The gate: Registration with FLDOE, then approval as a scholarship-participating private school
What the rules actually say
We have not found a single sentence on the official sources that states the requirement cleanly enough to quote, so we are not going to invent one. The sequence below comes from our own state-by-state research, and every source is linked at the bottom for you to read yourself.
The sequence, in order
1. Form your legal entity + EIN. Form an LLC or nonprofit with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), get a free EIN from the IRS, and open a business bank account.
2. Register your private school with FLDOE. Florida private schools must file an annual registration/survey with the Florida Department of Education. This is the foundation everything else builds on.
3. Get FLDOE-approved for scholarship participation. To accept scholarship funds you must meet FLDOE’s “Requirements for Participating in State Scholarship Programs” and be approved. This approval GATE is unique to Florida — you cannot self-register with the payment platform until FLDOE approves you. FLDOE hotline: (800) 447-1636.
4. Complete Level 2 background screening. Florida requires Level 2 (fingerprint-based) background screening for owners, operators, and personnel of scholarship-participating private schools.
5. Bind liability + abuse/molestation insurance. Carry commercial general liability including educational operations, plus abuse/molestation coverage.
6. Pass facility, fire & health inspections. Florida private schools must meet fire, health, and safety inspection requirements for their facility, handled with your local authorities.
7. Plan for the Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) report. Schools receiving scholarship funds above the statutory threshold must file an annual Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) financial report by an independent CPA. Budget for this ongoing requirement.
8. Activate your Step Up EMA provider account. After FLDOE approval, Step Up For Students emails your school a unique EMA invitation link — you cannot create the account yourself beforehand. Use it to set up your provider account and banking.
9. Set up EMA-compliant invoicing. Families/PEP funds pay through EMA; submit itemized invoices per Step Up’s requirements. Note PEP families also file a Student Learning Plan and annual norm-referenced test scores.
Where founders actually stall
Florida runs two separate things people conflate: registering as a private school with the Department of Education, and being approved to receive scholarship funds. The first does not grant the second. Founders discover this after enrolling families.
What we have not verified
Current processing times for either step. Step Up For Students blocks automated access, so we could not read their published guidance directly. Confirm timelines with them before you commit to an opening date.
We would rather say this than guess. Everything above that is stated as fact carries a link to the primary source, so you can check us.
Sources
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