Florida PEP for homeschool families

Education savings account · Florida · 2026-27 · checked Oct 12, 2026 against 5 sources · General information, not legal or financial advice.

Your Florida PEP to-do

Enroll in the program's own category
PEP is for students not enrolled full time in a public or private school, but a PEP student is registered with Step Up For Students, not with the school district as a home education student. No letter of intent is filed; a child already in a home education program must end that status with the district once the PEP scholarship is confirmed.
Apply or renew for 2026-27
February 1 to April 30, 2026, for renewal and new students (closed). Students with a deadline exception (dependents of active-duty military, foster or out-of-home care) may apply until April 15, 2027.
Accept or decline the 2026-27 scholarship in EMA
By May 31, 2026, for renewal and new students.
Submit the 2026-27 Student Learning Plan in EMA
By May 31, 2026; a first plan submitted later means no funding for the year.
Upload the prior-year test results (renewal students)
2025-26 results by May 31, 2026, to be funded in 2026-27.
Public school attestation (only students funded for Quarter 1 in September)
By September 15, 2026. If the answer is "yes", proof of withdrawal from public school on or before July 31, 2026 is needed.
Pre-authorization requests for 2026-27
By May 28, 2027.
Buy items and services with 2026-27 funds
Between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027 (some tuition and curriculum may be bought earlier and claimed in the year).
Submit 2026-27 reimbursement requests
By July 31, 2027. Reviews can take up to 60 days after all documents are in.
Apply for 2027-28
Dates not yet published (the 2026-27 season ran February 1 to April 30, 2026). Step Up offers an email sign-up for the 2027-28 opening.

Print the receipt checklist

What a valid Florida PEP receipt shows, and a log to fill in.

What Florida PEP says

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship - Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP), run by Step Up For Students (scholarship funding organization).

Homeschoolers

Only by enrolling in the program's own category
PEP is for students not enrolled full time in a public or private school, but a PEP student is registered with Step Up For Students, not with the school district as a home education student. No letter of intent is filed; a child already in a home education program must end that status with the district once the PEP scholarship is confirmed.

Amount

$7,463–$12,217 a year, depending on the county, grade and need.

See all 201 amounts

Who	Grades	Per year
Alachua County	K-3	$8,320
Alachua County	4-8	$7,736
Alachua County	9-12	$7,545
Baker County	K-3	$8,954
Baker County	4-8	$8,349
Baker County	9-12	$8,150
Bay County	K-3	$8,407
Bay County	4-8	$7,823
Bay County	9-12	$7,632
Bradford County	K-3	$9,047
Bradford County	4-8	$8,442
Bradford County	9-12	$8,243
Brevard County	K-3	$8,375
Brevard County	4-8	$7,791
Brevard County	9-12	$7,600
Broward County	K-3	$8,494
Broward County	4-8	$7,896
Broward County	9-12	$7,701
Calhoun County	K-3	$9,293
Calhoun County	4-8	$8,688
Calhoun County	9-12	$8,489
Charlotte County	K-3	$8,807
Charlotte County	4-8	$8,223
Charlotte County	9-12	$8,032
Citrus County	K-3	$8,299
Citrus County	4-8	$7,715
Citrus County	9-12	$7,524
Clay County	K-3	$8,330
Clay County	4-8	$7,746
Clay County	9-12	$7,555
Collier County	K-3	$10,176
Collier County	4-8	$9,567
Collier County	9-12	$9,367
Columbia County	K-3	$8,610
Columbia County	4-8	$8,005
Columbia County	9-12	$7,806
Dade County (Miami-Dade)	K-3	$8,745
Dade County (Miami-Dade)	4-8	$8,140
Dade County (Miami-Dade)	9-12	$7,942
De Soto County	K-3	$8,924
De Soto County	4-8	$8,319
De Soto County	9-12	$8,120
Dixie County	K-3	$9,031
Dixie County	4-8	$8,426
Dixie County	9-12	$8,227
Duval County	K-3	$8,409
Duval County	4-8	$7,821
Duval County	9-12	$7,629
Escambia County	K-3	$8,402
Escambia County	4-8	$7,818
Escambia County	9-12	$7,627
Flagler County	K-3	$8,252
Flagler County	4-8	$7,668
Flagler County	9-12	$7,477
Franklin County	K-3	$10,228
Franklin County	4-8	$9,623
Franklin County	9-12	$9,424
Gadsden County	K-3	$8,872
Gadsden County	4-8	$8,267
Gadsden County	9-12	$8,068
Gilchrist County	K-3	$9,267
Gilchrist County	4-8	$8,662
Gilchrist County	9-12	$8,463
Glades County	K-3	$9,559
Glades County	4-8	$8,954
Glades County	9-12	$8,755
Gulf County	K-3	$9,973
Gulf County	4-8	$9,368
Gulf County	9-12	$9,169
Hamilton County	K-3	$9,258
Hamilton County	4-8	$8,653
Hamilton County	9-12	$8,454
Hardee County	K-3	$8,664
Hardee County	4-8	$8,059
Hardee County	9-12	$7,860
Hendry County	K-3	$8,348
Hendry County	4-8	$7,743
Hendry County	9-12	$7,544
Hernando County	K-3	$8,284
Hernando County	4-8	$7,700
Hernando County	9-12	$7,509
Highlands County	K-3	$8,601
Highlands County	4-8	$7,996
Highlands County	9-12	$7,797
Hillsborough County	K-3	$8,429
Hillsborough County	4-8	$7,837
Hillsborough County	9-12	$7,644
Holmes County	K-3	$9,231
Holmes County	4-8	$8,626
Holmes County	9-12	$8,427
Indian River County	K-3	$8,727
Indian River County	4-8	$8,143
Indian River County	9-12	$7,952
Jackson County	K-3	$8,977
Jackson County	4-8	$8,372
Jackson County	9-12	$8,173
Jefferson County	K-3	$10,246
Jefferson County	4-8	$9,641
Jefferson County	9-12	$9,442
Lafayette County	K-3	$9,358
Lafayette County	4-8	$8,753
Lafayette County	9-12	$8,554
Lake County	K-3	$8,282
Lake County	4-8	$7,698
Lake County	9-12	$7,507
Lee County	K-3	$8,779
Lee County	4-8	$8,193
Lee County	9-12	$8,001
Leon County	K-3	$8,373
Leon County	4-8	$7,789
Leon County	9-12	$7,598
Levy County	K-3	$9,080
Levy County	4-8	$8,475
Levy County	9-12	$8,276
Liberty County	K-3	$9,432
Liberty County	4-8	$8,827
Liberty County	9-12	$8,628
Madison County	K-3	$8,917
Madison County	4-8	$8,312
Madison County	9-12	$8,113
Manatee County	K-3	$8,378
Manatee County	4-8	$7,794
Manatee County	9-12	$7,603
Marion County	K-3	$8,303
Marion County	4-8	$7,719
Marion County	9-12	$7,528
Martin County	K-3	$9,165
Martin County	4-8	$8,581
Martin County	9-12	$8,390
Monroe County	K-3	$12,217
Monroe County	4-8	$11,617
Monroe County	9-12	$11,421
Nassau County	K-3	$8,825
Nassau County	4-8	$8,241
Nassau County	9-12	$8,050
Okaloosa County	K-3	$8,475
Okaloosa County	4-8	$7,890
Okaloosa County	9-12	$7,699
Okeechobee County	K-3	$8,743
Okeechobee County	4-8	$8,138
Okeechobee County	9-12	$7,939
Orange County	K-3	$8,420
Orange County	4-8	$7,831
Orange County	9-12	$7,639
Osceola County	K-3	$8,336
Osceola County	4-8	$7,752
Osceola County	9-12	$7,561
Palm Beach County	K-3	$8,890
Palm Beach County	4-8	$8,288
Palm Beach County	9-12	$8,091
Pasco County	K-3	$8,330
Pasco County	4-8	$7,746
Pasco County	9-12	$7,555
Pinellas County	K-3	$8,643
Pinellas County	4-8	$8,059
Pinellas County	9-12	$7,868
Polk County	K-3	$8,336
Polk County	4-8	$7,752
Polk County	9-12	$7,561
Putnam County	K-3	$8,846
Putnam County	4-8	$8,241
Putnam County	9-12	$8,042
St. Johns County	K-3	$8,415
St. Johns County	4-8	$7,831
St. Johns County	9-12	$7,640
St. Lucie County	K-3	$8,449
St. Lucie County	4-8	$7,865
St. Lucie County	9-12	$7,674
Santa Rosa County	K-3	$8,310
Santa Rosa County	4-8	$7,726
Santa Rosa County	9-12	$7,535
Sarasota County	K-3	$9,057
Sarasota County	4-8	$8,466
Sarasota County	9-12	$8,273
Seminole County	K-3	$8,377
Seminole County	4-8	$7,793
Seminole County	9-12	$7,602
Sumter County	K-3	$9,069
Sumter County	4-8	$8,485
Sumter County	9-12	$8,294
Suwannee County	K-3	$8,631
Suwannee County	4-8	$8,026
Suwannee County	9-12	$7,827
Taylor County	K-3	$8,899
Taylor County	4-8	$8,294
Taylor County	9-12	$8,095
Union County	K-3	$9,117
Union County	4-8	$8,512
Union County	9-12	$8,313
Volusia County	K-3	$8,238
Volusia County	4-8	$7,654
Volusia County	9-12	$7,463
Wakulla County	K-3	$8,643
Wakulla County	4-8	$8,038
Wakulla County	9-12	$7,839
Walton County	K-3	$10,331
Walton County	4-8	$9,747
Walton County	9-12	$9,556
Washington County	K-3	$9,258
Washington County	4-8	$8,653
Washington County	9-12	$8,454

What you can spend on

Instructional materials
Curriculum and curriculum materials
Tuition and fees at an eligible private school (part-time enrollment or a Hybrid eligible private school)
Home education instructional program
Tuition and fees at an eligible postsecondary institution (including NC-SARA participants)
Dual enrollment
Full-time private tutoring program
Approved online or virtual provider
Florida Virtual School as a private-pay student
FLDOE approved pre-apprenticeship program
Standardized testing fees, including test proctoring and administration
Contracted services provided by a public school or school district
Part-time tutoring and Choice Navigator services

What a receipt must show

A receipt with the complete transaction date (MM/DD/YY) and the amount paid, or an invoice with that date shown paid in full ("paid in full" stamp, invoice and payment amounts, or a zero balance)
A clear breakdown of all costs: base cost, taxes, fees and the total amount paid, matching the total charged to your payment method
Materials and curriculum: the items purchased, the full date including year, item price, subtotal, taxes, fees, discounts and total, and the method of payment; underline or highlight the claimed items when a receipt lists several
Tutoring, electives and other vetted services: the student's and the instructor's first and last names, the type of service, the time period (dates or term), the rate, and the provider's credentials; the provider's name must match their credentials
Not accepted: handwritten notes or unofficial documents, and cash purchases from private sellers (garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, private tutors or therapists)
Reward points, gift cards or credits count only if the receipt shows their cash value; buy-now-pay-later purchases are reimbursed only for the amount already paid

Where you submit

EMA (Education Market Assistant) by Step Up For Students, with MyScholarShop · site
Both direct pay and reimbursement

Learning plan

Yes. Every year the parent writes a Student Learning Plan (SLP) in EMA: the learning priorities and progress for the child and the goods and services needed. For 2026-27 it had to be submitted by May 31, 2026, or the student is not funded that year. The plan guides instruction; it does not limit what can be bought. Hybrid private school students also explain how the days off campus are spent.

Testing

Yes. Every year the student takes a nationally norm-referenced test identified by the Florida Department of Education, or Florida's statewide assessment, and the parent uploads the results in EMA before renewal (2025-26 results were due May 31, 2026). Students with a disability for whom a physician, psychologist or IEP team finds testing not appropriate are exempt with the Standardized Testing Exemption Form.

Renewal

Yearly. Submit the renewal application in EMA in the application season (February 1 to April 30 for 2026-27), accept by May 31, and by May 31 submit the new Student Learning Plan and the prior year's test results. Renewal students (funded in Quarter 4 of the same program) get first priority; missing a renewal deadline makes the student a new applicant. Skipping a year means applying again as new.

The program is the Personalized Education Program within the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC-PEP); Step Up's 2025-26 and 2026-27 handbooks both use that name. Funding comes from tax credit donations raised by Step Up For Students.
Amounts depend on the grade declared on the application and the county of residence; they are set each year by the Legislature. Once the Department of Education assigns the amount, later grade or county changes do not change it. Funds arrive in four equal quarterly deposits (Step Up receives them August 1 or September 1, November 1, February 1 and April 1).
Capacity: up to 100,000 students in 2025-26, growing by 40,000 a year until the cap is removed in 2027-28. Applications may close early when the cap is reached.
Priority for new applicants: household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (and foster care), then 185-400%, then above 400% or no income information (first come, first served).
Unused money rolls over, but no new deposit is made if it would raise the balance above $24,000. An account with no spending for two consecutive fiscal years is closed.
Florida law bars PEP funds for digital devices such as laptops, computers and peripherals.
Ways to pay: direct billing to providers in the EMA Marketplace, MyScholarShop purchases, or paying out of pocket and requesting reimbursement (paid by ACH, PayPal or check). A denied reimbursement can be appealed once in EMA. Parents cannot pay themselves for teaching their own child.
New in 2026-27: a public school attendance attestation or proof of withdrawal before funding.

Sources

Step Up For Students: 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook (last modified September 16, 2026) · official · checked Oct 12, 2026
Step Up For Students: 2026-27 Scholarship Amounts, Private School Scholarships (FTC and FES-EO) and PEP, by district · official · checked Oct 12, 2026
Step Up For Students: Personalized Education Program (program page) · official · checked Oct 12, 2026
Step Up For Students: 2026-27 Scholarship Schedule · official · checked Oct 12, 2026
Step Up For Students: 2026-2027 Program Handbooks and Purchasing Guides Summary of Changes · official · checked Oct 12, 2026

General information, not legal or financial advice. Programs change their rules every year; check with Step Up For Students (scholarship funding organization) before you spend. If something looks wrong, tell us.

How Homepen helps

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