Paying for private school in Broward: every source
A Broward family has 10 programs and funds to draw on for private, church, Jewish day, hybrid, homeschool and pre-K education. Each entry says who qualifies, how much it pays and which dates matter.
Last verified: October 2026
Florida Private School Scholarship (FTC / FES-EO)
Any Florida K-12 resident can apply, and a Broward student is funded at $8,494 (K-3), $7,896 (4-8) or $7,701 (9-12) for 2026-27, paid to a participating private school.
Who qualifies →Disability ESA · from $9,865 in BrowardUnique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA)
A parent-controlled account for a child from age 3 through grade 12 who has a qualifying diagnosis. In Broward it pays $9,865 to $10,658 at the standard level and more at higher service levels.
Who qualifies →Homeschool ESA · $7,701-$8,494Personalized Education Program (PEP)
Florida's homeschool education savings account (ESA) is PEP. The parent directs it, it carries the same Broward amounts as the Private School Scholarship, and it serves children who are not full-time students in a public or private school.
Who qualifies →No cost · Age 4 by Sept. 1Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) in Florida
Every Florida child who turns four by September 1 can attend a free Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, including at many Broward church preschools and private schools.
Who qualifies →Income-based · Ages 0-12School Readiness (Child Care Assistance)
School Readiness is a state and federal child care subsidy for working or student families, administered in Broward by the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County (ELC Broward).
Who qualifies →New · starts Jan 1, 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
Florida opted into the federal scholarship tax credit on January 28, 2026, and the program begins January 1, 2027, with Step Up For Students planning to administer it.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsCatholic School Tuition Help in Broward (Archdiocese of Miami)
Broward's Catholic schools are part of the Archdiocese of Miami, which serves Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties; most families combine the state scholarship with parish and school-level aid.
Who qualifies →Jewish day schoolsJewish Day School Tuition Help in Broward
A Jewish day school in Broward takes the state scholarship under the same rules as any other participating school, and many also give tuition assistance of their own, based on income, that they may not advertise.
Who qualifies →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance is need-based aid, sibling or member discounts and payment plans offered by the school itself, and it usually closes the gap left after the state award.
Who qualifies →Partner fundEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
A private partner fund for participating church and community schools, meant to help with part of what remains after the state scholarship; terms are confirmed during the funding check.
Who qualifies →Which funding source fits which Broward family?
A family's starting point depends on the child's age and situation, and the table below pairs each common case with the program to start from.
| Situation | Start with | Probably not the right fit |
|---|---|---|
| Child in grades K-12 at a private school | Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | PEP, which is for students learning outside a full-time school |
| Child with a diagnosis or IEP | Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | The standard award, which cannot pay therapists |
| Homeschool or two-day hybrid | PEP | A full-time private school scholarship |
| Four-year-old | VPK | School Readiness, unless the family also needs child care |
| Working family needing child care | School Readiness through ELC Broward | The K-12 scholarships, which do not pay for aftercare |
What are the 2026-27 Florida scholarship deadlines?
- Oct 30, 2026Last day of the fall window for switching between the Private School Scholarship, Unique Abilities and PEP before Quarter 3 funding (the window opened Oct 2)
- Nov 15, 2026Deadline for families applying for the first time to the 2026-27 Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) or the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA)
- Dec 15, 2026New 2026-27 students must accept the award in EMA, and the school must submit enrollment with parent approval for Quarter 3
- Jan 1, 2027Federal scholarship tax credit begins; Florida opted in on Jan 28, 2026 and Step Up For Students has announced plans to administer it
- Jan 15, 2027A student still not enrolled in a private school in EMA after the Quarter 3 deadline must be enrolled by this date to be considered for any 2026-27 funding
- Feb 1, 2027Expected opening of the 2027-28 application season; Step Up opened 2026-27 on Feb 1, so confirm the calendar when it posts
- Feb 15, 2027Quarter 4 enrollment deadline for students transferring from one funded private school to another
- Apr 30, 2027Renewal deadline for all three programs, and the PEP application deadline
Find out what your family qualifies for
A two-minute funding check, then a School Funding Advisor calls you back. No pressure and no obligation.