Question 1

How do I apply for the Step Up scholarship?

Accepted Answer

Pick one SFO and apply on its platform: Step Up For Students uses EMA (Education Market Assistant), AAA Scholarship Foundation uses its SMP (new families start at app.aaascholarships.org/submit-application), and Sunshine State Kids uses Odyssey. Apply with only one SFO per student; applying with several at once means no funding at all. SUFS publishes a 2026-27 application checklist (also in Spanish) and Spanish how-to videos. SSK's application and login are in English only.

Question 2

What documents do I need to apply for the scholarship?

Accepted Answer

SUFS's 2026-27 checklist covers proof of age (for new kindergartners and FES-UA ages 3–5) and Social Security numbers, which FES-EO and FES-UA require. FES-UA also needs IEP or diagnosis documentation, and income documents are needed only if you want income priority. At AAA Scholarship Foundation, renewing private-school applicants submit proof of enrollment on school letterhead with the school name, student's full name, grade and enrollment date.

Question 3

How do I pay my child's private school with Step Up?

Accepted Answer

In EMA: accept the scholarship, give the school your child's Scholarship ID (My Students tab), let the school enroll your child at the agreed tuition, then confirm the enrollment. Each quarter the school approves the invoice within 30 days, then you approve it within 30 days; SUFS pays within 7 business days of both approvals, and the money can take up to 5 more business days to arrive. FES-UA families may instead pay the school themselves and request reimbursement.

Question 4

How do I pay a private school through AAA Scholarship Foundation? What is the scf?

Accepted Answer

In AAA Scholarship Foundation’s SMP you complete a School Commitment Form (SCF): you click "Find School" and accept tuition, the school confirms and enters adjustments, you give final acceptance, and AAA Scholarship Foundation reviews. Four times a year the school completes a Verification Report (VR) and then you approve payment; only Parent/Guardian A can approve, and power of attorney is not permitted. AAA Scholarship Foundation then pays the school by ACH on fixed dates.

Question 5

How do I pay a tutor or therapist directly through EMA?

Accepted Answer

In EMA go to Marketplace → Find Providers, select your student, choose the service and quantity, Add to Cart, then Reserve Funds and tick "Yes" to share your contact information with the provider. Your balance must cover the reservation. Schedule directly with the provider (EMA is not a scheduler); the provider can invoice only after the service is delivered.

Question 6

How do I get reimbursed in EMA?

Accepted Answer

First set up a payment method: profile icon → Edit Profile → Payment Method → Manage, choose ACH, check or PayPal, and allow up to 12 hours. Then Reimbursements → NEW → choose the student → upload the itemized receipt (PNG, JPG or PDF) → confirm items and amounts → add proof of payment → Submit for Approval. Review takes up to 60 days after documents are complete, and approved claims are paid within 7 days.

Question 7

How do I get reimbursed in AAA Scholarship Foundation’s SMP?

Accepted Answer

On your student's dashboard, click "Click Here to Create New Reimbursement Request" and upload an itemized, paid receipt; FES-UA families use the same button for direct vendor payments. For FES-UA, requests approved by Tuesday are generally paid by Friday that week. AAA Scholarship Foundation’s PEP/FTC reimbursement turnaround is not published as of Oct 19, 2026; pre-authorize uncertain items by emailing PEP@aaascholarships.org.

Question 8

How do I use MyScholarShop and when can I start ordering?

Accepted Answer

MyScholarShop opens after your account is funded: "within a few days" per the handbook, about 7 business days per the Help Center. The whole order must fit your available balance, items that need pre-authorization need the approval number at checkout, and orders "remain subject to review" for up to 2 weeks. Orders ship only to the Florida mailing address in your guardian profile.

Question 9

How do I return something I bought in MyScholarShop?

Accepted Answer

Returns go through the vendor (not SUFS and not a store), and the credit can take "a few weeks." Fully cancelled orders close weekly; partially cancelled ones close and refund within about 90 days.

Question 10

How do I request a pre-authorization in EMA?

Accepted Answer

Once the account is funded, submit the request in EMA with item details, approximate cost and supporting documents, and keep your EMA payment method current. If approved, buy within the school year exactly what was approved, then submit it for reimbursement or use the approval number in MyScholarShop. Don't request pre-authorization for items the guide already approves; SUFS has said such requests are denied.

Question 11

Where do I find my child's scholarship ID?

Accepted Answer

In EMA, on the My Students tab. SUFS also has a Spanish video on finding the student's Award ID in EMA.

Question 12

How do I check my scholarship balance?

Accepted Answer

The balance is on the online statement in EMA; check it before buying, because reimbursements can't exceed the available balance. "Current funds available" is what has been deposited; the "scholarship amount" is an estimate.

Question 13

How do I appeal a denied reimbursement?

Accepted Answer

At SUFS you get one appeal in EMA: Reimbursements tab → open the denied request → red APPEAL button at the bottom → edit the request and add documents. Appeals sent by email, phone or chat are not reviewed, and denied pre-authorizations can't be appealed. At AAA Scholarship Foundation, PEP/FTC appeals go by email to PEP@aaascholarships.org, with a decision "generally within 10 business days."

Question 14

Can my child's school or tutor log into EMA for me?

Accepted Answer

No. Sharing EMA logins with a school or provider is prohibited and can cost the scholarship, and providers may not ask for your username or password. Schools also can't create or manage family accounts. SUFS says it will never ask for a password, SSN or banking details by email, phone or text.

Question 15

How do I reset the 2 step verification (mfa) on my EMA account?

Accepted Answer

SUFS has a Help Center article titled "How do I reset my Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for my EMA account?" If that doesn't solve it, call the Customer Engagement Center at (877) 735-7837, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, or use live chat.

Question 16

What is Odyssey and how does Sunshine State Kids pay schools?

Accepted Answer

Odyssey is SSK's platform for applications, decisions, fund management and receipts, and the application and login are English-only. SSK says it pays the private school directly for FES-EO, while FES-UA funds go into a digital wallet in Odyssey. SSK's application to FDOE describes direct ACH payments from the wallet to approved providers and a marketplace; we have not observed these live.

Question 17

What do the invoice statuses in EMA mean (pending, in process, approved)?

Accepted Answer

Pending means funds are reserved, In Process means the provider has invoiced, then Approved (payment pending) and Paid. Deleted means it was removed before payment, and "Creating Invoice" is a temporary status that usually resolves in a few business days.

Florida K-12 scholarship FAQ: using EMA, SMP and Odyssey