Family Empowerment Scholarship
for Unique Abilities

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year.
To be among the first to be notified when 2025-26 applications become available, click below.

A Unique Education
For A Unique Child

Children with unique abilities may have different needs when it comes to their education. We believe they deserve an opportunity to thrive and learn in an environment that supports their success.

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) enables families to personalize the education of their students by directing funds to where they’re needed most. The funds can be used for a combination of programs and approved expenses including therapists, specialists, curriculum, private school, a college savings account and more.

How Does It Work?

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) provides access to an education savings account (ESA) that functions like a flexible bank account from which you direct funds to pay for tuition and fees for a private school, therapies, tutoring and more.

Families have the option to purchase products through MyScholarShop or services through EMA without having to pay out of pocket. However, they can still use providers or vendors outside of MyScholarShop and EMA for pre-approved purchases by paying upfront and submitting a reimbursement claim.
Apply Now

To be among the first to be notified when 2025-26 applications become available, sign up here.

1

Apply for a scholarship through Step Up For Students. You will need to show proof of your child’s age, diagnosis, and residency. Here is a checklist of documents you may need.

2
Once approved, funds will be deposited on a quarterly basis into an ESA on your student's EMA account.
3

Go to MyScholarShop to find pre-approved and products or log in to your EMA account to explore services.
Payments to providers and vendors are made directly from the ESA.

4

Purchase pre-approved services and products for your child’s education and request reimbursement.

To learn more about reimbursements, click here >

*Important Notice: Any completed and eligible FES-UA application submitted after December 15, 2023 that count towards the program’s statutory cap will be considered as pre-registering for the 2024-25 school year.

Working with Providers

Specialized services by approved providers include but are not limited to the following:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services
Services provided by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Services provided by a licensed occupational therapist
Services provided by licensed physical therapists
Services provided by listening and spoken language specialists
Other specialized services provided by an approved provider

Specialized services providers must be one of the following:

An organization approved as a provider by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
An individual licensed by the Florida Department of Health
A staff member, listed under an organization approved as a provider through the Office of Early Learning for Specialized Instructional Services Provider (SIS), which includes behavior analysts licensed by the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board
An individual listed on the BACB website as practicing in the state of Florida.

Are We Eligible?

Students from age 3 through grade 12 or age 22, whichever comes first, who have a specific diagnosis.
Anaphylaxis

Autism spectrum disorder

Being a high-risk child

Cerebral Palsy

Down syndrome

Emotional or a behavioral disability

Hearing impairment, including deafness

Hospital or homebound
Identification as dual sensory impaired

Intellectual disability

Language impairment

Muscular dystrophy

Orthopedic impairment

Other health impairment

Phelan-McDermid syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome
Rare diseases

Specific learning disability

Speech impairment

Spina bifida

Traumatic brain injury

Visual impairment, including blindness

Williams syndrome
Frequently Asked Questions

Award Amounts

FES-UA Award Amounts by County
View Award Amounts

Resources

For handbooks and other helpful information visit our resources page

Stepping Up To Success

“Without Step Up I don’t know if I would be able to reach the goals I’m about to reach.”

Nanya
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
“I’ve always felt education was No. 1 over everything, I always wanted to prove it to myself.”

Zoe Elverillo
Step Up Scholarship Recipient
“Private school is different. The classes are smaller…There’s not one teacher that doesn’t care (here).”
Carlos Escobar
Step Up Scholarship Recipient

Video Library

How to create your FTC/FES-EO account
How to complete an FTC/FES-EO application
Document checklist for FTC/FES-EO applications
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