Quick answers.
- Can I use Florida PEP scholarship funds to buy LEGO?
- Yes. Step Up’s PEP Purchasing Guide explicitly lists LEGO as an eligible expense under the Learning Manipulatives & Creative Play Items category for tactile learning and academic practice.
- Are KiwiCo, CrunchLabs, or STEM subscription boxes reimbursable?
- Yes. Step Up authorizes Educational Subscription Kits curated by a kit company, provided the kits are safe for student use and provide instructional opportunities.
- Can Step Up pay for board games and learning puzzles?
- Yes. The PEP Purchasing Guide includes board and card games, chess and checker sets, dominoes, and puzzles under authorized manipulatives.
- What types of toys or play items are prohibited by Step Up?
- Step Up prohibits video gaming systems and consoles, general recreational items not aligned with educational instruction, inflatables, and items that pose safety hazards.
The short answer: yes, LEGO and STEM kits qualify.
One of the most persistent myths in Florida homeschool groups is that Step Up for Students rejects anything that looks like a toy or a game.
While recreational video game consoles and general toys are barred, Florida’s Personalized Education Program (PEP) explicitly recognizes hands-on, tactile materials as essential instructional tools. In the official PEP Purchasing Guide, Step Up includes a dedicated category titled Learning Manipulatives & Creative Play Items, which specifically enumerates approved items designed for academic practice.
Furthermore, curated monthly science and engineering boxes are explicitly approved under Educational Subscription Kits.
Whether you are teaching elementary geometry with building bricks or high school physics with hands-on mechanical kits, scholarship funds can reimburse eligible purchases when properly itemized.
For related rules on holiday shopping and sales discounts, see our guide to Step Up Black Friday deals and what PEP covers.
What building items and manipulatives Step Up authorizes.
The PEP Purchasing Guide states that items utilized for tactile learning, academic practice, or creative play are eligible expenses because they provide direct opportunities for instruction. The guide explicitly lists:
- LEGO: Classic brick sets, engineering sets, architecture kits, and robotics components.
- Blocks: Wooden blocks, foam building blocks, and magnetic tiles.
- Board and card games: Math games, strategy games, spelling games, and historical board games.
- Chess and checker sets: Strategy and logic board games.
- Dominoes and puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, and sequence tiles.
- Tactile play sets: Play kitchen sets, water tables, marbles, dolls and accessories, and educational dress-up clothing without fine jewelry.
Keep in mind: Items must be age-appropriate for your scholarship student and purchased to support their home education program.
Rules for KiwiCo, CrunchLabs, and educational subscription kits.
Subscription boxes that deliver monthly hands-on engineering, chemistry, geography, or art projects are popular among homeschool families.
The PEP Purchasing Guide contains a standalone provision for these products:
“Educational Subscription Kits curated by a kit company are eligible for reimbursement.”
To ensure smooth processing when submitting monthly kits like KiwiCo, CrunchLabs, MEL Science, or Little Passports, observe these guidelines:
- Curated by a Kit Company: The company must curate and bundle educational projects specifically for student learning.
- Itemized Invoices: If you pay for an annual subscription upfront, submit the full invoice showing the annual period and individual student assignment. If you pay monthly, submit each monthly billing receipt showing proof of payment.
- Safety and Student Use: Step Up rules require that all subscription materials be safe for student use and provide clear opportunities for instruction.
Where claims get denied: prohibited play items.
To protect your reimbursement claims from being placed on hold or denied, watch out for these common boundary lines:
- Video Game Consoles: The Purchasing Guide explicitly prohibits gaming systems or consoles (including Nintendo Switch and PlayStation). Movement-based systems like Nintendo Wii hardware are restricted under specialized physical education provisions. See our guide to laptop and digital hardware rules.
- Unbundled Retail Toys: General entertainment figurines, action figures, or novelty play items not listed under authorized learning manipulatives face immediate rejection.
- Inflatables and Outdoor Bounce Houses: Inflatable slides and large commercial playground structures are listed as prohibited.
- Live Animals: Kits that ship live creatures (such as live ant farms or butterfly larvae) require caution. While the plastic habitat or observation tank is eligible under Science Lab Materials, live animals are explicitly excluded under Florida purchasing rules.
Formatting your receipts for EMA.
When ordering LEGO or STEM kits from online retailers like Amazon, Target, or manufacturer websites, make sure your receipt shows:
- An itemized line with the exact product name (e.g., "KiwiCo Tinker Crate 12-Month Subscription" or "LEGO Education Simple Machines Set").
- The final price paid after all coupon codes or promotional discounts have been deducted.
- Clear proof of payment showing the credit card last four digits and a zero balance.
For complete documentation standards, consult our guide to Step Up proof of payment.
Tracking hands-on learning expenses on your device.
Curriculum, books, subscription boxes, and manipulative kits quickly add up throughout the school year. Keeping a clear local log of your purchase dates, EMA tracking numbers, and student budget balances ensures you never exceed your annual scholarship allocation.
The ESA Funds Tracker works entirely in your browser without requiring account logins or storing your family data on third-party servers.
Track your STEM kits, manipulatives, and receipt details.
The Florida PEP Tracker keeps your purchases, invoice items, and category allocations organized on your device.
One payment, no subscription: $49 for one student or $69 for a family. See pricing.
More Florida PEP guides.
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.
- 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.
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.
- Can Step Up pay for a laptop?
Can you buy a laptop, computer, iPad, or printer with Florida PEP scholarship funds? Learn what Step Up's handbook and purchasing guide prohibit.
- 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.
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 November 3, 2026. We re-check them when new editions are published.
- PEP Purchasing Guide
Step Up for Students web page, read November 3, 2026: Learning Manipulatives & Creative Play Items, LEGO, blocks, board games, puzzles, and Educational Subscription Kits.
stepupforstudents.org - PEP Family Handbook (2026–27)
Step Up for Students web page, read November 3, 2026: Authorized Use of Funds, Instructional Materials, and reimbursement documentation.
stepupforstudents.org - Step Up for Students FAQs
Step Up for Students web page, read November 3, 2026: proof of payment requirements, invoice line-item clarity, and allowable vendor criteria.
stepupforstudents.org