FES-UA Scholarship Amount: Matrix Level Funding by County and Grade
How FES-UA Funding Is Calculated
FES-UA awards aren't a flat dollar amount. They're calculated from the Florida Education Finance Program formula using exceptional student education cost factors — known as matrix support levels 251 through 255. A district assigns a specific matrix level through an IEP evaluation; students qualifying through a medical diagnosis without a matrix level receive the Levels 1–3 amount.
The formula factors in three variables: the student's support level, their grade band (K–3, 4–8, or 9–12), and their county's district cost differential. This means a student with the same diagnosis can receive materially different funding depending on where they live in Florida.
Support Levels Explained
Levels 1–3 (Cost Factors 251–253): This is the base tier. Students who qualify through a medical diagnosis alone — without a district matrix evaluation on file — default to this range. Awards typically fall between $9,600 and $10,500 for most counties, reaching higher in districts with elevated cost differentials like Collier ($12,860 for K–3) and Monroe ($14,381 for K–3).
Level 4 (Cost Factor 254): The high-support tier. In the 2026–27 county sample below, funding ranges from $21,461 in Alachua County to $25,701 in Monroe County. A Level 4 student in Palm Beach County receives approximately $22,439. The jump from Level 3 to Level 4 roughly doubles the award.
Level 5 (Cost Factor 255): The highest-support tier for students with intensive needs. In the 2026–27 county sample below, funding ranges from $34,511 in Alachua County to $39,091 in Monroe County — more than four times what a Level 1–3 student receives in some districts.
Funding by County (2026–27 Representative Sampling)
| County | Levels 1–3 (K–3) | Levels 1–3 (4–8) | Levels 1–3 (9–12) | Level 4 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua | $10,484 | $9,900 | $9,709 | $21,461 | $34,511 |
| Broward | $10,658 | $10,060 | $9,865 | $21,941 | $35,295 |
| Collier | $12,860 | $12,251 | $12,051 | $23,882 | $37,493 |
| Duval | $10,573 | $9,985 | $9,793 | $21,649 | $34,797 |
| Hillsborough | $10,593 | $10,001 | $9,808 | $21,739 | $34,958 |
| Miami-Dade | $10,909 | $10,304 | $10,106 | $22,361 | $35,884 |
| Monroe | $14,381 | $13,781 | $13,585 | $25,701 | $39,091 |
| Orange | $10,584 | $9,995 | $9,803 | $21,655 | $34,799 |
| Palm Beach | $11,054 | $10,452 | $10,255 | $22,439 | $35,893 |
| Pinellas | $10,807 | $10,223 | $10,032 | $21,788 | $34,842 |
K–3 students consistently receive the highest base amount within their support level because the FEFP formula weights younger grade bands higher.
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Medical Diagnosis vs. District Matrix Evaluation
If your child qualifies for FES-UA through a medical diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist — without a separate district matrix evaluation — they default to Support Levels 1–3. This is the fastest path to funding, but it also means the lowest tier.
A district matrix evaluation assigns a specific support level based on the student's documented needs across multiple service categories. Students with complex or intensive support requirements can be evaluated into Level 4 or Level 5, where the funding difference is dramatic — potentially $20,000 or more per year compared to the base tier.
For families where the difference between $10,000 and $35,000 in annual funding matters, requesting a district matrix evaluation is worth the administrative effort. The evaluation doesn't change eligibility — it changes the funding tier.
Rollover Caps
FES-UA accounts can accumulate up to $50,000 in unspent balance before the state pauses quarterly funding transfers. This cap is higher than PEP's $24,000 limit, reflecting the higher per-student awards and the costlier therapies FES-UA covers.
Accounts are closed and remaining funds revert to the state after two consecutive fiscal years (July 1 through June 30) with no spending activity.
Our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide breaks down the complete funding formula, explains how to read a matrix evaluation, and walks through the approved expense categories that differ between support levels.
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