Become a Step Up Elective or Enrichment Provider in Florida
At a Glance
Elective and enrichment providers teach subjects such as art, music, drama, cooking, foreign language, programming, photography, woodworking, gardening, and sewing. Families can pay for those lessons and classes with scholarship funds under Unique Abilities (FES-UA), the Private School Scholarship (FTC and FES-EO), and the Personalized Education Program (PEP), but only through providers Step Up has approved in EMA, its online system.
This page covers what approval involves for an elective or enrichment provider: the scholarships that can pay for this work, the six credential routes Step Up recognizes, how payment reaches you, and the mistakes that slow applications down. Step Up reviews every application and makes every approval decision.
What Families Can Pay You For
FES-UA, FTC, FES-EO, and PEP can pay for elective and enrichment instruction in subjects such as art, music, drama, cooking, foreign language, programming, photography, woodworking, gardening, and sewing. A family can pay you through Direct Pay in EMA, or pay you themselves and request reimbursement from their scholarship account.
What It Takes
Step Up recognizes six credential routes in this category. One is enough:
- Meet any part-time tutor qualification pathway, or
- A valid or expired Florida Educator's Certificate, or
- At least 3 years of experience in the subject, demonstrated by employment records, or
- Currently enrolled in a college as a student of the subject, or
- A degree from a college in the subject, or
- Certification or national accreditation in the subject.
At a headline level, the Business account asks for tax ID information, your legal name as registered with the IRS, and bank details so Step Up can pay you. The other account asks for proof of one of the six credential routes above.
Mistakes That Slow Elective and Enrichment Applications Down
- Insufficient documentation of experience. Experience in the subject has to be documented, for example by employment records for the 3-year route.
- Insufficient documentation of credentials. The route you choose has to be backed by proof of that credential, certification, or enrollment.
Questions Providers Ask
Which scholarships can pay for electives and enrichment?
Unique Abilities (FES-UA), the Private School Scholarship (FTC and FES-EO), and PEP.
What subjects count in this category?
Art, music, drama, cooking, foreign language, programming, photography, woodworking, gardening, sewing, and more.
Do I need a teaching certificate?
A teaching certificate is only one of six routes. Step Up also recognizes at least 3 years of experience in the subject demonstrated by employment records, current college enrollment as a student of the subject, a college degree in the subject, certification or national accreditation in the subject, and the part-time tutor qualification pathways.
My Florida educator certificate has expired. Does it still count here?
In this category, yes. A valid or expired Florida Educator's Certificate is one of the six recognized routes for elective and enrichment providers.
How do families pay me?
Step Up can pay you directly through EMA, or the family pays you and requests reimbursement from their scholarship account.
See Your Electives and Enrichment Pathway
The free assessment asks five straightforward questions and shows you a personalized preview of your provider pathway: your credential route, the scholarship programs that fit, and your first steps. The assessment is free. Start with a free personalized assessment. Full personalized plan for one provider pathway: $147 one-time. Additional pathways are $97 each.
Step Up Provider Guide is operated by Pair of Deuces LLC and is not affiliated with Step Up For Students. Step Up reviews every provider application and makes all approval decisions.
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