MyScholarShop and Step Up for Students Vendor Marketplace Guide

Parents on PEP and FES-UA spend hours navigating out-of-pocket reimbursements when many of the same purchases could be made directly through the SFO marketplace — no personal money out of pocket, no 30-to-60-day reimbursement wait. The catch is knowing what's actually available in the marketplace and how direct purchasing works differently from reimbursement.

What MyScholarShop Is

MyScholarShop is the vendor marketplace integrated into Step Up For Students' Education Management Account (EMA) portal. It's an e-commerce platform where approved vendors list products and services that can be purchased directly with scholarship funds — the purchase amount is deducted from the student's ESA account at checkout without the parent paying out of pocket.

AAA Scholarship Foundation has a similar vendor marketplace built into its Scholarship Management Platform (SMP).

Why Direct Purchases Beat Reimbursements

When you buy through the marketplace, three things happen that don't happen with reimbursements:

1. No out-of-pocket spending. Funds deduct directly from the ESA account. You don't float money on a credit card for weeks.
2. No reimbursement claim. Marketplace orders use the portal's direct-purchase workflow, so you avoid submitting the separate receipt packet used for purchases made outside the marketplace.
3. Fewer reimbursement steps. Marketplace listings are available for direct purchasing, but purchases still need to follow the program's rules and remain subject to SFO oversight.

The biggest practical benefit: marketplace purchases avoid the reimbursement review process. Some parents report reimbursement waits of 30–60 days, though processing times vary.

What You Can Find in the Marketplace

Vendor marketplaces typically include:

• Curriculum sets and workbooks — major publishers like Time4Learning, Abeka, Saxon, and Sonlight list products directly
• Online learning platforms — subscriptions and course access fees from approved educational technology providers
• Tutoring services — approved tutors and tutoring companies registered with the SFO
• Testing services — norm-referenced testing providers for PEP annual assessment compliance
• Class enrollments — co-op classes, enrichment programs, and part-time instruction from approved providers
• Educational supplies — art supplies, science lab materials, and physical education equipment from registered vendors

Not all approved PEP and FES-UA expenses are available through the marketplace. Smaller local providers, individual therapists (for FES-UA), and niche curriculum publishers may not be listed. For those purchases, you'll still need to pay out of pocket and submit a reimbursement.

How to Search and Buy

In the EMA portal, navigate to the marketplace section. You can:

• Browse by spending category (curriculum, tutoring, testing, enrichment)
• Search for a specific vendor by name
• Filter by grade level or subject area
• Compare pricing across vendors for similar products

At checkout, the portal shows your available balance and the spending category the purchase will draw from. For PEP participants, if the item falls under the extracurricular/PE category, your remaining 25% cap allowance is displayed so you can see if the purchase fits within your limit.

Direct Pay Providers (FES-UA)

FES-UA families using therapy services (ABA, speech, occupational therapy) can set up direct-pay arrangements with approved providers. Instead of paying the therapist out of pocket and submitting reimbursements, the provider bills the SFO directly and funds are deducted from the student's account per session.

Setting up direct pay requires the provider to register with the SFO and meet the applicable provider requirements. Tutors and direct instructional service providers are subject to Level 2 background screening; confirm screening rules for a therapy provider with the SFO. The provider bills the SFO for eligible services.

This is the recommended approach for recurring therapy expenses. A family spending $2,000–$4,000 per quarter on ABA therapy sessions would otherwise need to submit dozens of individual reimbursement claims — each requiring a separate receipt with the student's name, service dates, and provider credentials.

Becoming a Marketplace Vendor

If you run a tutoring business, co-op, or educational service in Florida and want to accept scholarship funds, contact the SFO about vendor registration. Vendors must meet applicable statutory credentialing and screening requirements before their products or services are listed. Ask the SFO about current registration costs and processing times.

For the complete marketplace navigation walkthrough — including how to verify a provider's approval status before purchasing outside the marketplace — see our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide.

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