MicroschoolLaunchKit
Florida · FES & PEP

How to accept scholarship funds in Florida

Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship and Personalized Education Program put real money in families' hands. Getting set up to receive it is the step that turns your microschool into a school families can afford.

Get the free Florida scholarship checklist →

How the money actually flows

Florida administers its scholarships through a state-approved funding organization (Step Up For Students). Approved families use their scholarship for tuition and approved expenses. To receive tuition payments, your school generally needs to be a registered Florida private school and connected to the funding organization's system so scholarship payments can reach you.

1. Register as a Florida private school with FLDOE. This is the foundation for enrolling scholarship students. Without it, you cannot accept scholarship tuition.
2. Enroll with the funding organization. Connect your school to Step Up For Students so approved families can direct scholarship funds to you.
3. Meet health, safety, and integrity requirements. Background checks and basic compliance are expected, and insurers require the same.
4. Set up compliant invoicing and reporting. Scholarship payments come with documentation and reporting obligations. Clean records are how you get paid and stay clear.
5. Keep your evidence audit-ready. Registration, enrollment, attendance, and expense records in one place — exactly what our evidence tools handle.

The mistake founders make

They assume registering as a private school and getting scholarship payments are one step. They are two. You can be a legal Florida private school and still not receive a dollar until you are connected to the funding organization correctly.

Free: the Florida scholarship checklist

The steps above with current official links and the documents to prepare first.

Sources to verify current requirements: the Florida Department of Education (fldoe.org) and Step Up For Students. Program rules change — confirm every detail on the official sites before acting.

General educational guidance, not legal or financial advice. Independent and not affiliated with the Florida Department of Education or Step Up For Students.