Pricing, invoicing and rate rules for providers paid with Florida K-12 scholarships. Each answer names the programs and scholarship organizations it applies to and links to the statute, State Board item or SFO handbook it comes from. Questions are written the way providers search for them.
We are not your scholarship organization and can't see your account. For decisions about your provider approval or payments, contact your SFO: Step Up For Students, AAA Scholarship Foundation or Sunshine State Kids Foundation.
Who sets my prices in EMA does Step Up set tutoring rates?
You do. "Providers are responsible for establishing and maintaining accurate pricing… Step Up For Students does not determine or set pricing."1 You enter a rate per activity on each service offering.2
Can I charge scholarship families more than private-pay families?
Private schools cannot: "The same published tuition schedule must apply to all students," and AAA Scholarship Foundation’s FES-UA handbook states the same rule.34 For non-school providers, an explicit same-price rule is not published as of Oct 19, 2026 in SUFS's provider handbook, FAQ or guides, or in the statutes.1 Full-time tutors and VPK providers must keep a tuition and fee schedule that is published.56
Does Step Up charge providers any fees?
SUFS says it "does not charge fees for vendors or transactions in the marketplace," and no provider fee appears in its provider documents.71 By statute, an FES student's award "may not be reduced for debit card or electronic payment fees."8 Sunshine State Kids' State Board filing says Odyssey charges no transaction fees.9
Can a family prepay me for a semester or a year with scholarship funds?
A family can pay you ahead and be reimbursed up to 4 months in advance of the service.10 Prepayment of up to one year needs a signed, dated letter from you that the payment is non-refundable, or a published policy saying so.10 Tuition paid from July 1, 2025 onward to eligible private schools, HEIPs, contracted public school services, full-time private tutoring and state-approved VIPs is reimbursable from 2026-27 funds.11 Direct-pay invoices in EMA, by contrast, come only after the service is delivered.12
Can I bill a scholarship family for a bundle of sessions?
In EMA you invoice after the service is rendered, and the family's reservation must be covered by available funds.121 SUFS advises: "Scholarships are distributed quarterly; consider when bundling sessions."13 FDOE sends funds to SUFS by Aug 1 or Sep 1, Nov 1, Feb 1 and Apr 1, and accounts are funded within up to 2 weeks after SUFS receives the money; PEP awards arrive in four equal quarterly amounts.141516
Can I give scholarship families a discount, gift card or cash back?
Families may not receive any payment, refund or rebate from a provider, and accepting one is grounds for closing the family's account.1718 A lower price is different: you set your own rates, and schools may enter a rate below their published maximum and offer discounts.13 Whether a particular promotion counts as a rebate is not published as of Oct 19, 2026, so ask SUFS before offering one.17
More provider questions
- Getting approved
- Credentials and screening
- Accounts and staff
- Getting paid
- Which programs can pay you
- Working with each SFO
- Private-school participation and payments
- Federal tax-credit scholarships
See also: all Florida K-12 scholarship programs, award amounts and deadlines.
Sources
- SUFS, "Becoming a Step Up For Students Provider — Frequently Asked Questions" (2026) · Q1–Q11 and "A few reminders" · verified on
- SUFS, "EMA Account Set-Up for Providers" webinar deck (undated, 2023-24 era; still linked from the 2026-27 NSPH) · Parts I–III · verified on
- SUFS, 2026-2027 Private School Provider Handbook · "Direct Billing In EMA › Full-Time, In-Person Eligible Private School Students"; "Student Funding Details"; "Appendix A" · verified on
- AAA Scholarship Foundation, "Florida FES-UA Parent / School Handbook" (rev. 2025-03-03) · "Scholarship Distributions to Approved Service Providers"; "Scholarship Distributions to Private Schools", pp. 9–10 · verified on
- SUFS External Guide, "Full-Time Tutoring" · pp. 1–2 · verified on
- SUFS External Guide, "Approved VPK Program Provider or Approved School Readiness Provider" · pp. 1–2 · verified on
- SUFS press release, "Step Up For Students Renewed as Florida's Top SFO" (2026-02-20) · bullet list of 2025-26 metrics · verified on
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 1002.394(12) (Scholarship funding and payment), including (12)(a)2-3 and (b)8, 10 · subsection (12) · verified on
- Florida SFO Application 2026-2027, Sunshine State Kids Foundation, Inc. (SBE supporting document) · §§1–2, 5.E (Fees), 6.A–F (Funding, Direct Pay, Reimbursement) · verified on
- SUFS, 2026-2027 Non-School Provider Handbook · "Reimbursement Requests › Advance Reimbursement" · verified on
- SUFS, 2026-2027 Non-School Provider Handbook · "Reimbursement Requests › Reimbursement Timing" · verified on
- SUFS, 2026-2027 Non-School Provider Handbook · "Payment Options › Direct Payment For Services" · verified on
- SUFS, "Set Up a Provider Account in EMA" flowchart · p. 1 · verified on
- SUFS 2026-27 Scholarship Schedule — Private School, Unique Abilities, PEP (PDF, 7 pp.) · sections "Funding Distribution," "Student Account Balance," "Spending and Payment Deadlines," "Switching Programs," "EMA Enrollment" · verified on
- SUFS 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook · "Scholarship Funding Schedule" (deposit within two weeks; supplemental funding) · verified on
- SUFS 2026-27 PEP Family Handbook · "Scholarship Funding Schedule" (four equal quarterly amounts; SLP by May 31, 2026) · verified on
- SUFS, 2026-2027 Non-School Provider Handbook · "Authorized Uses of Scholarship Program Funds"; "Specialized Services…"; "Specialized Summer & After-School Education Programs" · verified on
- Florida Statutes (2026), s. 1002.395(11)(h) (account closure: fraud, including accepting provider refunds or rebates; inactivity; 30 days unenrolled) · subsection (11)(h) · verified on