Florida FES / PEP calculator for 2026-27

How FES / PEP amounts work in 2026-27

• Private school, pre-K, with an IEP: Check with the program. Unique Abilities covers children from age 3, but we couldn't confirm the pre-K amount in Step Up's 2026-27 table. Check your award notice.
• Private school, pre-K, without an IEP: Not covered. The Private School Scholarship starts at kindergarten (age 5 by Sep 1). A child age 3 or 4 with a disability can use the Unique Abilities Scholarship for private pre-K instead.
• Private school, grades K-3, with an IEP: $10,402 to $14,381 per child. Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) at a private school, for students with an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis. The exact amount depends on the county you live in, as listed on your application. This is the range for most students (matrix levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis). If your school district has given your child a level 4 matrix, it is $21,379 to $25,701, and for level 5 it is $34,429 to $39,091.
• Private school, grades 4-8, with an IEP: $9,818 to $13,781 per child.
• Private school, grades 9-12, with an IEP: $9,627 to $13,585 per child.
• Private school, grades K-3, without an IEP: $8,238 to $12,217 per child. Private School Scholarship (FES-EO or FTC), open to any family income. The exact amount depends on the county you live in, as listed on your application.
• Private school, grades 4-8, without an IEP: $7,654 to $11,617 per child.
• Private school, grades 9-12, without an IEP: $7,463 to $11,421 per child.
• Homeschool, pre-K, with an IEP: Check with the program. Unique Abilities covers children from age 3, but we couldn't confirm the pre-K amount in Step Up's 2026-27 table. Check your award notice.
• Homeschool, pre-K, without an IEP: Not covered. PEP starts at kindergarten: your child must be 5 by Sep 1. A child age 3 or 4 with a disability can use the Unique Abilities Scholarship instead.
• Homeschool, grades K-3, with an IEP: $10,402 to $14,381 per child. Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) for home education (your homeschool stays registered with your school district), for students with an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis. The exact amount depends on the county you live in, as listed on your application. This is the range for most students (matrix levels 1 to 3, or a qualifying diagnosis). If your school district has given your child a level 4 matrix, it is $21,379 to $25,701, and for level 5 it is $34,429 to $39,091.
• Homeschool, grades 4-8, with an IEP: $9,818 to $13,781 per child.
• Homeschool, grades 9-12, with an IEP: $9,627 to $13,585 per child.
• Homeschool, grades K-3, without an IEP: $8,238 to $12,217 per child. Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship for students taught at home who are not registered as a district homeschool. The exact amount depends on the county you live in, as listed on your application.
• Homeschool, grades 4-8, without an IEP: $7,654 to $11,617 per child.
• Homeschool, grades 9-12, without an IEP: $7,463 to $11,421 per child.

When the money arrives

• Private school, and homeschool with an IEP: Your award is paid in four quarterly deposits. Step Up doesn't publish how the award is split for this program. Step Up receives each payment from the state on the date shown, and it can take up to two weeks more to reach your child's account. Renewing students get the first payment in August, new students in September. Deposits stop while the balance is over $24,000 (Private School and PEP) or $50,000 (Unique Abilities). 1st: Aug 1, 2026 (renewing) or Sep 1, 2026 (new), plus up to 2 weeks; 2nd: Nov 1, 2026, plus up to 2 weeks; 3rd: Feb 1, 2027, plus up to 2 weeks; 4th: Apr 1, 2027, plus up to 2 weeks.
• Homeschool: Your award is paid in four equal quarterly deposits. Step Up receives each payment from the state on the date shown, and it can take up to two weeks more to reach your child's account. Renewing students get the first payment in August, new students in September. Deposits stop while the balance is over $24,000 (Private School and PEP) or $50,000 (Unique Abilities). 1st (25%): Aug 1, 2026 (renewing) or Sep 1, 2026 (new), plus up to 2 weeks; 2nd (25%): Nov 1, 2026, plus up to 2 weeks; 3rd (25%): Feb 1, 2027, plus up to 2 weeks; 4th (25%): Apr 1, 2027, plus up to 2 weeks.

Good to know

• Only the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) covers children age 3 and 4 with a disability. The Private School Scholarship and PEP start at kindergarten.
• Florida has three account programs run by Step Up For Students. Private school with no IEP uses the Private School Scholarship (FES-EO or FTC). An IEP or qualifying diagnosis uses the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) at a private school or a registered home education program. Home education without an IEP uses PEP.
• Amounts are set each year by the Legislature and depend on your county and your child's grade. For Unique Abilities, the matrix level your school district assigns can raise the amount a lot.
• PEP students are not registered as a district homeschool. If your child is registered as a homeschool with your school district, you must end that registration to use PEP. Unique Abilities works with a registered homeschool.
• PEP has a yearly enrollment cap (100,000 in 2025-26, allowed to grow by 40,000 a year), a Student Learning Plan due May 31 and a yearly norm-referenced test.
• Applications for 2026-27 PEP closed Apr 30, 2026, with limited late exceptions through Apr 15, 2027. New Private School and Unique Abilities applications are open through Nov 15, 2026. Funding is not guaranteed.
• Private School Scholarships go first to renewing students, then to families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, then 185% to 400%. Unique Abilities also has a yearly cap.
• Spend 2026-27 money between Jul 1, 2026 and Jun 30, 2027. Reimbursement requests are due by Jul 31, 2027 and can take up to 60 days.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Official program site: stepupforstudents.org. Your award notice is final.

Keeping receipts? The Florida PEP Scholarship Tracker logs every purchase against your deposits and shows what's left, in Google Sheets or Excel.