Your guide to using Florida scholarship funds (ESA) to homeschool in 2026-27

Florida homeschooling and scholarship funds: what you need to know

If you are homeschooling in Florida, you already know the freedom and responsibility that come with directing your child's education. Florida also offers multiple scholarship programs that can provide up to $8,000 per year in education funds to support that learning, but accessing those funds comes with important trade-offs worth understanding before you apply.

The key one: using Florida scholarship funds means stepping into a different legal category. Under Florida law, students in the Personalized Education Program (PEP) are not classified as traditional home education students. The rules, reporting requirements, and flexibility look different from what traditional homeschoolers experience.

This guide walks you through the differences between PEP and traditional homeschooling, what scholarship funds can be used for, and how to decide which path fits your family for 2026-27.

What is the Personalized Education Program (PEP)?

Florida's Personalized Education Program is a scholarship track under the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, administered by Step Up for Students. It allows families to direct approximately $8,000 per student per year (2026-27 average) toward customized learning, without enrolling in a public or private school and without filing as a home education student. [1]

PEP is open to new students for 2026-27, with a program capacity of up to 140,000 students. Applications are currently open at stepupforstudents.org.

Who can apply for PEP?

All K-12 Florida students who are not enrolled full-time in public or private school and are not registered as traditional home education students are eligible. There are no income restrictions, though priority may be given to families based on income levels as a percentage of the federal poverty level. Hybrid arrangements, where families use PEP funds alongside private providers or part-time programs, are allowed as long as they follow PEP guidelines and use approved vendors.

What PEP funds can be used for

Families in PEP can use ESA funds for a broad range of approved educational expenses:

• Curriculum and instructional materials
• Online courses and platforms (including Outschool)
• Tutoring by certified or approved providers
• Standardized testing and evaluations
• Educational software and select technology
• Certain furniture for homeschool use (limits apply)
• Some approved travel expenses

Purchases can be made directly through approved marketplace providers, or families can pay out of pocket and submit invoices for reimbursement through Step Up. Eligible expenses may be updated annually; always check the current approved expense list at stepupforstudents.org before spending.

Understanding PEP vs. traditional homeschooling

Although PEP is not traditional homeschooling under Florida law, it offers many of the same benefits: parent-directed learning, flexible pacing, and the ability to tailor your child's education to their interests. However, the two paths follow different legal structures and come with their own sets of rules.

PEP students are classified as "private education" participants under the ESA law. This affects how you report, assess, and document your child's learning each year. Traditional home education students file with their county superintendent's office and follow a different compliance path.

• PEP: Approximately $8,000/year average in ESA funds, annual Student Learning Plan required, annual standardized testing required, PEP-specific reporting to your Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO)
• Traditional homeschooling: No public funding, maximum flexibility, file with county superintendent, annual assessment (test, portfolio, or evaluation)

Step-by-step: how to apply and set up your PEP account

1. Apply through an SFO — Use Step Up for Students (stepupforstudents.org) or AAA Scholarship Foundation. Applications for 2026-27 are currently open.
2. Gather required documents — Florida residency proof, your child's birth certificate, prior school records (if applicable), and optional income documentation for priority consideration.
3. Create and submit a Student Learning Plan (SLP) — The SLP outlines subject areas, learning goals, and how funds will be used. It must be approved by your SFO and updated annually.
4. Complete annual evaluations — Required for all PEP students. Options include state or norm-referenced standardized tests, or portfolio review if permitted by your SFO.

Comparing PEP and FES-UA for home-based learners

PEP is not the only scholarship program that allows for home-based learning. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) also supports educational customization at home, though it has different eligibility criteria and higher funding amounts.

• PEP is open to all Florida K-12 students regardless of disability status. Average award approximately $8,000/year. Best for families who want financial support for parent-directed learning without a qualifying diagnosis requirement.
• FES-UA is for students with diagnosed disabilities. Average award approximately $10,000/year, with higher amounts available based on the level of special education services the student would otherwise receive. Covers therapies, specialized instruction, and learning accommodations alongside educational content.

Both programs allow home-based education but follow different rules for Student Learning Plans, evaluations, and eligible services. Families must choose one scholarship; using both PEP and FES-UA for the same child is not permitted.

How to use scholarship funds for Outschool classes

Outschool is an approved provider under Florida's scholarship programs, confirmed under the state's Home Education Instructional Program (HEIP) designation. Florida families with PEP or FES-UA funds have three ways to pay for Outschool classes:

Option 1: EMA (recommended for live classes)

The Education Management Account (EMA) is the fastest way to book live Outschool classes. Through Step Up for Students, purchase EMA wallet credits in increments of $50, $100, $200, or $500 and use them to enroll directly on Outschool. No upfront out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement wait. This is the path most families use for live online classes.

Option 2: Reimbursement

Pay for Outschool classes at the time of enrollment, then submit your receipt through Step Up for Students for reimbursement. Keep all purchase confirmations and enrollment records. Reimbursement processing time varies but typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. Because Outschool is HEIP-approved, your receipt should clear without additional credential verification.

Option 3: MyScholarShop

Outschool's self-paced, asynchronous classes are listed in MyScholarShop, the Step Up online marketplace. Browse and pay using your ESA funds with no upfront cost. Note that MyScholarShop covers only a portion of Outschool's catalog (primarily self-paced content), not live classes.

For more detail on each option, see our step-by-step guide to using Florida scholarship funds for Outschool. For general information about Florida's scholarship programs, see our Florida Step Up for Students guide.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible to apply for PEP?

All K-12 Florida students who are not enrolled full-time in public or private school and who are not registered as traditional homeschoolers are eligible. There are no income restrictions for eligibility, but priority may be given based on income as a percentage of the federal poverty level if demand exceeds capacity.

Can I use PEP funds for any type of curriculum?

Yes. PEP administered by Step Up for Students allows families to purchase curriculum materials that best suit their child's educational needs. The program provides families with flexibility to choose instructional materials that align with their values and educational goals.

What are the reporting and evaluation requirements?

All PEP scholarship students are required to take standardized norm-referenced tests annually, unless a diagnosed disability exempts them. PEP students must also maintain and submit a Student Learning Plan annually. Your SFO (Step Up for Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation) will guide you through the specific requirements for your family.

Can I switch to or from PEP mid-year?

Once funded, a family cannot switch scholarship programs mid-year. You will need to wait until the following school year to apply for a different program within Florida.

Which payment option should I use for Outschool?

For live classes, EMA is the recommended path: purchase wallet credits through Step Up and enroll directly on Outschool. For self-paced classes, check MyScholarShop first. Use reimbursement as a fallback for any class type if EMA credits are temporarily unavailable.

Does Outschool require any special verification for Florida scholarship funds?

No. Outschool is HEIP-approved under Florida's scholarship programs. Your enrollment receipt should clear without additional credential verification when submitted through Step Up for Students.

What is a Student Learning Plan (SLP)?

The SLP is a required outline of your student's educational goals and subject areas for the school year. It ensures that scholarship funds are applied toward appropriate academic categories including reading, math, science, social studies, and language arts. The SLP must be submitted annually, approved by your SFO, and kept up to date as your child progresses.

Taking your next steps

Florida's scholarship programs give homeschool-style families financial support while maintaining flexibility, but the right choice depends on whether the reporting requirements and program rules fit your family. Understanding the difference between PEP and traditional homeschooling in Florida before you apply is the most important step.

Visit stepupforstudents.org to review current 2026-27 program details, application status, and approved expense guidelines. If your family has already applied or received approval, Outschool classes are bookable through EMA wallet credits, reimbursement, or MyScholarShop. For a full list of what Florida scholarship funds cover, see our ESA approved expenses guide.

Sources

[1] Step Up for Students. (2026). Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship overview. stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/