Florida School Choice Scholarship Eligibility: PEP, FES-UA, and FES-EO
Florida has multiple school choice scholarships running simultaneously, each with different eligibility rules, funding amounts, and restrictions on how you can spend the money. Searching "Florida school choice eligibility" returns a wall of acronyms — FES-UA, FES-EO, PEP, FTC — with no clear guidance on which ones apply to your family.
Here's how to sort through them.
The Four Main Programs
Florida operates four scholarship programs under its school choice framework. Two are relevant for home-educating families; two serve private school tuition.
PEP — Personalized Education Program
Who it's for: Any Florida K–12 student who meets PEP's enrollment rules. Students must leave full-time public or traditional private school to participate; approved hybrid private-school programs and part-time private classes have separate rules. No income ceiling, no disability requirement, no prior public school attendance needed.
What it funds: An Education Savings Account (ESA) averaging $7,600–$8,200 per student annually, usable for curriculum, tutoring, testing, enrichment activities, and online learning platforms. Digital devices and therapy are prohibited.
Key restriction: Accepting PEP requires terminating your home education registration under §1002.41 and submitting to mandatory annual standardized testing.
FES-UA — Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities
Who it's for: Florida residents aged 3–21 with a qualifying disability diagnosis (autism, dyslexia, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and others) documented through a district IEP or a licensed medical professional.
What it funds: An ESA ranging from $9,600 to $39,000+ per student depending on the disability support level (matrix level). Covers everything PEP covers plus therapies (ABA, speech, OT, PT), technology devices, sensory equipment, and Florida Prepaid/ABLE contributions.
Key advantage: Home education students on FES-UA can keep their §1002.41 registration — no forced legal status change.
FES-EO — Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Who it's for: K–12 students applying to attend a participating private school, subject to FES-EO eligibility and priority rules.
What it funds: Private school tuition and fees — paid directly to the school, not deposited in a family-controlled ESA.
Not for homeschoolers: FES-EO pays private school tuition. It does not provide flexible funds for home-directed education.
FTC — Florida Tax Credit Private School Tuition Scholarship
Who it's for: Students attending participating private schools, subject to FTC eligibility and priority rules.
What it funds: Private school tuition.
Not for homeschoolers: Like FES-EO, this is a private school tuition program, not a home education ESA.
Which Scholarships Work for Home Education
If you're directing your child's education at home, the two programs that matter are PEP and FES-UA:
| Factor | PEP | FES-UA |
|---|---|---|
| Disability required | No | Yes |
| Annual award | $7,600–$8,200 | $9,600–$39,000+ |
| Keep §1002.41 status | No | Yes |
| Therapy coverage | No | Yes |
| Digital devices | Prohibited | Allowed (one purchase every two calendar years) |
| Student cap | 140,000 (2026–27) | Growth cap with exemptions |
| Testing | Mandatory norm-referenced | Assessment or physician waiver |
If your child has a qualifying disability, FES-UA is almost always the better option — higher funding, more spending flexibility, and you can maintain your home education registration. For neurotypical students, PEP is the only ESA option.
Families with multiple children can mix programs: a child with autism on FES-UA, siblings on PEP, and the family's home education structure continues for all of them (though PEP children technically operate under a different legal umbrella).
Can You Stack Scholarships?
No. A student can participate in only one state scholarship program at a time. You cannot receive PEP and FES-UA simultaneously for the same child. You also cannot receive any state scholarship while enrolled full-time in a public or charter school.
However, different children in the same household can be on different programs. Before switching programs, contact the SFO to confirm the timing and eligibility requirements for that student's transition.
For the complete program comparison — including application timelines, spending rules, and the decision framework for choosing between PEP and FES-UA — see our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide.
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