Using Step Up For Students to pay for tutoring

Which Step Up scholarships pay for tutoring

The Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) and the Personalized Education Program (PEP) are the main ways families pay for tutoring. Both can pay an approved tutor directly, and they are the only two that pay for full-time private tutoring.

The Private School scholarships, the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), work differently. They pay private school tuition and fees first. Under the 2026-27 purchasing guide, tuition and fees come first, and leftover funds may pay for part-time tutoring.

New Worlds Scholarship Accounts are winding down. Families who already have one can still use the balance, but no new accounts are being awarded this year.

Part-time versus full-time tutoring

Most families use part-time tutoring, which means sessions alongside school or homeschool. Full-time private tutoring replaces school entirely, has much stricter rules, and is limited to FES-UA and PEP students.

Part-time tutoring is capped at 720 hours a year for grades K-3 and 900 hours a year for grades 4-12. If a schedule goes past the cap, the extra hours must be filed as full-time tutoring. A typical schedule of two hour-long sessions a week for a school year is about 72 hours, far under the limit.

The details for full-time programs are in the full-time private tutoring guide. If you are interested in a full-time option, see my full-time tutoring program page.

How to find, book, and pay a tutor in EMA

You do everything in EMA, the Education Market Assistant, which is the account where your scholarship funds live. Some parents call it the Step Up tutoring portal. You search the Marketplace, pick a provider, and reserve funds for the sessions you plan.

For a screen-by-screen walkthrough, read the EMA guide.

Direct pay versus reimbursement

Direct pay means Step Up pays the tutor for you, so you never pay out of pocket. Reimbursement means you pay first and then ask Step Up to pay you back for an eligible expense.

According to Step Up, families can request a reimbursement in EMA for an eligible expense they paid out of pocket. Direct pay is simpler and keeps your money in your pocket, so it is usually the easier choice for tutoring.

How much tutoring your scholarship can cover

It depends on your award, your tutor’s rate, and how often your child comes. For many families, a steady part-time schedule uses part of the award and leaves room for curriculum, books, or other approved costs.

Award amounts vary by grade, county, and need. The average Unique Abilities award is about $10,000 on average, and PEP awards averaged between $7,700 and $8,500 on average in 2025-26. Your exact balance is always in EMA.

To see the numbers for your family, enter your award and a schedule in the tutoring budget planner. It shows the yearly cost, what is left over, and whether the schedule stays under the part-time hour cap.

Tutoring alongside school or homeschool

Part-time tutoring is designed to sit next to your child’s main education, not replace it. Families with a Unique Abilities Scholarship often use tutoring after school, while PEP families often build it into the homeschool week.

If your child attends a private school on FES-UA, tutoring can focus on the skills that make school hard, such as reading, writing, or organization. If you homeschool on PEP, a tutor can take on one subject while you lead the rest, and share progress notes you can use for your Student Learning Plan.

Questions to ask any tutor

The right questions protect your child’s time and your scholarship funds. Ask these before you reserve anything.

• Are you an approved Step Up For Students provider, and do you bill through EMA?
• What credentials do you hold? For part-time tutoring, Step Up requires a qualifying credential, such as a valid Florida teaching certificate.
• How do you measure progress? Look for a clear starting point, specific goals, and regular updates.
• What does a session look like? A good answer describes a plan, not just homework help.
• What is your cancellation policy, and is your rate the same for private pay? Approved providers should not offer gifts, discounts, or incentives tied to scholarship spending.

How to book Janessa through Step Up

I am an approved Step Up For Students provider, and I bill FES-UA and PEP accounts directly through EMA. In EMA, search the Marketplace for my listing, Janessa Prince LLC.

Most families start with a free 15-minute fit call. We talk about your child, I recommend a schedule, and then you reserve funds in EMA for the first few weeks. My rate is the same whether you pay through Step Up or privately.

Not sure which scholarship fits your child yet? Try the eligibility quiz, or call Step Up family support at 1-877-735-7837.