Florida ESA Guide for Homeschool Families

Program Overview

Program: Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES)

Florida has one of the most expansive school choice programs in the country. The Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) is now available to all Florida students regardless of income, making it one of the most accessible ESA programs nationwide. Here is what homeschool families need to know.

• Any Florida resident student ages 5-18 (universal eligibility since 2023)
• Student must not be enrolled in a public school
• Student must be a Florida resident for the current school year
• No income cap for the universal track

Here is what you can use Florida ESA or scholarship funds for:

• Private school tuition and fees
• Textbooks and instructional materials
• Curriculum programs and online courses
• Tutoring services from approved providers
• Educational therapy services
• Standardized testing fees
• Part-time college tuition for eligible high school students
• Transportation to approved educational providers (up to a cap)

1. Visit the Step Up for Students website (stepupforstudents.org)
2. Create a parent account and complete the online application
3. Submit proof of Florida residency and student identification
4. Select your Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO)
5. Once approved, funds are loaded onto a ClassWallet spending account
6. Submit receipts for approved purchases through the ClassWallet portal

Key Dates: Applications open year-round. Most families apply before the school year begins in August. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks.

Students receiving FES funds must take an annual nationally norm-referenced assessment. Results are reported to the state but do not affect continued eligibility.

• Apply early in the spring before the school year starts for smoother processing
• Keep all receipts organized digitally. ClassWallet requires documentation for every purchase
• Curriculum purchases from major providers like Khan Academy, IXL, and Outschool are generally approved
• AI tools like ChatGPT Plus subscriptions may qualify as instructional materials. Document how you use them in your curriculum