PEP Scholarship Amount: How Much Does Florida Pay Per Student

The most common question from families considering PEP: how much money will my child actually receive? The answer depends on your school district, and the numbers change each year based on the Florida Legislature's education funding formula.

PEP Award Amounts for 2026–27

PEP scholarships represent 100% of the unweighted per-student state funding allocation (the FEFP base allocation) plus categorical funds. Because Florida's education funding formula assigns slightly different per-student amounts to each of the 67 school districts, your PEP award varies based on where you live.

For the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years, the statewide average PEP award ranges from $7,600 to $8,200 per student. Some higher-cost districts (Monroe County, Collier County) produce awards toward the upper end; lower-cost districts may come in slightly below.

This is per student, per year. A family with three children on PEP receives approximately $22,800–$24,600 annually in combined ESA funds.

How the Amount Is Calculated

The FEFP (Florida Education Finance Program) is the state's formula for distributing education funding. Each year, the Legislature sets the base student allocation, and each school district receives adjustments based on local FEFP cost factors.

For PEP, the calculation is:

Base FEFP per-student allocation × District cost adjustment + Categorical supplements = PEP award

You don't need to run this calculation yourself. Your SFO (Step Up For Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation) determines your exact award amount after your application is approved and your county of residence is verified.

When and How Funds Arrive

PEP awards are disbursed across four quarterly payments:

Each quarterly payment is approximately one-quarter of the annual award — roughly $1,900–$2,050 per quarter for a typical PEP student. Funds post directly to the student's ESA account in the SFO portal. You can then use them through the marketplace or submit out-of-pocket reimbursement claims.

Students who join mid-year receive prorated funding based on remaining quarters. A student awarded in January receives payments for Q3 and Q4 — about half the annual amount.

PEP vs. FES-UA: The Funding Gap

If your child has a qualifying disability, the funding difference between PEP and FES-UA is substantial:

A child with autism, dyslexia, or another qualifying diagnosis who receives FES-UA Level 4 funding gets nearly three times the PEP amount. For families navigating both options, the funding gap alone often makes the decision clear.

What Affects Your Amount Year to Year

Two factors can change your PEP award from one year to the next:

Legislative funding changes. The Florida Legislature adjusts the base student allocation annually through the General Appropriations Act. Some years the increase is minimal; others bring meaningful bumps. You'll see your updated amount in the SFO portal after renewal is processed.

County of residence. If your family moves from one Florida county to another, your award adjusts to reflect the new district's cost factor. Moving from a lower-cost district to a higher-cost one (Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Monroe) increases your award; moving in the other direction decreases it.

For the complete funding breakdown by district — including FES-UA matrix level amounts for specific counties — see our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide.

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