Quick answers.
- Can Florida PEP funds be used to buy a laptop or desktop computer?
- No. The PEP Family Handbook states that under Florida law, PEP students “cannot use scholarship funds to purchase digital devices, such as laptops, computers, and other digital periphery.”
- Are iPads, tablets, or Chromebooks covered under PEP?
- No. Step Up's purchasing guide explicitly includes Chromebooks, tablets, e-readers, and smartphones on the prohibited items list.
- Can I buy a printer or 3D printer with Step Up PEP funds?
- No. The PEP Purchasing Guide lists “Printers, including 3D printers” among prohibited digital periphery devices. However, printer ink is eligible under School Supplies.
- Can I get pre-authorization to buy a computer?
- No. Step Up's rules specify that items appearing on the prohibited list cannot be approved through the pre-authorization process.
- Why do some Florida homeschool parents say Step Up bought their laptop?
- Those families are enrolled in the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), not PEP. Under FES-UA, digital devices are allowable educational expenses subject to purchase frequency guidelines.
When families begin homeschooling under the Florida Personalized Education Program (PEP), one of their very first questions is whether scholarship funds can cover a laptop, iPad, or desktop computer. Because computers are central to digital coursework, virtual classes, and research, many assume they qualify as an essential instructional expense.
However, submitting a computer receipt to Step Up for Students is one of the most common ways to receive a claim denial.
Under Florida statutory definitions governing the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) PEP scholarship, hardware devices are strictly excluded. Here is what Step Up's official handbook and purchasing guidelines say, which digital tools are approved, and why rules differ across scholarship programs.
The official rule: digital devices are prohibited.
Step Up’s PEP Family Handbook states the rule unambiguously:
Under Florida law, PEP students “cannot use scholarship funds to purchase digital devices, such as laptops, computers, and other digital periphery.”
The prohibition applies whether you purchase the device at an electronics store, order online, or attempt to find it inside MyScholarShop.
In the official PEP Purchasing Guide, Step Up categorizes these exclusions under two distinct headings on its Prohibited Items list:
1. Digital devices
- Laptops (including Apple MacBooks, Windows PCs, Chromebooks, and Surface devices)
- Desktop computers and all-in-one desktop units
- Tablets and iPads
- E-readers (such as Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo readers)
- Smartphones and cellular-connected devices
- Smartwatches and wearable fitness devices
2. Digital periphery devices
- Computer monitors and external displays
- Keyboards and computer mice
- Headsets, headphones, and external speakers
- Webcams, microphones, and digital video cameras
- Document scanners and external storage drives
- Printers, including 3D printers
Looking to furnish your home learning space? While computer electronics are barred, student study desks, ergonomic chairs, and curriculum bookshelves are eligible under separate rules; see our guide on Step Up homeschool desk and furniture rules.
Because these items are on the prohibited list, they cannot be approved via pre-authorization. Step Up's guidelines state that pre-authorizations are only reviewed for items not explicitly listed in the purchasing guide; items already designated as prohibited are automatically rejected.
What tech purchases PEP actually covers.
While hardware is excluded, Step Up recognizes that home learners require digital resources. PEP scholarship funds can be used for instructional content delivered through technology:
- Digital curriculum subscriptions: Online learning platforms, math programs, science simulations, and language learning software.
- Digital textbooks & e-books: Course textbooks purchased in digital or audio format.
- Virtual tutoring and classes: Live online courses and individualized tutoring provided by credentialed educators; see our guide on using PEP for tutoring.
- Printer ink & toner: While printers themselves are prohibited, replacement ink, toner cartridges, and standard copy paper are explicitly authorized under the School Supplies category.
For a full breakdown of other common household learning supplies and extracurriculars, see what PEP covers item by item.
Why FES-UA and other states allow laptops.
A primary reason for parent confusion in Florida homeschooling groups is that other scholarship programs have different rules:
- PEP vs FES-UA: Under the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), digital devices like laptops and assistive technology tablets are allowable educational expenses. The FES-UA handbook provides specific purchase frequency guidelines, noting that a laptop may have a two-year purchasing cycle. When PEP parents hear that another homeschool family bought a MacBook with Step Up funds, that family is almost always enrolled in FES-UA. For a complete comparison of the two scholarships, see our guide on PEP vs FES-UA.
- Florida vs Arizona ESA: In Arizona's universal ESA program, laptops and technological devices are explicitly authorized under Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. § 15-2402) when used for core subjects; see our Arizona ESA ClassWallet guide.
Summary checklist before buying.
Before shopping during seasonal sales or back-to-school promotions:
- Do not purchase hardware with PEP funds: Never spend out-of-pocket expecting reimbursement for laptops, monitors, tablets, or printers.
- Separate software from hardware on receipts: If you buy a software bundle that includes hardware accessories, make sure the invoice itemizes the instructional software separately with its own distinct price.
- Verify payment methods: For allowable software and supplies, ensure your receipt includes proof of payment matching Step Up's guidelines; see our walkthrough on Step Up proof of payment.
Avoid costly invoice mistakes before purchasing.
The Florida PEP Tracker checks your purchases against Step Up's prohibited item lists and verifies receipts offline on your device.
One payment, no subscription: $49 for one student or $69 for a family. See pricing.
More Florida PEP guides.
Spending and reimbursements
- Can Step Up pay for gift cards?
Can you buy gift cards or use Amazon or Target store credit with Florida PEP funds? Learn why Step Up denies gift card claims and how to handle discounts.
- Can Step Up pay for a desk?
Can Florida PEP or Step Up funds buy a homeschool desk, chair, or bookshelf? Explore eligible at-home classroom furnishings, restrictions, and the 2-year rule.
- Online curriculum and apps
Can Florida PEP pay for IXL, Beast Academy, Outschool, and digital curriculum? Learn Step Up's single-user rules and reimbursement documentation.
- Musical instruments & lessons
Can Florida PEP scholarship funds pay for musical instruments, instrument rentals, or piano lessons? Review Step Up fine arts rules and required invoice details.
- Zoo & museum memberships
Can Florida PEP scholarship funds pay for zoo, aquarium, and museum annual passes? See Step Up proration rules, family pass calculations, and EMA steps.
- Amazon receipts guide
Step-by-step guide to submitting Amazon receipts for Step Up reimbursement in EMA: downloading shipped invoices, proof of payment, and avoiding holds.
- Florida Virtual School and PEP
Can Florida PEP scholarship funds pay for Florida Virtual School? Learn Step Up's private-pay FLVS Flex rules, course tuition, and EMA invoice steps.
- The PEP Purchasing Guide, explained
A plain-English map of Step Up’s 2026–27 PEP Purchasing Guide: where to find it, the expense categories, prohibited items, and what needs pre-authorization.
- Splitting receipts between siblings
How Step Up prorates shared family purchases, multi-user subscriptions, and receipts split between siblings under Florida PEP.
- PEP for tutoring
Can Florida PEP pay for a tutor? Step Up’s credential rules for part-time and full-time tutors, what a tutoring invoice needs, and how tutors get paid.
- Does PEP cover it?
Does Florida PEP cover swim lessons, summer camp, sports, printers, headphones, transportation, or uniforms? Answers in the words of Step Up’s purchasing guide.
- PEP and therapy services
What Step Up’s PEP handbook and purchasing guide say about speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, and other specialized services, and where the pages differ.
- Finding PEP providers
Where Step Up for Students lists PEP providers and vendors: Find Providers in EMA, the vendor directory, the service categories chart, and how direct pay works.
- PEP pre-authorization
Which PEP purchases need pre-authorization from Step Up, how to submit a request in EMA, what to include, how long review takes, and what happens after approval.
- PEP reimbursement guide
How Step Up reimburses Florida PEP purchases: receipt rules, proof of payment, EMA steps, the Educational Benefit form, review time, holds, and appeals.
- How MyScholarShop works
How MyScholarShop works for Florida PEP families: when it opens, checking out, order statuses, shipping, returns, and cancelled orders, from Step Up’s own pages.
- What is EMA?
What EMA (Education Market Assistant) is for Florida PEP families: what you can do in it, account setup, MyScholarShop, and the account rules.
- PEP for private school, college, VPK
Can Florida PEP pay for private school, college classes, VPK, or preschool? What Step Up’s PEP pages and Florida law say, and which program fits instead.
- Proof of payment guide
What Step Up for Students requires for proof of payment: PayPal rules, credit card receipts, bank statements, cleared checks, and fixing payment holds in EMA.
News & policy updates
- 48 hours to Oct 31 deadline
With 48 hours until the October 31, 2026 midnight cutoff, learn which prior-year Step Up receipts expire, what proof is required, and how to file in EMA.
- Step Up Disney & theme park rules
Can Florida PEP pay for Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld? Learn the $299 annual cap, student-only admission rules, and how to avoid denied claims.
- LEGO, KiwiCo, & STEM kits
Does Florida PEP cover LEGO sets, KiwiCo boxes, and STEM kits? Learn what Step Up's Learning Manipulatives category allows and common reimbursement mistakes.
- Faith-based curriculum rules
Does Florida PEP allow religious and faith-based homeschool curriculum? Review Step Up purchasing rules, publisher receipts, and what qualifies in EMA.
- Sports and PE lesson rules
Does Florida PEP pay for sports lessons, martial arts, gymnastics, or swim instruction? Review Step Up Physical Education rules and prohibited items.
- MyScholarShop vs reimbursement
Compare Step Up MyScholarShop direct vendor pay versus out-of-pocket reimbursement: review turnaround times, price differences, and return rules.
- Oct 31 receipt cutoff
Florida PEP families face the October 31, 2026 deadline for 2025–26 reimbursement claims. See what receipts expire and how to file in EMA.
- Nov 2026 Q2 deposit timing
Why Step Up’s November 1 funding date doesn’t mean instant account balances: how the 2-week EMA deposit window works and how to verify Q2 funds.
- The $24,000 balance cap
Why Step Up halts Quarter 2 funding if your account nears $24,000: how Florida's statutory ceiling works and what happens to paused PEP deposits.
- Black Friday Step Up deals
Can Florida PEP families claim Black Friday and Cyber Week sales? See how Step Up treats coupon discounts, bundled items, and gift card purchases in EMA.
- Step Up quarterly attestation
Before Step Up releases Quarter 2 funds on November 1, parents must verify student enrollment in EMA. Here is what to check to avoid funding pauses.
- On hold receipts in EMA
Seeing an 'On Hold' status on your Step Up reimbursement in EMA? Learn what document is missing, the 30-day upload clock, and how to fix claims.
- Denied reimbursement appeals
Has Step Up denied a reimbursement in EMA? Learn how the 30-day appeal clock works, Step Up's single-appeal rule, and how to submit a winning appeal.
Payments, balances, and deadlines
- Is Step Up money taxable?
Are Step Up for Students and Florida PEP scholarship funds taxable income? Learn what IRS educational grant rules, 1099 policies, and Florida law say.
- PEP payment dates for 2026–27
Step Up for Students PEP payment schedule for 2026–27: quarterly funding dates, how long deposits take to post, and what can hold a payment back.
- PEP deadline checklist (Oct 31)
Florida PEP families have until October 31, 2026 to request reimbursement for 2025–26 purchases. A step-by-step checklist to find, check, and submit every receipt in EMA.
- PEP award amounts by county
Every 2026–27 PEP scholarship amount from Step Up’s chart, for all 67 Florida counties and three grade bands, plus why EMA may show a different number.
- Do PEP funds roll over?
What Step Up for Students and Florida law say about unused PEP money: rollover, the $24,000 balance limit, inactive accounts, and switching programs.
- Is PEP free? Income and funding
Is Florida PEP free or income based? What Step Up and Florida law say about application fees, income priority, and where PEP scholarship money comes from.
Eligibility and yearly rules
- Standardized testing options
Which standardized tests qualify for Florida PEP? Learn about CLT, CAT, Iowa, Stanford 10, assessment fees, and annual SLP submission requirements.
- Can you lose PEP?
The reasons Step Up lists for losing a Florida PEP scholarship, including public school enrollment and moving, what happens to the money, and whether you repay it.
- What’s new for PEP in 2026–27
What changed in the 2026–27 PEP Family Handbook: public school attestation and withdrawal deadlines, deposit dates, switching rules, and purchasing guide updates.
- PEP application statuses
What each Step Up EMA status means for a Florida PEP application, from Pending and On Hold to Pending Review, Scholarship Choice Confirmed, Funded, and Denied.
- PEP and homeschooling
Is Florida PEP for homeschoolers? How PEP differs from a home education program: registration, letter of intent, testing, and when to end home education.
- How to apply for PEP
How to apply for the Florida PEP scholarship through Step Up: age and residency rules, documents, the EMA steps, and last year’s dates while 2027–28 dates are pending.
- How to renew PEP
How Florida PEP renewal works with Step Up: who counts as a renewal student, what keeps renewal status, documents, and last year’s renewal dates.
- What Step Up for Students is
What Step Up for Students is, and which Florida scholarship the name refers to: PEP, private school (FTC and FES-EO), or Unique Abilities.
- Is PEP full?
How many Florida PEP scholarships the law allows, when the cap ends, what Step Up’s pages say about capacity, and why they don’t all match.
- PEP for military families
What Step Up’s pages say about Florida PEP for active-duty military families: residency proof, PCS orders, deadline exceptions, and moving out of state.
- PEP testing and SLP
Florida PEP’s yearly requirements: the norm-referenced test, who must test (including K–2), the Student Learning Plan, deadlines, and exemptions.
- PEP vs FES-UA
What the FES-UA scholarship is, who qualifies, and how it differs from Florida PEP: diagnosis, ages, home education, therapies, devices, and deadlines.
Sources.
All read on October 28, 2026. We re-check them when new editions are published.
- PEP Family Handbook (2026–27)
Step Up for Students web page, read October 28, 2026: digital device prohibition under Florida law, and comparison with FES-UA guidelines.
stepupforstudents.org - PEP Purchasing Guide
Step Up for Students web page, read October 28, 2026: Prohibited Items list, digital periphery devices, printer ink eligibility under School Supplies, and pre-authorization limitations.
stepupforstudents.org