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How to split receipts between siblings for Step Up.

When you have more than one child enrolled in Florida PEP, household learning purchases frequently serve multiple students. Here is how Step Up prorates multi-user subscriptions, family packages, and shared invoices across sibling accounts in EMA, read on November 4, 2026.

  • ProgramFlorida PEP, through Step Up for Students
  • Checked

For Florida PEP families whose scholarship is managed by Step Up for Students. Sourced from the official PEP Purchasing Guide and PEP Family Handbook. Independent guide, not affiliated with Step Up; when anything here differs from Step Up’s current pages, Step Up is right.

Quick answers.

Can I submit one receipt under multiple children in Step Up?
Yes, but you must submit separate reimbursement claims in EMA for each child’s share. Each submission should attach the itemized receipt and clearly explain the split in the educational benefit notes.
How does Step Up prorate multi-user software subscriptions?
Step Up’s purchasing guide states: “If a single-user subscription is available, the multi-user item purchase will be prorated to cover only the student’s portion of the cost.”
Does home internet have to be split between siblings?
No. The PEP Purchasing Guide notes: “In this unique instance, the service will not be prorated to only cover the student’s cost.”
What if an educational item is shared with non-scholarship siblings?
The purchasing guide notes that funding for multi-user items is pro-rated to only cover the scholarship student’s cost. You cannot claim the portions attributable to non-scholarship family members.

The short version.

If you homeschool two or more children through the Florida Personalized Education Program (PEP), buying shared books, lab kits, curriculum boxes, or annual memberships is part of everyday life. But submitting a single shared invoice into Step Up's Education Market Assistant (EMA) requires following strict prorating rules:

  • Each child needs their own claim: You cannot submit one combined reimbursement request in EMA for multiple students. Each enrolled child must have their own reimbursement claim submitted under their individual profile.
  • Prorate multi-user items: Step Up's rulebook states: “Prorating Payments For Multi-User Items: Other family members often use products purchased using scholarship funds. Consequently, funding for these multi-user items is pro-rated to only cover the scholarship student’s cost.”
  • Non-scholarship family members are excluded: If an educational item is shared by three siblings, but only two are funded through PEP, you can only claim two-thirds of the cost across the two PEP accounts. The non-scholarship sibling's share cannot be reimbursed.
  • The internet exception: Home internet is the only regular shared household service that does not need to be split. The purchasing guide confirms: “In this unique instance, the service will not be prorated to only cover the student’s cost.”

Before submitting split claims, you can calculate the exact division in our free interactive sibling split tool.

How Step Up prorates multi-user items.

Step Up's General Purchasing Provisions lay out specific guidelines depending on what type of item or service you are buying:

Purchase Type Prorating Rule What Step Up Requires
Digital subscriptions & apps Prorated to single-user rate “If a single-user subscription is available, the multi-user item purchase will be prorated to cover only the student’s portion of the cost.”
Family admission passes Prorated by individual student ticket “If using a family admission package, reimbursements will be prorated to cover only the student’s cost.” A student's ticket price must correspond to the student's age.
Shared curriculum & lab kits Divided equally among participating students Each participating scholarship student claims their fractional share of the invoice total.
In-home internet service Fully reimbursed without proration Does not require dividing across family members, but itemized extra services must be excluded.

For detailed rules on admission tickets, zoo passes, and theme park limits, see what PEP covers and the PEP Purchasing Guide, explained.

How to submit a split invoice in EMA.

To prevent reimbursement holds or accidental duplicate claim flags when submitting a shared receipt, follow this four-step process:

  1. Calculate each child's portion: Divide the itemized cost by the number of students using it. If an invoice contains both shared items and child-specific supplies, calculate the shared portion separately.
  2. Submit under Child A first: Create a reimbursement request under your first student's EMA portal profile. Enter only Child A's calculated dollar portion, not the total invoice charge.
  3. Add explicit notes in Educational Benefit: In the explanation field, write a clear note, such as: "Shared educational purchase for Child A and Child B. Receipt total is divided equally between 2 enrolled PEP students; this claim represents Child A's 50% share."
  4. Submit under Child B with matching documentation: Switch to your second student's profile, create a separate reimbursement request for Child B's portion, attach the identical receipt, and provide the complementary note referencing Child A's claim.

Make sure your invoice meets all standard documentation criteria outlined in the Step Up proof of payment guide.

Common mistakes that trigger reimbursement holds.

Submitting shared family receipts is one of the most common causes of processing delays. Step Up reviewers flag submissions when documentation does not match the requested amount:

  • Claiming the full receipt total under both kids: If an invoice shows a single purchase and you submit the full invoice amount under both students, EMA's automated fraud detection flags the second claim as a duplicate. Always submit only the prorated portion for each student.
  • Forgetting to prorate family memberships: If you buy a family pass to a science center or zoo, you cannot claim the entire family pass cost. Reviewers will prorate the reimbursement down to the cost of individual student admission.
  • Failing to explain the math: If the receipt says one amount and your reimbursement request asks for a smaller fraction without any explanation in the notes, reviewers may place the claim on hold asking for clarification.
  • Ignoring non-scholarship siblings: When buying curriculum that will be shared with an unenrolled younger sibling, parents must exclude the unenrolled child's share from scholarship requests.

For step-by-step guidance on resolving pending claims, see our Step Up reimbursement guide. If you have questions about specific item eligibility, Step Up's Customer Engagement Center can be reached at (877) 735-7837.

Calculate sibling splits without math errors.
The Florida PEP Tracker includes a built-in Sibling Split tool that calculates exact per-child shares and generates clean submission summaries.
One payment, no subscription: $49 for one student or $69 for a family. See pricing.

Open Sibling Split Tool

Sources.

All read on November 4, 2026. We re-check them when new editions are published.

  • PEP Purchasing Guide

    Step Up for Students web page, last modified October 28, 2026, read November 4, 2026: General Purchasing Provisions (Prorating Payments For Multi-User Items, Single User Designation), and in-home internet exception.

    stepupforstudents.org
  • PEP Family Handbook (2026–27)

    Step Up for Students web page, last modified October 28, 2026, read November 4, 2026: Purchasing Policies, reimbursement documentation, and EMA submission rules.

    stepupforstudents.org