Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for art, drama, foreign-language & other electives with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: eligible; Private School Scholarship: eligible from leftover funds after tuition. Cooking, drama, foreign languages, photography, sewing, woodworking and art, plus their supplies and equipment, all sit under electives.
What are the rules for art, drama, foreign-language & other electives in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- Providers need a credential, a degree, three years of documented experience, or a Florida educator certificate.
- Supplies include paint, canvas, clay, fabric, thread, lumber, solder, batteries and USB drives; equipment such as easels, kilns, cameras, tripods and stand mixers is limited to once every two years.
- Membership dues for Scouts, 4-H, FFA and similar clubs qualify as elective course fees.
What is not allowed for art, drama, foreign-language & other electives?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Costume and fine jewelry
- Household improvements such as irrigation, large appliances or permanent greenhouses
- Gas or electric garden tools
How do Broward families use art, drama, foreign-language & other electives?
Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese are all widely spoken in Broward; a credentialed tutor or an approved online course can serve a language elective, but confirm the provider's credential first.
How does a Broward family pay for art, drama, foreign-language & other electives?
Begin with MyScholarShop, where listed items need no further approval, and next try Find Providers in EMA so tutors, therapists and instructors are paid directly. If neither works, pay by card, save the itemized receipt and ask for reimbursement. Something the guides leave out must be approved before you buy it, and requests for 2026-27 approval stop on May 28, 2027.
Which programs allow art, drama, foreign-language & other electives, and which do not?
Each program treats art, drama, foreign-language & other electives differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Electives, elective supplies and elective equipment. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Same, including drama costumes and accessories added for 2026-27. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Allowed from leftover funds. |
Related questions
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Based on the FES-UA Purchasing Guide (FCSUA and Step Up For Students) and the PEP Purchasing Guide for 2026-27, plus Step Up's "Program Handbooks and Purchasing Guides: Summary of Changes" dated September 16, 2026. Treat this as a plain-language summary and not legal advice, since the handbook of your funding organization governs.