Florida ESA and scholarship programs

Education savings account and scholarship programs in Florida: who runs them, the key figures for this school year, the next dates, recent changes and step-by-step guides.

Programs

  • Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options

    Short name
    FES-EO
    Administrator
    Step Up For Students; AAA Scholarship Foundation
    Payment platform (Step Up For Students)
    EMA and MyScholarShop
    Applications
    open

    Official program page

  • Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities

    Short name
    FES-UA
    Administrator
    Step Up For Students; AAA Scholarship Foundation
    Payment platform (Step Up For Students)
    EMA and MyScholarShop
    Applications
    open

    Official program page

  • Personalized Education Program

    Short name
    PEP
    Administrator
    Step Up For Students
    Payment platform (Step Up For Students)
    EMA and MyScholarShop
    Applications
    closed

    Official program page

Key facts

Key facts for Florida programs
Value and source
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Optionsamount2026–27$8,000 on average (The amount varies by county of residence and grade band.)[source] Checked
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilitiesamount2026–27about $10,000 on average (Funding is based on grade level, county of residence and matrix level of special education services.)[source] Checked
Personalized Education Programeligibility2026–27up to 140,000 students[source] Checked
Personalized Education Programstatus2026–27Applications closed; deadline was April 30, 2026[source] Checked
Personalized Education ProgramFunding date (Step Up For Students families), renewal students2026–27August 1, 2026, November 1, 2026, February 1, 2027, April 1, 2027 (It may take two weeks after each date for the funds to be deposited.)[source] Checked
Personalized Education ProgramFunding date (Step Up For Students families), new students2026–27September 1, 2026, November 1, 2026, February 1, 2027, April 1, 2027 (It may take two weeks after each date for the funds to be deposited.)[source] Checked
Personalized Education ProgramAttestation deadline2026–27Attestation in EMA by November 15, February 15 and April 15 (Table rows "Quarter 2 | November 15", "Quarter 3 | February 15", "Quarter 4 | April 15". Quarter 1 has passed. Applies to Step Up For Students PEP families.)[source] Checked
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique AbilitiesFunding date (Step Up For Students families), renewal students2026–27August 1, 2026, November 1, 2026, February 1, 2027, April 1, 2027 (Once Step Up For Students receives the funds from the state of Florida, it can take up to two weeks to place them in your child's account.)[source] Checked
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique AbilitiesFunding date (Step Up For Students families), new students2026–27September 1, 2026, November 1, 2026, February 1, 2027, April 1, 2027 (Once Step Up For Students receives the funds from the state of Florida, it can take up to two weeks to place them in your child's account.)[source] Checked
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Optionsamount2026–27$7,463 to $12,217, by county of residence and grade band (Amount depends on the student's county of residence (as listed on the 2026–27 scholarship application) and grade band. Amounts are established annually by the Florida Legislature in the state budget.)[source] Checked

How this table is compiled: sources and methodology.

Families whose scholarship is with AAA Scholarship Foundation follow AAA's payment schedule.

Next dates

  • November 1, 2026 — Personalized Education Program: PEP funding date (Step Up For Students) (Payment)
  • November 15, 2026 — Personalized Education Program: PEP attestation due in EMA (Quarter 2) (Window closes)
  • February 1, 2027 — Personalized Education Program: PEP funding date (Step Up For Students) (Payment)

Full Florida calendar · Subscribe (.ics)

Recent changes

Rule and handbook changes, newest first
DateProgramWhat changedSource
Personalized Education ProgramNew-student applications for 2026–27 closed; the deadline was April 30, 2026.Source Checked

Full Florida change log

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