Up confirms every diagnosis when a family applies.
Is your child in VPK, kindergarten, or grades 1 to 5, and has the school said your child is behind in reading or math, or scored below Level 3 on a state test?
Does your child go to a public school that is different from the school assigned to your home address, like a magnet, charter, or choice school?
Optional: Household Income
This question is optional, and you can skip it and still see your results. This information never changes whether your child can receive a private school scholarship. It only affects the order scholarships are awarded in when funding is limited.
Ranges are built from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Choose the range closest to your household income.
The Five Programs, in Plain Language
Florida families use five Step Up scholarship programs, plus a transportation stipend. Two things decide which ones a family can use: what the program requires, and where the child goes to school.
Private School Scholarship (Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options)
Helps K-12 students attend an eligible private school full time. Any Florida family can apply, whatever its income. Household income affects only the order scholarships are awarded when funding is limited. More about this program
Unique Abilities (FES-UA)
For Florida children ages 3 to 22 with a qualifying diagnosis or an IEP. It can pay for private school, therapies, tutoring, and other services. It cannot be used while a child is enrolled full time in a public school. More about this program
Personalized Education Program (PEP)
For K-12 students whose parents direct their education outside district home education registration. Families use it for curriculum, tutoring, lessons, testing, and more. Families send Step Up a Student Learning Plan each year. More about this program
New Worlds Scholarship Accounts
For public school students in VPK through grade 5 who are behind in reading or math. The state did not fund new scholarships for 2025-2026, so no new students are joining. Families who already have an account can keep spending their balance. More about this program
Transportation Stipend
Gives $750 per household for the school year to K-8 students who attend a public school that is not the school assigned to their home address, such as a magnet, charter, or choice school. More about this program
Questions Parents Ask
Can my child use a Step Up scholarship while attending public school?
Most Step Up scholarships cannot be used while a child is enrolled full time in a public school, because the district is already funded to serve them. The programs built for public school students are New Worlds accounts, which are not accepting new students for 2025-2026, and the K-8 Transportation Stipend. If your child's schooling changes to a private school or a home education setting, other programs can open up.
Does household income decide whether my child can get a scholarship?
No. None of these programs uses household income to decide whether a child can receive a scholarship. For the Private School Scholarship, income only affects the order awards are made when funding is limited, and sharing income information on the application is optional.
My child has a diagnosis but no IEP. Can that count for Unique Abilities?
An IEP is not required. A diagnosis documented by a licensed physician, a Florida-licensed psychologist, or a Florida-licensed Autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurse can be used instead. Step Up confirms the documentation when a family applies, and only Step Up can say how a specific diagnosis fits the program.
Who decides whether my child can receive a scholarship?
Step Up For Students, working with the Florida Department of Education. This checker gives general information only. It is not an application, and it cannot decide anything about your child.
When can families apply?
Application windows differ by program, and there is no single season. New student applications for the Personalized Education Program run February 1 to April 30. New student applications for Unique Abilities and the Private School Scholarship run February 1 to November 15. Step Up publishes each year's windows, and its team can confirm current dates at (877) 735-7837.