Updates · Application status

How to Check Your Florida Scholarship Application Status

Updated July 5, 2026 · Verified against stepupforstudents.org · Independent guide

Once you've applied for a Step Up For Students scholarship (FTC, FES-EO, PEP or FES-UA), the fastest way to see where it stands is to log in to your account and read the status on your dashboard. Here's exactly where to look and what each stage means.

Where to log in

Applications are managed in the EMA portal (Education Market Assistant). You log in at apply.stepupforstudents.org — or go to stepupforstudents.org and use the Apply/Login menu at the top of the page. On your EMA Dashboard you'll see each student's application and its current status.

Forgot your login? Use the Forgot Username and Forgot Password links on the EMA sign-in screen. Only the Primary Parent on the account can request a multi-factor (MFA) reset.

What each application stage means

Step Up For Students uses these EMA statuses. Your application generally moves through them in order:

Status	What it means
Draft	Started but not yet submitted — you still need to finish and submit it.
Submitted	Sent in successfully, waiting to be picked up for review.
Pending Review	Under review by Step Up For Students.
On Hold	They need more information from you — check your email and dashboard for the request.
Complete	Review is finished and the application has been processed.
Funded	The scholarship money has been placed in your account.
Denied	The student was not deemed eligible for this scholarship.

In plain terms, the journey is: submitted → under review → approved (Complete) → award accepted → funded. The exact labels you see are the ones in the table above.

Timelines and quarterly funding

Reviews take time, especially right after a season opens, and Step Up asks families to allow up to 48 hours for a reply when they contact support. Scholarship dollars are released to accounts on a quarterly schedule during the school year (roughly one deposit per quarter), not all at once — so a "Complete" application may still show funds arriving in stages. Exact deposit dates are posted each year in your EMA account and on the Step Up website; always confirm the current dates there rather than relying on last year's.

If it's stuck — or says ineligible

On Hold: upload whatever document they ask for as soon as possible. Missing paperwork is the most common reason an application stalls.
No movement for a while: re-check the email tied to your account (including spam), then call support.
Denied / ineligible: the notice usually explains why. If you think it's an error or your situation changed, contact Step Up to ask about your options — and consider whether a different program fits. Our guide on FES-UA vs PEP vs FTC can help you spot the right one.

The official support line

Reach Step Up For Students at 1‑877‑735‑7837, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, or by email at [email protected]. That's the number to use for status questions, holds, and login help.

Scam-safety: You never pay a fee to check your status or "speed up" an application. Step Up For Students will never ask for your account password or banking details by phone, text, or email, and using third-party services to log in to your account violates their user agreement. Only use the official apply.stepupforstudents.org portal and the phone number above.

New to the money side of your account? Read EMA account: first steps, or see how much the Florida scholarship is worth this year.

More free guides for families

Sources: "Apply For A PreK-12 Scholarship Today" and the EMA login portal (apply.stepupforstudents.org); "Contact Us" and FAQ pages, Step Up For Students (stepupforstudents.org). Application status labels and the support line (1-877-735-7837, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET) verified July 5, 2026. Independent guide — always confirm current details on the official site.