Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for food, lodging & child care with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: not eligible; PEP: not eligible; Private School Scholarship: not eligible. Claims for lunch plans, aftercare and camp lodging are rejected most often.
What are the rules for food, lodging & child care in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- Child care for working families is funded separately by School Readiness through the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, and cannot be double-billed to a scholarship.
What is not allowed for food, lodging & child care?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Food
- Lodging
- Before- and after-school care
How do Broward families use food, lodging & child care?
Ask whether the school takes School Readiness payments, because that program, and not the scholarship, is what covers aftercare.
How does a Broward family pay for food, lodging & child care?
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 food, lodging & child care, and which do not?
Each program treats food, lodging & child care differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Not eligible | Food fees, before- and after-school care, lodging and meals are prohibited. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Not eligible | Prohibited. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Not eligible | Prohibited school fees. |
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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.