The short answer: PEP and FES-UA are education savings accounts you spend directly on services and materials, while FES-EO is a private school tuition scholarship. PEP requires no diagnosis and does not cover therapy. FES-UA requires an IEP or qualifying diagnosis and covers therapy services PEP does not. FES-EO funds go toward eligible private school tuition instead of a flexible spending account.
Table of Contents
- The Core Difference: ESA vs. Private School Scholarship
- Who Qualifies for Each Program
- What Each Program Actually Covers
- How Enrollment and Funding Work Differently
- Switching Between Programs
- FAQ
The Core Difference: ESA vs. Private School Scholarship
The single most important distinction to understand is that PEP and FES-UA work completely differently from FES-EO.
PEP and FES-UA are education savings accounts (ESAs). Funds are deposited into an account you manage through EMA, and you spend them directly on tutoring, curriculum, therapy (for FES-UA), enrichment, and other approved categories. This is the structure homeschool families use.
FES-EO is a private school scholarship. Rather than a flexible spending account, FES-EO funds go toward tuition and fees at an eligible private school your child attends full-time or part-time.
Who Qualifies for Each Program
PEP is built for homeschooling families. There is no diagnosis or disability requirement. Any Florida resident student pursuing a home education program can apply.
FES-UA requires your child to have either an official Individualized Education Plan (IEP), written within the past three years, or a validated diagnosis from a licensed medical professional matching one of Step Up's approved conditions. That list includes Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Specific Learning Disability, Speech Impairment, Emotional or Behavioral Disability, and about 20 other specific diagnoses.
FES-EO eligibility centers on attending an eligible private school rather than a diagnosis or homeschool status.
Scholarship applications across these programs are reviewed first-come, first-served, and prioritized by household income: students at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (or in foster care) get first priority, followed by households up to 400% FPL, then everyone else.
What Each Program Actually Covers
This is where the real day-to-day differences show up. Here is how the categories break down:
- Tutoring (part-time): Available across FES-UA, FES-EO, FTC, and PEP
- Tutoring (full-time): Only FES-UA and PEP
- Therapy services (speech, occupational, physical, ABA, psychotherapy, vision, music/art, horse therapy): FES-UA only
- Curriculum and instructional materials: Available across all programs
- Electives and enrichment: Available across FES-EO, FES-UA, FTC, and PEP
- Physical education: Available across FES-EO, FES-UA, FTC, and PEP
- Home education instructional programs: FES-UA and PEP
- Private school tuition (full or part-time): FES-EO and FTC
- Testing and assessments: Available across FES-UA, FES-EO, FTC, and PEP
One PEP-specific restriction worth knowing: under Florida law, PEP students cannot use scholarship funds for digital devices or related peripherals, including laptops and computers. That restriction does not appear the same way for FES-UA.
How Enrollment and Funding Work Differently
Each program has its own annual requirement to actually receive funding:
- FES-EO and FTC students must confirm enrollment at an eligible private school directly in EMA
- FES-UA students must submit an IEP or a doctor's diagnosis of their eligible disability in EMA
- PEP students must complete and annually revise a Student Learning Plan (SLP) in EMA, and returning PEP students must also submit their annual assessment results
Miss these deadlines and funding does not go out. For the 2026-27 school year, FTC and FES-EO students who do not complete enrollment, and PEP students who do not complete their SLP and submit assessment results by January 15, will not receive scholarship funding for that year.
Once Step Up verifies eligibility, funds are delivered from the state on a quarterly schedule, with two separate dates for the first quarter depending on whether a student is a renewal or new applicant.
Switching Between Programs
Families are not locked into one program permanently. Switching from a private school scholarship (FTC or FES-EO) or from FES-UA to PEP must be completed by the April 30 deadline. This matters most for families whose circumstances change, a private school year ending, a homeschool decision, or a new diagnosis that opens up FES-UA eligibility.
Find approved vendors now: Browse PEP and FES-UA approved vendors on Florida Education Vendors at /vendors
FAQ
What is the main difference between PEP and FES-UA? PEP is for homeschooling families and requires no diagnosis, covering education expenses like tutoring, curriculum, and enrichment, but not therapy. FES-UA requires an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis, and covers everything PEP covers plus therapy services like speech, occupational, and ABA therapy.
What is FES-EO and how is it different from PEP and FES-UA? FES-EO (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options) is a private school scholarship. Unlike PEP and FES-UA, which are education savings accounts for homeschool-style spending, FES-EO funds go toward tuition and fees at an eligible private school.
Does FES-UA require a diagnosis? Yes. A child needs either an official IEP written within the past three years, or a validated diagnosis from a licensed medical professional, matching one of Step Up's approved qualifying conditions.
Can I switch between these scholarship programs? Yes, but switching from a private school scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) or FES-UA to PEP must be completed by the April 30 application deadline.
How does funding get delivered differently across these programs? FES-EO and FTC students must confirm enrollment at an eligible private school in EMA. FES-UA students must submit an IEP or diagnosis in EMA. PEP students must complete and annually revise a Student Learning Plan and submit annual assessment results.
Do all three programs cover tutoring? Part-time tutoring is available across FES-UA, FES-EO, FTC, and PEP. Full-time tutoring is only available to FES-UA and PEP students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between PEP and FES-UA?
PEP is for homeschooling families and requires no diagnosis, covering education expenses like tutoring, curriculum, and enrichment, but not therapy. FES-UA requires an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis, and covers everything PEP covers plus therapy services like speech, occupational, and ABA therapy.
What is FES-EO and how is it different from PEP and FES-UA?
FES-EO (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options) is a private school scholarship. Unlike PEP and FES-UA, which are education savings accounts for homeschool-style spending, FES-EO funds go toward tuition and fees at an eligible private school.
Does FES-UA require a diagnosis?
Yes. A child needs either an official IEP written within the past three years, or a validated diagnosis from a licensed medical professional, matching one of Step Up's approved qualifying conditions.
Can I switch between these scholarship programs?
Yes, but switching from a private school scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) or FES-UA to PEP must be completed by the April 30 application deadline.
How does funding get delivered differently across these programs?
FES-EO and FTC students must confirm enrollment at an eligible private school in EMA. FES-UA students must submit an IEP or diagnosis in EMA. PEP students must complete and annually revise a Student Learning Plan and submit annual assessment results.
Do all three programs cover tutoring?
Part-time tutoring is available across FES-UA, FES-EO, FTC, and PEP. Full-time tutoring is only available to FES-UA and PEP students.