Logging into EMA and seeing a status word you don't recognize is one of the most common sources of scholarship anxiety. Nothing on screen tells you what it actually means or whether you need to do something about it. Here's every status Step Up uses, in plain English, straight from their own definitions.
The short answer: Step Up uses different status labels depending on what you're looking at, your application, a MyScholarShop order, a reimbursement, or a provider invoice. Most statuses mean "no action needed, just wait," but a few mean you need to act quickly. Use the tables below to find your exact status and what to do next.
Application statuses
These appear on your student's scholarship application in EMA:
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | Not yet submitted | Complete all sections, upload documents, and submit |
| Submitted | Received but not yet reviewed | Check back soon, no action needed yet |
| Pending | Under review | No action needed, just check back later |
| On Hold | More information or documents are needed | Log in and provide what's requested as soon as possible. If this is about your child's enrollment status, see Why Did Step Up Freeze My Scholarship? |
| Complete | Review is finished | No action needed |
| Eligible | Student has been found eligible for the scholarship applied for | Wait for funding status to update |
| Declined | You indicated you don't intend to use the scholarship this school year | If you change your mind next year, you'll apply as a "new" applicant |
| Withdrawn | You received funding but opted not to continue this school year | No action needed unless you plan to reapply |
(Source: Step Up For Students FAQ, "What are the possible statuses on my student's application and what do they mean?")
MyScholarShop order statuses
These appear when you place an order through MyScholarShop:
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Composing | Not yet submitted | Finish your order and submit it |
| Submitted | Pending review | No action needed, just wait |
| Approved | Order approved | Wait for it to move to "Ordering" |
| Denied | Order was denied by a Step Up approver | You can resubmit the request with an appeal reason |
| Ordering | A fully approved order is being generated | No action needed |
| Ordered | Order has been sent to the supplier for fulfillment | Wait for shipping/fulfillment |
| Canceling | Order is in the process of being canceled | No action needed |
| Cancelled | Order was canceled after being submitted and approved | Resubmit if you still want the item |
(Source: Step Up For Students FAQ, "I see a request saying Composing, what does this mean?")
Reimbursement statuses
If you paid out of pocket and are requesting reimbursement:
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Submitted | Received but not yet reviewed | No action needed yet |
| On Hold | Missing or incorrect documentation | Re-upload the corrected document to move it back to "Submitted" |
| Approved | Reimbursement approved | Funds will be added to your card, you'll be notified by email |
| Denied | Reimbursement was denied | You get exactly one appeal per denial. See How to Appeal a Denied Step Up Reimbursement for the full walkthrough |
For the full list of specific reasons a reimbursement gets denied and how to avoid them, see our guide: Your Step Up Reimbursement Was Denied — Here's Why (and How to Fix It).
Provider invoice statuses
If you're tracking a payment to a provider (tutor, therapist, or school) rather than a personal reimbursement:
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Invoice submitted, not yet reviewed | No action needed |
| In Process | Being actively reviewed | No action needed |
| Approved | Invoice approved for payment | Wait for payment to process |
| Paid | Payment has been issued to the provider | No action needed |
| Creating Invoice | Provider is still building the invoice | No action needed yet |
| Deleted | Invoice was removed | Contact your provider if this was unexpected |
(Source: Step Up For Students FAQ, "What are the invoicing statuses for a provider's services that I see in EMA and what do they mean?")
The two statuses that actually need your attention
Out of everything above, two statuses are worth remembering because they're the ones where waiting doesn't help:
- "On Hold" (on an application or reimbursement) means Step Up is waiting on you specifically, for a document, a form, or a correction. This status will not resolve itself with time.
- "Denied" means a decision has already been made, and because you only get one appeal, it's worth reviewing exactly why before resubmitting rather than guessing.
Everything else, Submitted, Pending, Approved, Ordering, In Process, simply means "it's in the queue," and checking back periodically is genuinely all there is to do.
The bottom line
Most of the anxiety around EMA statuses comes from not knowing which ones are normal and which ones need action. Now that you know the difference, checking your account should feel a lot less like reading a foreign language.
Once your scholarship is funded and active, browse Florida Education Vendors to find approved Florida providers ready to work with your student right away.
Sources cited in this article: Step Up For Students FAQ.