AAA Scholarship vs Step Up For Students: Which Florida SFO Should You Choose?

What the Two SFOs Are

Florida's school-choice scholarships — PEP and FES-UA — aren't administered by the state directly. The Florida Department of Education oversees the programs, but two approved nonprofit Scholarship Funding Organizations handle day-to-day operations: eligibility verification, student account management, marketplace purchasing, and reimbursement processing.

Step Up For Students is the primary SFO, handling the majority of PEP, FES-UA, FES-EO, and FTC scholarships statewide. It operates the Education Management Account (EMA) portal.

AAA Scholarship Foundation is the secondary SFO, administering the same programs through its Scholarship Management Platform (SMP).

Both organizations are approved to administer PEP and FES-UA. You can choose either one, but you cannot apply to both for the same child simultaneously.

The Capacity Reality

For the 2026–27 school year, Step Up For Students reached its new-student PEP capacity. New PEP applicants were directed to AAA Scholarship Foundation, which maintained remaining capacity.

This isn't a permanent arrangement — capacity resets and shifts year to year. But it means your SFO choice might be made for you if you're applying as a new PEP student and one SFO is already full.

FES-UA capacity is separate from PEP capacity. Both SFOs may still have FES-UA slots even when PEP is full.

Portal and Processing Differences

Step Up For Students (EMA portal):

• Larger operation with more staff and vendor partnerships
• Integrates marketplace ordering with reimbursement workflows
• Uses automated cross-check systems (the Odyssey eligibility engine) to verify state enrollment status
• Check each SFO's current marketplace and provider directory for the products or services you need
• Historically longer processing times during peak periods due to higher volume

AAA Scholarship Foundation (SMP portal):

• Smaller operation with a different support structure
• Manages SLP verification, marketplace access, and reimbursement processing through SMP
• Has been absorbing Step Up For Students overflow for new PEP applicants
• Parent support at (888) 707-2465

Both platforms process the same statutory scholarship under the same legal rules. A PEP dollar from Step Up is identical to a PEP dollar from AAA — same spending categories, same caps, same deadlines.

How to Choose

If you're a new PEP applicant, check whether Step Up For Students is accepting new students for the current year. If it's at capacity, AAA Scholarship Foundation is your path. Contact both SFOs early in the February–April application window to confirm availability.

If you're renewing, renewal applications receive first priority. For 2026–27, Step Up For Students listed renewals first, then new applicants at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level or in foster or out-of-home care, followed by new applicants above 185% through 400%, then higher-income or no-income-information applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding.

If you're applying for FES-UA, both SFOs should have capacity since FES-UA has a separate enrollment structure. Choose based on which portal and support model you prefer, or which has more direct-pay providers in your area for therapies and services.

If you value marketplace vendor selection, compare the current product and provider listings in each SFO's portal for the items or services your family needs.

If you want to transfer a funded scholarship to another SFO, first apply to the new SFO and receive eligibility confirmation, then ask your current SFO to transfer the scholarship. Scholarship funds do not transfer between SFOs.

Our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide covers both SFO portals with step-by-step application walkthroughs, so you can navigate whichever platform you end up using.

See more Florida guides →