Step Up for Students Field Trip and Theme Park Pass Rules

Florida parents on PEP and FES-UA scholarships keep hearing that theme park annual passes are an approved expense — but the specifics trip people up. Can you really buy a Disney pass with scholarship money? What about a zoo membership for field trips? The rules are more specific than the Facebook groups suggest.

Theme Park Admissions: The $299 Limit

Both PEP and FES-UA allow eligible Florida theme park admission, subject to these constraints:

• One request per student per school year — the request may cover admission to one eligible Florida park; an annual or multi-day pass can include more than one listed park in the same resort family
• Up to $299 reimbursed — this is the reimbursement limit for the student's basic admission, not necessarily the ticket's full price. Family admission packages may be prorated to cover the student's share
• No add-ons — parking, food and beverage packages, photos, souvenirs, premium access, and special-event tickets are not covered
• Educational benefit — FES-UA requests must include a statement of the student's educational benefit. Check the current Step Up guide for its list of eligible Florida parks before purchase

For a payment plan, submit after the pass is paid in full or up to $299 has been paid. Reimbursement is limited to the amount paid at submission, up to the $299 limit.

What Counts as an Approved Field Trip

Field trip expenses approved under both PEP and FES-UA generally include:

• Admission fees to museums, science centers, historical sites, and nature preserves
• Guided educational tours with documented curriculum connection
• Zoo and aquarium visits (single-day admissions or annual memberships under $299)
• State and national park entrance fees for organized educational outings

What gets rejected:

• Restaurant meals during field trips
• Transportation costs (gas, mileage, or public transportation)
• Souvenir purchases
• Family members' admission beyond the student's prorated share
• Water parks, out-of-state theme parks, parks not on the current eligible list, and special-event tickets

The Reimbursement Trap

For field trips and passes purchased outside the SFO marketplace, you'll need to submit a reimbursement claim. This is where most rejections happen:

For theme park passes: Submit proof of purchase and the invoice, with the student's name and the pass type. A single theme park reimbursement request cannot be bundled with other receipts or purchases. If using a payment plan, reimbursement is limited to the amount actually paid at submission, up to $299.

For field trip admissions: Submit an itemized receipt showing the vendor, transaction date, amount paid, detailed item description, and student's name. Keep a brief note about the educational purpose in case the SFO requests supporting information.

For PEP participants: Theme park admissions are handled under the Field Trips category, with a separate one-request-per-student limit and up to $299 reimbursed. They are not automatically part of the 25% P.E. and extracurricular cap.

FES-UA Flexibility

FES-UA participants are also limited to one Florida theme park reimbursement request per student per school year, up to $299. The FES-UA request must include a statement of educational benefit; check the current FES-UA purchasing guide for the documentation needed for other field trips.

For the full approved and prohibited expense breakdown — including how to format receipts for first-time approval — get our Florida FES-UA & PEP Scholarship Parent Guide.

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