Step Up for Students is Florida's largest nonprofit scholarship funding organization, administering education choice scholarships including the Personalized Education Program (PEP) that provides homeschool families approximately $8,000 annually for curriculum, tutoring, and educational services.
What is Step Up for Students?
Step Up for Students is Florida's largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship funding organization, administering approximately 98-99% of all state education choice scholarships. Founded in 2002 through a merger of Florida P.R.I.D.E. and Children First, the organization has awarded over one million scholarships since its inception. Headquartered in Jacksonville and St. Petersburg, Step Up manages several scholarship programs including the Personalized Education Program (PEP) specifically designed for homeschool families, Florida Tax Credit Scholarships for private school tuition, and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities.
Key Takeaways
- Administers Florida's PEP scholarship providing approximately $8,000 annually for homeschool expenses
- Offers MyScholarShop marketplace for direct purchasing without out-of-pocket costs
- Available to all Florida K-12 students regardless of household income since 2023
- Funds cover curriculum, tutoring, educational therapy, online classes, and more
- Application deadline for 2026-27 is April 30, 2026
The PEP Scholarship for Homeschoolers
The Personalized Education Program (PEP) functions as an Education Savings Account designed specifically for families not enrolled full-time in public or private school. Current enrollment exceeds 76,000 students with a program cap of 100,000 for 2025-26. Funds can cover curriculum and instructional materials, part-time tutoring services, educational therapies, live online classes, enrichment programs, and more. Families access funds through MyScholarShop, Step Up's dedicated online marketplace where pre-approved educational materials can be purchased directly without paying out of pocket. Alternatively, parents can purchase from other vendors and submit reimbursement requests.
Scholarship Amounts by Grade Level
Award amounts vary by Florida county and grade level. For the 2025-26 school year, elementary students (K-3) receive between $8,193 and $9,999 depending on their district, while high school students receive slightly less at $7,462 to $9,235. All students benefit from minimum award floors: $6,519 for K-5, $6,815 for grades 6-8, and $7,112 for grades 9-12. Step Up also administers the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities, which provides approximately $10,000 for students with specific diagnoses, with those having higher matrix scores potentially receiving $22,000 to $34,000.
How to Apply
The Bottom Line
Step Up for Students has become the gateway to educational choice for over 500,000 Florida students. For homeschool families, the PEP scholarship offers significant financial support without the out-of-pocket burden common to other state ESA programs. The MyScholarShop marketplace simplifies purchasing, and the broad list of eligible expenses gives families genuine flexibility in customizing their child's education. With universal eligibility now in place, any Florida family considering homeschooling should explore PEP early in their planning process.
