Last updated: 2026-07-24
FES-UA Approved Expenses: What Florida Families Can Buy
FES-UA can cover far more than private school tuition: ABA therapy, therapies, curriculum, tutoring, evaluations, devices, and other educational supports. The key is knowing what needs documentation before you buy.
Related resources
Guides, data, and tools to use next
Move from this guide to a checklist, data report, or state resource that supports the next decision.
Ask ChatGPT about your child's situation
We'll write the question for you, filled in with this guide's key facts. Copy it, paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, and get advice tailored to your family.
Direct billing through an eligible school or provider
Many private schools and some service providers can bill the scholarship account directly. This is usually the cleanest path for tuition, fees, and recurring services.
MyScholarShop or marketplace purchases
Step Up links families to marketplace-style purchasing options for eligible products and vendors. Check the current portal before buying because vendor availability changes.
Reimbursement after you pay
For purchases made outside direct billing, families generally submit receipts and documentation for review. Keep proof of payment and proof that the expense supports the student education plan.
The safe rule: verify before you buy
FES-UA purchasing is not just "is this item useful?" It is "does this item fit an authorized category, with the right vendor/provider credentials and enough documentation for approval?" When the answer is unclear, ask for written guidance or pre-authorization before spending.
2026-27 spending window, deadlines, and rule changes
Step Up For Students revised the FES-UA purchasing guide as of July 1, 2026. A few dates and rules matter for how you plan purchases this cycle:
Spending window
Items or services must be purchased with 2026-27 scholarship funds between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
Reimbursement deadline
Reimbursement requests using 2026-27 funds must be submitted by July 31, 2027.
Review timeline
Reimbursement requests can take up to 60 days to review after all documentation is received. If a request is placed on hold for more information, the 60-day clock restarts when you provide it.
Two 2026 rule changes
Pre-authorization is no longer required for buying multiples of a single item, and the separate Educational Benefit Form has been folded into the Pre-Authorization Form (which now asks for the educational benefit directly).
Source: Step Up For Students purchasing guides (FES-UA 2026-27, revised 7/1/2026). Confirm current rules in your scholarship portal before buying.
FES-UA Approved Expense Categories
These are parent-friendly summaries of the major categories in the official purchasing guide. The exact documentation rules can change by cycle, so treat this as a starting point, not the final approval decision.
Private school and education programs
- Tuition and eligible fees at a participating Florida private school
- Home education program tuition or eligible instructional support
- Approved online or virtual learning providers
- Dual enrollment, approved pre-apprenticeship, or postsecondary coursework when allowed
Therapies and specialized services
- ABA therapy from qualified providers
- Speech-language, occupational, and physical therapy
- Educational evaluations and assessments
- Part-time tutoring, private tutoring programs, or choice navigator services when eligible
Instructional materials and curriculum
- Curriculum and curriculum materials
- Books, digital materials, educational software, and subscriptions
- School supplies and lab materials tied to instruction
- Learning manipulatives and educational subscription kits
Assistive and educational technology
- Assistive technology devices
- Digital devices and eligible peripherals
- Training or maintenance agreements for eligible devices
- Internet resources when they are needed for the student education plan
Enrichment tied to curriculum
- Field trips and activities needed to enhance curriculum
- Physical education activities listed in the purchasing guide
- Music, elective, or enrichment instruction when provider and documentation rules are met
- At-home classroom furnishings when they are permitted by current guidance
Savings and assessment options
- Nationally norm-referenced tests and other eligible assessments
- Industry certifications or exams when allowed
- Florida Prepaid or Florida 529 contributions within program rules
- Required documentation connected to scholarship accountability
Before purchase or reimbursement, check these five things
- The current Step Up or AAA purchasing guide for the exact scholarship year
- Whether your scholarship funding organization requires pre-authorization
- Whether the vendor, provider, or school can issue the documentation you need
- Whether a reimbursement needs proof of payment, proof of eligible use, or both
- Whether the item has quantity, frequency, replacement, shipping, or subscription limits
Common reasons reimbursements get denied
- The purchase is educationally useful, but the receipt does not prove the eligible use.
- The vendor is not enough; the provider credentials or service details are missing.
- The item is recreational, household, or general-purpose without documentation tying it to the student plan.
- The family paid before the eligible reimbursement window or before the service period was allowed.
- The product is eligible only with pre-authorization, but the family bought it first.
How this helps you choose a school or therapy provider
The purchasing rules tell you what may be payable. They do not tell you which school is the best fit, whether the provider has experience with your child diagnosis, or whether the program can document services in a way your scholarship organization accepts. Ask those questions before you enroll.
Find Florida schools that fit your FES-UA plan
Once you know what FES-UA can pay for, the next step is building a shortlist of schools that match your child needs, location, services, and funding plan.
Orlando special needs schools
Compare central Florida schools before asking how they invoice FES-UA tuition.
Jacksonville special needs schools
Build a northeast Florida shortlist and verify which programs accept FES-UA.
Tampa special needs schools
Review Tampa-area options, then ask each school about scholarship billing.
Miami special needs resources
Use the Miami guide when your plan mixes school, therapy, and local support.
Official sources
Use these official references for final purchasing, documentation, reimbursement, and eligibility decisions.
- Step Up For Students: FES-UA Purchasing Guide (2026-2027, revised 7/1/2026)
- Step Up For Students: FES-UA Family Handbook (effective April 2026 PDF)
- Step Up For Students: Unique Abilities scholarship
- Step Up For Students: Purchasing guides
- Florida Department of Education: Family Empowerment Scholarship
- Florida Statute 1002.394: Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this guide
Can FES-UA pay for ABA therapy?
Yes, FES-UA can pay for ABA therapy when the service and provider meet current scholarship rules. Before starting, ask the provider whether they can bill directly or what documentation they give families for reimbursement.
Can I buy curriculum or homeschool materials with FES-UA?
Yes, curriculum and instructional materials are among the major eligible categories. The safest approach is to match the purchase to your child education plan, keep the receipt, and check the current purchasing guide before buying anything unusual or expensive.
Can FES-UA pay for a laptop or tablet?
Digital devices and eligible peripherals appear in the FES-UA purchasing guide, but technology purchases can have documentation, quantity, and replacement rules. Verify the current device policy before buying.
What should I do before buying something expensive?
Check the current purchasing guide, ask your scholarship funding organization whether pre-authorization is needed, and confirm that the vendor can provide a detailed receipt or invoice. When the rule is unclear, get written guidance before purchase.
Does FES-UA automatically cover every special-needs service?
No. A service can be helpful and still fail reimbursement if it does not fit an authorized category, lacks provider credentials, or lacks documentation. Treat the official guide and your scholarship portal as the final authority.
Want help turning FES-UA into a school shortlist?
Tell us where you are in Florida and what your child needs. We will help you compare nearby programs and ask the right funding questions.
Free. No obligation.