Updates · Choosing a program
FES-UA vs PEP vs FTC: Which Florida Scholarship Fits?
Florida runs several K-12 choice scholarships, and the names blur together fast. Here's the plain-English breakdown of the three families ask about most — FTC/FES-EO, PEP, and FES-UA — so you can see which one is built for your child.
At a glance
| Program | Best for | Rough award |
|---|---|---|
| FTC / FES-EO | Private school tuition | ~$8,000 avg |
| PEP | Homeschool-style ESA | ~$8,000 (same table) |
| FES-UA | Students with disabilities | ~$10,000 avg (higher-need can be far more) |
FTC & FES-EO — private school tuition
Who it's for: Families who want to send their child to a participating private school. The Florida Tax Credit (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Opportunity (FES-EO) are the two private-school scholarships, and they use the same award table.
Eligibility: The student must be a Florida resident eligible to enroll in K-12 public school. Since 2023, these are open regardless of household income, with priority given first to renewals, then to families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (or in foster/out-of-home care), then to families up to 400%.
What it funds: Primarily private-school tuition and fees. Leftover funds can be used through an education savings account for approved items like instructional materials and testing.
Award: Step Up describes the average as about $8,000; the exact figure depends on your county and grade. See how much the Florida scholarship is worth for the full range.
Administered by: Step Up For Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation.
PEP — the homeschool-style ESA
Who it's for: Families who want to direct their child's education themselves rather than enroll full-time in a private school — a homeschool-style path. PEP (Personalized Education Program) was created in 2023 as an option under the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and is governed by Florida statute s.1002.395.
Eligibility: The student must be a Florida resident eligible to enroll in K-12 public school and not enrolled full-time in a public or private school. Same income-priority order as FTC/FES-EO. The program is capped by law — 140,000 students for 2026-27 — so it can fill up.
What it funds: A flexible education savings account for curriculum, tutoring, approved services and more. PEP largely works as a reimbursement program — you pay, then submit for reimbursement. Parents also commit to annual steps: a Student Learning Plan, a state-approved norm-referenced test, and a sworn compliance statement.
Award: Uses the same amount table as FTC/FES-EO (about $8,000 average).
Administered by: Step Up For Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation.
Deciding between private school and PEP? Our FTC vs PEP in two minutes guide walks through it.
FES-UA — the scholarship for students with disabilities
Who it's for: This is the one built for children with a documented disability. FES-UA (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities) is governed by statute s.1002.394 and is an education savings account, so families can mix private school, therapies and other supports.
Eligibility: Students from age 3 through grade 12 (or age 22, whichever comes first) who are Florida residents and have a qualifying diagnosis from an approved list — which includes autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, hearing or visual impairment, traumatic brain injury and more. The diagnosis must be documented by a licensed physician, a physician assistant or APRN authorized to certify, or a licensed psychologist. (A public-school IEP or 504 documenting a qualifying condition is often part of how families establish eligibility, but the program is built around that qualifying diagnosis.)
What it funds: A broad ESA — private school tuition and fees, therapies and specialized services (such as ABA, speech-language, occupational and physical therapy), tutoring, curriculum, a 529 college savings account, and other pre-approved products and services.
Award: On average about $10,000, varying by grade, county and level of need. Students with the highest need (a matrix score of 254 or 255) may qualify for significantly more — Step Up notes averages between $22,000 and $34,000 for those students. That's why FES-UA is typically the largest of the three awards.
Administered by: Step Up For Students.
How to choose
- Child has a qualifying disability/diagnosis? Start with FES-UA — it usually funds the most and covers therapies, not just tuition.
- Enrolling in a private school (no disability angle)? FTC or FES-EO.
- Directing the education yourself, homeschool-style? PEP.
Whichever you pick, you'll manage it through your EMA account — see EMA account: first steps — and you can check your application status once you apply.
More free guides for families
Sources: "Unique Abilities Scholarship" and "Florida Private School Scholarships" program pages and FES-UA award FAQ, Step Up For Students (stepupforstudents.org); Florida Statutes s.1002.394 (FES-UA) and s.1002.395 (FTC/PEP), flsenate.gov; AAA Scholarship Foundation (aaascholarships.org). Eligibility, funding uses and award figures verified July 5, 2026. Independent guide — always confirm current details on the official program pages before you apply.