Become a Step Up VPK or School Readiness Provider in Florida
At a Glance
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) and School Readiness programs in this category are early learning programs for young children. Families across Florida can pay for these programs with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) 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 VPK or School Readiness provider: the one scholarship that can pay in this category, the state approval and Early Learning Coalition listing Step Up looks for, 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
Unique Abilities (FES-UA) covers VPK and School Readiness programs in this category. A family can pay you through Direct Pay in EMA, or pay you themselves and request reimbursement from their scholarship account.
Eligible fees in this category include application, registration, uniforms (basic pieces), books, technology, and graduation fees.
Some fees are prohibited in this category: fundraising fees, lunch fees, therapy billed as school fees, and daycare fees.
What It Takes
Step Up looks for state program approval and a local listing:
- VPK providers approved under Florida Statute 1002.55, or School Readiness providers under Florida Statute 1002.88
- A place on your local Early Learning Coalition (ELC) list of eligible VPK providers for your area
Your local Early Learning Coalition (ELC) maintains the list of eligible VPK providers for your area.
At a headline level, the application asks for tax ID information (an EIN, or SSN or ITIN for solo practitioners), your legal name as registered with the IRS, and bank details, along with a copy of your tuition and fee schedule, including special needs fees. The published rate is standard.
Mistakes That Slow VPK and School Readiness Applications Down
- Not on the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) approved list.
- A missing tuition and fee schedule.
Questions Providers Ask
Which scholarship can pay for VPK and School Readiness in this category?
Unique Abilities (FES-UA) only.
What approval does Step Up look for?
VPK providers approved under Florida Statute 1002.55, or School Readiness providers under Florida Statute 1002.88, and a place on your local Early Learning Coalition (ELC) list of eligible VPK providers for your area.
Who maintains the list of eligible VPK providers?
Your local Early Learning Coalition (ELC) maintains the list of eligible VPK providers for your area.
Which fees are covered, and which are prohibited?
Eligible fees include application, registration, uniforms (basic pieces), books, technology, and graduation fees. Prohibited fees include fundraising fees, lunch fees, therapy billed as school fees, and daycare fees.
How do families pay me?
Step Up can pay you directly through EMA, or the family pays you and requests reimbursement from their FES-UA account.
See Your VPK and School Readiness 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 school or child care 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.
More Provider Categories
Or browse all of them on the provider categories index.
What Families Read About This Service
Parents research this service on the parent side of this site before they look for a provider: