Can Step Up Scholarships Pay for Tutoring?
Part-time help with schoolwork, reading, or math, or a full-time private tutoring program.
The Short Answer
Tutoring is the service the most programs can pay for. FES-UA covers part-time tutoring and full-time private tutoring programs. PEP covers the same, with credential rules for tutors. New Worlds covers part-time tutoring in reading, literacy, or math for families who already hold an account balance. The Private School Scholarship can also pay for part-time tutoring, with money left after the student's tuition and fees are paid.
Each program has its own gate. FES-UA needs a qualifying diagnosis or an IEP and cannot be used during full-time public school enrollment. PEP is for parent-directed education. New Worlds is the public school program, and it is not open to new students for 2025-2026.
What counts as a qualifying diagnosis?
Step Up publishes the list of qualifying conditions for FES-UA. The list is:
- Anaphylaxis
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Emotional or Behavioral Disability
- Hearing Impairment, including deafness
- High-Risk Child
- Hospital or Homebound
- Dual Sensory Impaired
- Intellectual Disability (severe cognitive impairment)
- Language Impairment
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Rare Diseases (defined by NORD)
- Specific Learning Disability
- Speech Impairment
- Spina Bifida
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment, including blindness
- Williams Syndrome
ADHD can qualify for the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) as an other health impairment, when the diagnosis is documented.
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability, one of the diagnoses the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) covers.
The diagnosis must be documented by a licensed physician (Florida or another U.S. state or territory), a Florida-licensed psychologist, or a Florida-licensed Autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. A district IEP written within the past three years can be used instead of a diagnosis document. An evaluation or a 504 plan on its own is not one of those documents.
Step Up confirms how a specific diagnosis fits the program when you apply.
Which Programs Can Pay, and the Rules
Paying: Direct Pay in EMA, or pay the provider and request reimbursement.
The rule that decides it: Needs a qualifying diagnosis or an IEP, and it cannot be used while your child is enrolled full time in a public school.
Tutor credential rules apply under PEP, and tutors in a full-time tutoring program must hold a valid Florida teaching certificate.
Paying: Direct Pay in EMA, or pay the provider and request reimbursement.
The rule that decides it: For parent-directed education. Your child cannot be enrolled full time in a public or private school, and a district home education registration must be ended by August 15.
Status: Not open to new students: Florida did not fund new New Worlds scholarships for 2025-2026. Only families with a balance left from a previous year can spend it.
New Worlds covers part-time tutoring in reading, literacy, or math only.
Paying: Direct Pay in EMA only. Reimbursement is not allowed.
The rule that decides it: For public school students in VPK through grade 5 who are behind in reading or math.
Under the Private School Scholarship (FTC and FES-EO), part-time tutoring is an eligible use of money left after the student's tuition and fees are paid, while the student attends an eligible private school full time in person.
Paying: Funds are paid to the school in quarterly payments, and a parent approves each payment in EMA. Money left after tuition and fees can also be spent through Direct Pay, reimbursement, or MyScholarShop.
The rule that decides it: Pays tuition and fees at the eligible private school your child attends full time. It cannot be used while your child is enrolled full time in a public school.
The service also has to appear in the provider's approved EMA service catalog, and Step Up confirms coverage for your child's program. When in doubt, ask Step Up before the service begins, at (877) 735-7837.
Who Provides It, and How to Find One
Who provides it: An approved tutor or tutoring program. The provider must be approved in Step Up's system for the service to be payable.
Approved providers are listed in Step Up's official directory inside EMA. Log in to your EMA account, choose Marketplace, then Find Providers to search approved providers and services near you. Step Up's steps for finding a provider in EMA.
Questions Parents Ask
Who provides Tutoring?
An approved tutor or tutoring program. Providers must be approved in Step Up's system. Approved providers are listed in Step Up's official directory inside EMA. Log in to your EMA account, choose Marketplace, then Find Providers to search approved providers and services near you.
What rules decide whether scholarship funds can pay for Tutoring?
Unique Abilities (FES-UA): Needs a qualifying diagnosis or an IEP, and it cannot be used while your child is enrolled full time in a public school. Personalized Education Program (PEP): For parent-directed education. Your child cannot be enrolled full time in a public or private school, and a district home education registration must be ended by August 15. New Worlds Scholarship Accounts: For public school students in VPK through grade 5 who are behind in reading or math. Private School Scholarship: Pays tuition and fees at the eligible private school your child attends full time. It cannot be used while your child is enrolled full time in a public school.
More Services Parents Ask About
Or search all services on the services guide.
Not Sure Which Programs Fit Your Family?
Answer a few questions about where your child goes to school and what your child needs, and see which Step Up programs may fit. It takes about two minutes, and nothing you answer is saved or sent anywhere.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Applications are made with Step Up For Students, not with this site.
Step Up Customer Engagement Center: (877) 735-7837, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
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.