Step Up For Students Scholarships: What Fort Lauderdale Families Should Know

Thinking about a different learning setting for your child?

Florida’s Step Up For Students offers several scholarship programs, and the right option depends on your child’s age, needs and school enrollment. After attending a Step Up information session, I wanted to share a simple overview for local families, especially parents of young children who are considering a smaller, more individualized learning environment.

Two scholarship options families often ask about, Step Up For Students administers several programs.

Two that families may hear about are the Private School Scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA).

The Private School Scholarship is not a preschool scholarship for every 3- or 4-year-old. Its eligibility is tied to being eligible to enroll in K–12 public school. The Unique Abilities Scholarship is the program that may be relevant to some children starting at age 3.

What is the Unique Abilities Scholarship?

FES-UA gives eligible families an education savings account for approved expenses that support a child’s education. Step Up lists qualifying conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, speech or language impairment, hearing or visual impairment, certain health conditions and being considered a high-risk child. The full list and documentation rules are detailed, so families should review Step Up’s Unique Abilities eligibility information and confirm their child’s situation directly with Step Up.

The scholarship does not use household income as its eligibility test. A child must meet the program’s age, residency and qualifying condition or documentation requirements. A concern about development by itself does not automatically mean a child qualifies. For children ages 3 to 5, however, Step Up’s definition of “high-risk” includes certain developmental delays, subject to the program’s criteria and documentation requirements.

During the meeting, sickle cell was mentioned as a possible example under the program’s “Other Health Impairment” category. Step Up’s published criteria include sickle cell anemia in that category. Because eligibility depends on the specific diagnosis and required documentation, families should ask Step Up and their child’s medical provider whether their child’s particular condition meets the current rules.

If you have questions about your child’s development

If you have noticed that your child may not be meeting developmental milestones, start by discussing your observations with your child’s doctor. You can use the CDC’s developmental milestone checklists and resources to organize your questions. The CDC notes that these checklists are not a substitute for a validated developmental screening or evaluation.

For children who are 3 or older, the CDC also says families can contact their local public elementary school to ask about a free evaluation for preschool special education services. This is a way to seek information and support, not a diagnosis or a guarantee of scholarship eligibility.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ parent resource, “What should I do if I am worried about my child’s development?”, also recommends sharing concerns with your child’s doctor and asking about screening or further evaluation when needed.

The current application deadline and what to do if you miss it

For the 2026–27 school year, new applicants for both the Private School Scholarship and FES-UA may apply through November 15, 2026. Step Up cautions that applications may close earlier if a program reaches capacity, so families who are interested should check the official application page promptly rather than wait until the final day.

If you miss this application window, Step Up has a 2027–28 scholarship updates sign-up where families can request email updates. The 2026–27 application season opened February 1, but Step Up will need to announce the dates for the next cycle. Joining the update list is a good way to keep an eye out.

Can a child use scholarship funds while enrolled in public school?

A student cannot be enrolled full-time in public school and receive FES-UA scholarship funds at the same time. Step Up does say that families may be able to arrange and pay for certain contracted public school services, such as individual classes or activities, using private payment or scholarship funds. The family must follow the program’s rules and make sure the public school reports the child’s enrollment correctly.

There are also specific rules for approved specialized after-school services. Families should check the current scholarship handbook and ask Step Up whether a particular program and expense are eligible before making plans. A child’s regular full-time public school enrollment and scholarship funding cannot simply be combined as two sources paying for the same educational arrangement.

Could Ambassador Kids Montessori be a resource?

Some families want to homeschool but would appreciate help creating a learning routine and finding instruction outside their home. A small, carefully prepared classroom can be one option to explore. The Unique Abilities Scholarship allows eligible families to consider approved educational services and home education options, but each expense and provider must meet Step Up’s current rules.

At Ambassador Kids Montessori, I offer a small classroom for children ages 3 to 5 in the Fort Lauderdale area, with individualized attention and curriculum shaped around each child’s learning needs. I have a master’s degree in education and nearly 30 years of experience working with children.

If you are exploring FES-UA and wondering whether our program may fit your family’s needs, contact me to talk through your child’s age, learning goals and schedule. Scholarship eligibility and payment approval are determined by Step Up For Students, so families should confirm the current requirements with Step Up before enrolling or planning to use scholarship funds.

Learn more:Step Up For Students’ Unique Abilities Scholarship
Questions about Ambassador Kids Montessori?Contact us