How to Get Paid to Homeschool in Florida: PEP and FES-UA Explained

Florida is one of the most generous states in the country for families who educate their children outside the traditional public school system. Through two Education Savings Account programs — PEP and FES-UA — families can receive $7,600 to over $39,000 per student per year in state-funded scholarship dollars. The money is real, it's available now, and getting it is a straightforward (if bureaucratic) process.

But "getting paid to homeschool" isn't quite accurate, and the distinction matters.

What You Actually Receive

You don't receive a paycheck. Florida deposits funds into your child's Education Savings Account, managed through a Scholarship Funding Organization — either Step Up For Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation. You use those funds exclusively for approved educational expenses: curriculum, tutoring, testing, online learning platforms, and (for FES-UA) therapies and technology.

The money cannot be withdrawn as cash, used for household expenses, or spent on anything outside the approved categories. It's funding for your child's education, not income.

The Two Programs

PEP — For Any Florida Family

The Personalized Education Program is open to any Florida K–12 student who meets its 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 cutoff. No disability requirement. No prior public school attendance needed.

Average award: $7,600–$8,200 per student per year.

The tradeoff: PEP participants must leave traditional home education status. You'll file a Letter of Termination with your county, submit an annual Student Learning Plan, and your child takes mandatory standardized testing each year. You're no longer a registered home educator under §1002.41 — you're a private education choice participant under §1002.395.

FES-UA — For Students with Disabilities

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities serves students aged 3–21 with qualifying diagnoses including autism, dyslexia, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and others.

Awards range from $9,600 to $39,000+ depending on the student's disability support level (matrix level) and county of residence. The highest-need students receive the largest awards.

The advantage over PEP: FES-UA covers therapy (ABA, speech, OT), allows technology purchases, contributes to Florida Prepaid/ABLE accounts, and — critically — lets you keep your §1002.41 home education registration.

How to Apply

1. Choose your SFO — Step Up For Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation. Both administer PEP and FES-UA.
2. Create a household account on the SFO's digital portal (EMA for Step Up, SMP for AAA).
3. Upload documentation — proof of Florida residency, student's birth certificate, and (for FES-UA) a district IEP or Medical Diagnosis Form from a licensed professional.
4. Submit during the application window — February 1 to April 30 for priority processing, with a final deadline of May 31 for the fall.
5. Accept the award when notified and complete remaining requirements (Student Learning Plan for PEP, documentation verification for FES-UA).
6. Withdraw from public school if applicable — withdrawal must be verified in the portal by July 31 for Q1 funding.

Funds are disbursed quarterly: September 1, November 1, February 1, and April 1.

What You Can Spend It On

What This Isn't

Some blogs frame these scholarships as "getting paid" — as if the state writes you a check for choosing to homeschool. That's misleading. The funds are earmarked for educational purchases, tracked through an SFO portal, subject to audit, and restricted to approved categories. You don't get paid. Your child's education gets funded.

And for PEP participants, "homeschool" is technically a misnomer. PEP students are legally classified as private education choice participants, not home educators. The distinction affects your legal protections, your relationship with the school district, and which advocacy organizations will represent you.

For the complete program comparison, spending strategies, and a step-by-step application walkthrough, see our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide.

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