Private school, college, VPK, or preschool: where PEP fits.

• Private school: yes, but only part time, or full time at a Hybrid eligible private school. Full-time enrollment at a traditional private school isn’t allowed with PEP. Step Up’s Private School Scholarship (FTC and FES-EO) is the program for that.
• College: yes. PEP funds can pay tuition and fees at an eligible postsecondary institution, such as a Florida College System institution or a state university, while the student is still a PEP student.
• VPK: no. PEP starts at age 5. VPK is Florida’s separate prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds.
• Preschool: not through PEP. Step Up’s Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) starts at age 3 for students with a qualifying diagnosis, and Step Up says it can pay preschool tuition and fees at an eligible private school.

Step Up’s PEP page describes eligible students as “Students in grades K–12 who are not enrolled full time in a public or private school.” Its handbook lists the age rules: a student must “Be age five (5) or older on or before September 1 st of the school year of the scholarship application” and be younger than 21 on or before September 1 of the year the application is submitted.

Florida law draws the same line. Fla. Stat. 1002.395 sets out separate responsibilities for a parent whose student will be enrolled full time in an eligible private school and for a parent whose student “will not be enrolled full time in a public or private school”. That second group applies as personalized education (PEP) students.

PEP is also separate from a home education program, which has its own rules. See how PEP differs from home education.

Step Up’s handbook says PEP students may:

• Enroll part-time at an eligible private school
• Enroll full-time only if attending a Hybrid eligible private school

The purchasing guide says tuition and fees at an eligible private school are eligible PEP expenses “as long as the student is not attending the private school on a full-time basis.” It also says not all private schools are eligible to participate or receive PEP funds.

A Hybrid eligible private school is approved by the Florida Department of Education. The handbook says PEP students attend in person at least two full school days per week, and the Student Learning Plan must address the remaining instructional time. It adds: “Full-time enrollment in a Hybrid eligible private school is not the same as full-time enrollment in a traditional eligible private school, which is prohibited under FTC-PEP.” To find one, the purchasing guide points to the Florida Private Schools Directory: select your county, then select PEP Hybrid Schools.

How to pay, per the handbook:

• PEP students may pay for part-time private school classes and Hybrid programs directly through the EMA Marketplace at participating schools, or by reimbursement.
• PEP students may not use the school enrollment function in EMA, which the handbook says is “for full-time, in-person learners only.”

The purchasing guide lists school fees PEP can pay, such as registration, book, activity, technology, and test fees, and fees it can’t, such as before or after-school care, food fees, and nursery or daycare fees. For other everyday purchases, see what PEP covers.

If you want full-time private school: Step Up’s Private School Scholarship, offered through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO), covers tuition and fees at eligible private schools. Step Up says it is worth an average of $8,000. Changing programs mid-year has its own windows and limits; see what’s new for PEP in 2026–27 and check with Step Up before you request a switch.

Step Up’s PEP page lists tuition and fees “At an eligible postsecondary institution” among eligible expenses. The purchasing guide says tuition and fees for enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution, or a program it offers, are eligible PEP expenses. Its list of eligible institutions:

The guide says schools outside Florida may be approved if they take part in a reciprocity agreement under s. 1000.35. It also lists:

• Dual enrollment at an approved postsecondary institution. Step Up’s FAQ says PEP students won’t have to pay for free dual enrollment programs from their PEP account; the homeschool guide covers the articulation agreement.
• FLDOE approved pre-apprenticeship programs, for a course “designed to prepare a person 16 years of age or older to become an apprentice.”
• Assessments related to postsecondary education, such as AP exams and industry certification exams.

One limit to keep in mind: these are PEP expenses, so they only apply while the student is a PEP student. The age rule above (younger than 21 on or before September 1 of the application year) still applies.

PEP doesn’t start until age 5. Step Up’s PEP page says “Students must be at least 5 years old by September 1.”

VPK is a separate state program. Fla. Stat. 1002.53 says a child who resides in Florida and “will have attained the age of 4 years on or before September 1 of the school year” is eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program during that school year or the following one. Ask your local early learning coalition about VPK; Step Up doesn’t run it.

For preschool-age children with a qualifying diagnosis, look at FES-UA. Step Up’s Unique Abilities page lists eligible students as Florida residents “between the ages of 3 and 22 years old or grade 12, whichever comes first,” with a qualifying diagnosis. Its FAQ says:

• FES-UA funds “may be used to cover preschool tuition and fees at an eligible private school.”
• Students may use FES-UA and VPK at an eligible private school at the same time.
• Students may not use FES-UA and VPK’s Specialized Instructional Services (VPK-SIS) at the same time.

One wording to know about. The PEP handbook’s withdrawal section lists “New students who are ages 3 or 4 years old” among students who don’t need a Standard Withdrawal Form. The same handbook’s eligibility list, and Step Up’s PEP page, say a PEP student must be at least 5 by September 1. The handbook doesn’t explain the difference. If you have a younger child, ask Step Up which program fits before you apply. The Customer Engagement Center is at (877) 735-7837.