Can You Use Step Up, Step Further With PEP or FES-UA?

TLDR

• Step Up says the new Step Up, Step Further scholarship can be used in addition to state scholarships. That includes families who already receive PEP or FES-UA.1
• This is different from Step Up's state scholarships, which follow a "one program at a time" rule for the same student.34
• Step Up has not yet published how the two will work together, including whether there will be a separate application or account.
• Step Further has an income limit of 300% of area median income. PEP uses income only to set award priority.23
• Do not switch or drop a scholarship because of this new one. Its rules are not final, and applications are not open.

If you searched for how ESA funds and this new scholarship fit together, this page covers what Step Up has said so far. It is current as of September 26, 2026, and we will update it as details are published. For the basics, start with our overview of the Step Up, Step Further scholarship.

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What Step Up Has Said About Combining Scholarships

Step Up's Step Further website answers this directly. A parent asking whether a student already on a state scholarship can still apply gets a plain yes: the federal scholarship can be used in addition to other scholarships in Florida.1 Step Up repeats the point elsewhere, saying families can use it in addition to their student's state scholarship funding.1

That is the full extent of what has been published. There are no details yet on how the funds are held, how they are spent, or how they are tracked next to a PEP or FES-UA account.

The One-Program-at-a-Time Rule for State Scholarships

Here is why families are confused. Step Up's 2026-27 handbooks for PEP and FES-UA both say you cannot apply for that scholarship and another Step Up scholarship program for the same student at the same time. The programs named are the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, FES-EO, FES-UA, PEP, and the Transportation Stipend.34

Step Further is not on that list, because it did not exist when the handbooks were written. Step Up describes it as a separate fund that can be added on top, which is a different arrangement from the state programs.1 Until Step Up publishes the rules, nobody outside Step Up can say for certain how the two ideas fit together, so treat any confident answer you see online with caution.

How the Eligibility Rules Compare

PEP

• Age five or older on or before September 1, and younger than 21.3
• Eligible to enroll in a Florida public school for grades K-12, and a Florida resident.3
• No income limit. Income affects award priority, and families can choose not to provide income documents.3

FES-UA

• Age three or older, or eligible to enroll in a Florida public school, and younger than 22.4
• An IEP or a validated diagnosis from a licensed professional.4

Step Up, Step Further

• Eligible to enroll in a public or private K-12 school in Florida.1
• Household income at or below 300% of the area median income for the county.12
• Step Up describes it as K-12, so it is unclear whether a child under kindergarten age on FES-UA would qualify. Step Up has not said.

What Is Still Unknown

• Whether Step Further will need its own application, its own account, or both.
• Whether Step Further counts as "another scholarship program" under the state one-program rule, or is treated separately as Step Up describes.
• Which documents will verify household income.
• How much a Step Further award will be. Step Up says the amount depends on how much donors give.5
• Which purchases will qualify. Step Up says the final list depends on U.S. Treasury rules.2
• Whether the same providers and purchasing tools used for PEP and FES-UA will apply.

What Families Can Do Now

• Keep your current scholarship in good standing. Complete your renewal steps for PEP or FES-UA the way you normally would.
• Check whether your household might fall under the income limit with Step Up's AMI lookup tool or our estimated income limit by county.
• Join the Step Up, Step Further interest list so you hear about applications when they open.
• Do not switch scholarship programs because of this. Switching between Step Up programs has its own rules and deadlines in the handbooks, and the Step Further rules are not final.
• Keep records organized. If you use a scholarship account today, receipts, invoices, and provider details will matter for any new program too.

To compare the programs you can use today, read our PEP vs FES-UA vs FES-EO comparison. You can also browse providers by category. A listing on our directory does not mean a provider is approved for Step Further, since Step Up has not published how providers will be approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Step Up, Step Further with PEP?

According to Step Up, yes. It says the federal scholarship can be used in addition to other Florida scholarships. It has not yet published how the two will work together in practice.1

Can I use Step Up, Step Further with FES-UA?

Step Up makes the same statement for all of its state scholarships, which includes FES-UA. Age and eligibility details for younger children have not been published.1

Doesn't the one-program-at-a-time rule stop me?

That rule appears in the PEP and FES-UA handbooks and covers Step Up's state scholarships and the Transportation Stipend.34 Step Up describes Step Further as an addition to state scholarships, not a replacement. It has not said how the rule applies, so watch for official guidance.

Will I need a separate application for Step Further?

Not yet known. Applications are not open, and Step Up says details will be shared as they are finalized.2

Should I switch scholarships because of Step Further?

No. The rules are not final and applications are not open. Switching between Step Up programs has its own deadlines and requirements, so make changes only based on published guidance.

References

1. Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund, For Parents and FAQs. Available at stepupstepfurther.org/for-parents
2. Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund, 5 Things Parents and Guardians Need to Know About the Education Freedom Tax Credit Scholarship, May 26, 2026. Available at stepupstepfurther.org
3. Step Up For Students, 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook, last updated July 3, 2026, eligibility and application rules. Available at stepupforstudents.org/document-library
4. Step Up For Students, 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook, last updated July 3, 2026, eligibility and application rules. Available at stepupforstudents.org/document-library
5. Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund, Home page and FAQs. Available at stepupstepfurther.org

Florida Education Vendors is an independent directory and is not affiliated with Step Up For Students or the Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund. This guide is for informational purposes only. Program details are still being finalized and change often. Always verify current information at stepupstepfurther.org and stepupforstudents.org before making any decision.

Cover photo by sofatutor on Unsplash.