Florida School Choice Options
Florida offers several state scholarship programs for K-12 students. For families who learn at home, the main option is the Personalized Education Program (PEP). PEP gives an education savings account to K-12 students. It is for students not enrolled full time in a public or private school. It is open to all families, regardless of income. Step Up For Students runs the program. Applications for 2026-27 closed April 30, 2026. Florida has also opted in to the new federal scholarship tax credit for 2027.
Day to day, PEP funds can pay for approved costs. Award amounts vary by county. These include curriculum, tutoring, online courses, and testing fees. Keep in mind that a PEP student is not a home education student under section 1002.41. PEP has its own rules, so read the family handbook before you apply. Families who homeschool under section 1002.41 can still use many public services. These include dual enrollment, Bright Futures scholarships, and state tests. Home education students may also play sports at a school in their district. Sign up with Step Up For Students to hear when 2027-28 applications open. Then compare the options with your family’s goals. For full details on each topic, open the sections below.
PEP is part of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and gives families an education savings account (ESA) for approved expenses (Step Up For Students: PEP).
Who can apply: Students in grades K-12 who are not enrolled full time in a public or private school, regardless of household income. Students must be at least 5 by September 1 and younger than 21 on or before September 1 of the application year, and must meet Florida residency rules or a military exception.
Approved expenses include: instructional materials; tuition and fees at an eligible private school, including part-time and hybrid enrollment; home education instructional programs; dual enrollment and eligible postsecondary courses; private tutoring; approved online providers; Florida Virtual School as a private-pay student; testing fees; and contracted public school services.
Deadlines: Applications for 2026-27 closed April 30, 2026. Amounts vary by county; see Step Up For Students for the 2026-27 amounts and the family handbook (Step Up For Students).
PEP students and home education students are treated differently in Florida law. A PEP student is enrolled with a scholarship funding organization, not registered with the county. Under the 2026 extracurricular law, districts may charge PEP students capped activity fees that the school board has approved and posted by July 1, while home education students pay only what enrolled students pay (Home Education Foundation). Choose the option that best fits your family before you apply.
Florida also offers the Family Empowerment Scholarship, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, the Hope Scholarship, and New Worlds Reading Scholarship Accounts (Florida Department of Education: K-12 Scholarship Programs). Step Up For Students also runs the Unique Abilities Scholarship for students with disabilities (Step Up For Students).
The federal scholarship tax credit (Internal Revenue Code section 25F) begins January 1, 2027, in states that opt in. Florida was on the IRS list of participating states as of October 22, 2026 (IRS: FSTC Participating States).
Under section 1002.41, home education students may take part in sports and other extracurricular activities, dual enrollment, and Bright Futures. Districts may offer exceptional student education related services and career and technical courses. Students may also take statewide assessments and industry certifications offered by the district (Fla. Stat. § 1002.41). See our Florida Homeschool Laws page for the rules.
- Step Up For Students: Personalized Education Program
- Florida Department of Education: K-12 Scholarship Programs
- IRS: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Participating States (as of October 22, 2026)
- Florida Statutes § 1002.41
- Home Education Foundation: The Rewrite of Homeschool Extracurriculars
Last reviewed: November 2, 2026
*The information on this page is for general use only. It should not be taken as legal advice. It is believed to be accurate however state and federal laws change every year. Homeschool.net recommends joining an organization such as the Home School Legal Defense Association before your homeschooling adventure begins. HSLDA can provide complete, accurate, legal advice and services for homeschooling families.
Update History
No changes in law noted since this page was first published.