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News & Policy Update

October 31 Step Up cutoff: what receipts must go in now.

If you paid out-of-pocket for Florida PEP learning materials between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, the submission window closes October 31, 2026. Here is what receipts must be uploaded into EMA before midnight, what happens if you miss the cutoff, and how to verify your proof of payment.

  • ProgramFlorida PEP, through Step Up for Students
  • Checked

For Florida PEP families whose scholarship is managed by Step Up for Students. AAA Scholarship Foundation publishes its own dates. Independent guide, not affiliated with Step Up; when anything here differs from Step Up’s current pages, Step Up is right.

A Florida parent organizing homeschool receipts, calculator, and laptop for the October 31 Step Up reimbursement cutoff
Florida PEP families have until October 31, 2026 to submit reimbursement requests for 2025–26 qualifying educational purchases in EMA.

Quick answers.

Which receipts expire after the October 31, 2026 Step Up deadline?
Reimbursement claims for purchases made between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 must be submitted in EMA by October 31, 2026. After this date, Step Up’s submission window for the 2025–26 school year closes.
Can I submit 2026–27 purchases after October 31?
Yes. Eligible purchases made between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 belong to the 2026–27 school year, and Step Up’s request window for those claims remains open until July 31, 2027.
What proof of payment is required to avoid reimbursement rejection?
Step Up requires receipts to show the merchant name, itemized description, date of purchase, amount paid, and proof of payment such as the last four digits of the payment card or a zero balance.
What should I do if Step Up denies my reimbursement request?
If a request is rejected, Step Up allows one appeal submitted directly in EMA using the Appeal button. Step Up specifies that appeal requests submitted via email are not reviewed.

The October 31 cutoff.

For Florida families using the Personalized Education Program (PEP) through Step Up for Students, October 31, 2026 is the hard cutoff to file reimbursement requests for any qualified purchases made during the 2025–26 scholarship year.

If you bought books, curriculum packages, instructional software, or learning supplies between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 and haven't claimed them in EMA, those receipts become ineligible once the clock strikes midnight on Halloween.

Here is what you need to check right now so your reimbursement isn't delayed or denied.

The cutoff rule: which receipts expire.

Step Up divides eligible expenses strictly by the academic year in which the purchase occurred:

Date of Purchase School Year Reimbursement Deadline Status
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 2025–26 October 31, 2026 Cutoff Approaching
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 2026–27 July 31, 2027 Open

If you bought learning materials this past spring or early summer prior to June 30, 2026, do not assume they roll forward indefinitely. After October 31, 2026, Step Up's claim portal for 2025–26 purchases shuts down.

For a complete walkthrough of date calculations, see our PEP reimbursement deadline checklist.

3 fatal receipt flaws that trigger rejections.

When families rush to submit claims right before a deadline, simple documentation oversights cause requests to be placed on hold or rejected:

  1. Missing proof of payment: An order confirmation or invoice is not enough on its own. Step Up requires clear evidence that the total balance was paid, such as a credit card receipt displaying the last four digits of the card or an invoice marked with a zero balance. Review our guide on proof of payment requirements before uploading.
  2. Unitemized receipts: Credit card statements or generic cash register slips that only show a lump sum amount without describing each educational item cannot be approved.
  3. Missing delivery confirmation: For online orders shipped to your home, Step Up requires documentation showing the items were delivered. An order placed in late June that lacks proof of fulfillment can hold up your claim.

To understand review queues and turnaround times after you click submit, see how long a Step Up reimbursement takes.

Submitting in EMA: action checklist.

Do not wait until 11:59 PM on October 31. Server traffic on Step Up's Education Market Assistant (EMA) portal surges during deadline evenings. If you are running against the clock, follow our urgent triage checklist on what Step Up receipts expire in 48 hours. If you are unfamiliar with the portal navigation, review submitting requests in EMA first.

Follow these 4 steps today:

  • Step 1: Gather your 2025–26 invoices. Check Amazon order histories, local book sales, and educational subscription receipts dated between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
  • Step 2: Check legible scans. Ensure receipt files are crisp, right-side up, and in PDF or high-resolution JPEG format.
  • Step 3: Enter line items in EMA. Log in to EMA, select the student, click Reimbursements, and enter item categories accurately.
  • Step 4: Check confirmation emails. Once submitted, verify that EMA assigned a reference number to each submitted claim.

If a submission is ultimately rejected, remember that Step Up allows one appeal directly inside EMA using the Appeal button. Step Up does not process appeals sent by email.

Don’t leave prior-year funds on the table.
The Florida PEP Tracker keeps your purchases, receipt statuses, and remaining allocation organized on your device.
One payment, no subscription: $49 for one student or $69 for a family. See pricing.

Check your receipts

Sources.

All read on October 26, 2026. We re-check them when new editions are published.

  • PEP Reimbursement

    Step Up for Students web page, read October 26, 2026: 2025–26 purchase window July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026, request deadline October 31, 2026, 2026–27 window through July 31, 2027.

    stepupforstudents.org
  • Reimbursement Guide for Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

    Step Up for Students PDF: receipt requirements, proof of payment, line items, and invoice criteria.

    PDF
  • How to Request Reimbursement in EMA

    Step Up for Students PDF: EMA step-by-step submission steps and appeal workflow.

    PDF