Question 1

Which private schools accept Step Up in miami-dade?

Accepted Answer

Use FDOE's Private School Directory: choose the district, then the "FES Educational Options" scholarship filter; on Oct 19, 2026 it showed 512 of 676 Miami-Dade schools. The directory's FTC and FES-UA filters returned 0 schools in the counties tested, so use the FES-EO filter and confirm with the school. In SUFS's EMA, families can also filter Find Providers by "Eligible Private School."

Question 2

Do private schools have to accept the scholarship?

Accepted Answer

No. Participation is voluntary, and the school must be approved by FDOE for the program. AAA Scholarship Foundation has told FDOE that some private schools prefer to work with certain SFOs and won't accept scholarships from others, so ask each school which SFOs it works with.

Question 3

Can a private school charge scholarship families more?

Accepted Answer

No. "The same published tuition schedule must apply to all students," and the rate in EMA can't exceed the published rate or what you agreed to pay. AAA Scholarship Foundation’s FES-UA handbook states the same rule.

Question 4

Which school fees can the scholarship pay?

Accepted Answer

At SUFS, eligible fees include academic services, activity, application, registration, athletics, club, book, enrollment, graduation, security, technology, test and basic uniform fees. Not eligible: annual funds, food, fundraising or volunteer-waiver fees, optional fees, giving funds, and before- or after-school care. For FACTS or TADS, only the annual billing-service fee counts, and credit-card fees added to tuition invoices aren't reimbursable.

Question 5

How do I switch private schools in the middle of the year?

Accepted Answer

At SUFS, tell the old school and have it withdraw your child in EMA (allow 5 business days) before the new school enrolls them, and approve the final payment to the old school. Re-enroll within 30 days or the account closes. At AAA Scholarship Foundation, the old school files a withdrawal form within 5 business days and you choose a new school within 5 business days; AAA Scholarship Foundation’s 2025-26 handbook says it won't transfer a scholarship while money is owed to the previous school unless there's a payment plan.

Question 6

Which school gets paid if we switch schools mid-quarter?

Accepted Answer

The first school your child attends for 10 or more days in that quarter gets the whole quarter's payment, and the schools and parent may negotiate a split. Quarters run Jul 1–Sep 30, Oct 1–Dec 31, Jan 1–Mar 31 and Apr 1–Jun 30.

Question 7

Does the state accredit private schools? How do I know a school is legit?

Accepted Answer

FDOE "does not license, approve, accredit or regulate private schools" and doesn't recognize any accrediting agency; its directory shows each school's self-reported accreditations. Scholarship schools must meet extra state rules, including a Florida physical location, staff background screening, fiscal soundness (3 years in operation or a surety bond), teacher qualifications and quarterly written progress reports. New scholarship schools must pass an FDOE site visit before their first scholarship payment.

Question 8

Can I use the scholarship for an online private school?

Accepted Answer

No. FDOE says "Private virtual schools may not receive scholarship funding," and a private school's own virtual or remote program isn't an eligible expense. FES-UA can pay an FDOE-approved virtual instruction provider instead.

Question 9

Does my child have to take a standardized test at a scholarship school?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Scholarship students in grades 3–10 take an FDOE-approved norm-referenced test or the statewide assessments, and the school reports scores to parents and to the state's research partner. FDOE lists 28 approved tests, for example i-Ready, NWEA MAP, Iowa Assessments, Renaissance Star and the Classic Learning Test. Students with disabilities for whom testing isn't appropriate are exempt.

Question 10

Can a PEP student go to a private school part time or a hybrid school?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PEP students can attend an eligible private school part time, or full time only at an FDOE-approved hybrid school (at least 2 full days a week in person plus a student learning plan). These are paid through Marketplace offerings or reimbursement, not EMA enrollment, and the school must accept FTC.

Question 11

Can FES-UA pay for a hybrid school (2 days a week)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, starting July 1, 2026: FES-UA students may attend a hybrid eligible private school at least 2 days a week with a student learning plan. At SUFS, hybrid tuition is reimbursement only, and the learning plan must be on file first or the request is denied.

Question 12

What happens if my child's school loses its scholarship approval?

Accepted Answer

SUFS "is not permitted to disburse funds to any school whose approval to participate in scholarship programs has been suspended or revoked." The Commissioner can deny, suspend or revoke a school's participation and may immediately suspend payments in serious cases. To keep the scholarship, a student who leaves a school must re-enroll at another eligible private school within 30 days.

Question 13

How do I file a complaint about a scholarship school?

Accepted Answer

Mail FDOE's Form IEPC-CS1 Complainant Statement to the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, 325 W. Gaines St., Suite 1044, Tallahassee, FL 32399; there is no online or email intake. Questions go to (850) 245-0502. If a child may be in danger, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE first.

Question 14

What if I enroll my child before the scholarship is confirmed?

Accepted Answer

At SUFS, "the parent or guardian will be responsible for paying any tuition and fees due" until the scholarship is confirmed. "Scholarship Choice Confirmed" means eligible and accepted but not yet funded.

Question 15

Can the school refund tuition to me if we leave?

Accepted Answer

No. Refunds follow the school's policy but must go back to SUFS for your child's account; parents "may not accept refunds of scholarship dollars from the school." Accepting a refund or rebate is grounds for closing the account.

Question 16

How many private schools take scholarships in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Florida had 3,252 registered private schools in 2024-25, 623 of them in Miami-Dade. SUFS reported 2,477 private schools in FES-EO and 2,403 in FES-UA for 2026-27, and said it paid tuition to "nearly 2,500 schools" in 2025-26. FDOE publishes no statewide count of participating schools by county as of Oct 19, 2026.

Question 17

Do teachers at scholarship schools need a degree?

Accepted Answer

State law requires scholarship-school teachers to hold a bachelor's or higher degree, or have at least 3 years of teaching experience, or have special skills, knowledge or expertise that qualifies them. Schools must publish their teachers' qualifications for parents.

Florida K-12 scholarship FAQ: private schools