Become a Step Up Specialized After-School Program Provider in Florida
At a Glance
Specialized after-school programs in this category include specialized after-school education programs for students with unique abilities, and after-school programs that improve reading, literacy, or math skills. Families across Florida can pay for these programs with scholarship funds, but only through providers Step Up has approved in EMA, its online system. Approval also lists you in the provider directory families search inside EMA.
This page covers what approval involves for a specialized after-school program: the two scholarships that can pay for this work, what Step Up looks for in a specialized program, 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
Two scholarships can pay in this category: Unique Abilities (FES-UA) and New Worlds. A family can pay through Direct Pay in EMA. FES-UA families can also pay you themselves and request reimbursement from their scholarship account. New Worlds purchases are Direct Pay only, with no reimbursement.
New Worlds in this category covers existing accounts only. New Worlds is not open to new students, and existing students may spend down remaining balances.
For FES-UA students, the program must be specialized: developed specifically for students with special or unique needs, or able to meet the individual student's needs. For New Worlds students, the program must be designed to improve reading, literacy, or math skills.
What It Takes
Step Up does not specify an individual license or certification for this category in its provider guide. The program itself has to fit one of the two scholarship definitions:
- For FES-UA students, a specialized program: developed specifically for students with special or unique needs, or able to meet the individual student's needs
- For New Worlds students, a program designed to improve reading, literacy, or math skills
After-school or extended care with no educational component will not be approved, and proof of attendance is required.
For students aged 16 and up, full-day or half-day education programs are permitted with pre-authorization. Overnight educational camps may be permitted with pre-authorization and documentation of the educational benefit from a physician or licensed therapist.
At a headline level, the application asks for tax ID information (an EIN, or a Social Security number if you do not have an EIN), your legal name as registered with the IRS, and bank details, along with a description of the services that will be rendered for your EMA service catalog and a published fee schedule provided to Step Up before scholarship funds are paid.
Mistakes That Slow Specialized After-School Programs Applications Down
- A program that is childcare or extended care with no educational benefit.
- A program that is not specialized for students with unique abilities (FES-UA), or not focused on reading, literacy, or math (New Worlds).
- Missing published fees or attendance records.
Questions Providers Ask
Which scholarships can pay for specialized after-school programs?
Unique Abilities (FES-UA) and New Worlds. New Worlds covers existing accounts only; New Worlds is not open to new students, and existing students may spend down remaining balances.
Do I need a license or certification?
No individual license or certification is specified for this category in the provider guide. The program has to fit the scholarship definition: specialized for FES-UA students, or designed to improve reading, literacy, or math skills for New Worlds students.
What makes a program specialized for FES-UA?
The program is developed specifically for students with special or unique needs, or is able to meet the individual student's needs.
How do families pay me?
Step Up can pay you directly through EMA. FES-UA families can also pay you and request reimbursement from their scholarship account. New Worlds purchases are Direct Pay only, with no reimbursement.
Can after-school care with no educational component count in this category?
No. After-school or extended care with no educational component will not be approved, and proof of attendance is required.
See Your Specialized After-School Programs 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.
Enrolling a program or center? The Practice Plan covers 3 pathways for $397 one-time, and 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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