Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for home internet with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: eligible; Private School Scholarship: eligible from leftover funds after tuition. Scholarship money can pay a family's home internet bill, which is unusual among state programs.
What are the rules for home internet in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- The service address must match the residence on the student's application.
- Streaming services left the internet section in the 9/16/2026 revision but remain allowed as educational subscriptions if age-appropriate.
What is not allowed for home internet?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Business plans, mobile-only plans and RV satellite internet
How do Broward families use home internet?
Send the provider's invoice showing the Broward service address and keep it with the account's other receipts.
How does a Broward family pay for home internet?
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 home internet, and which do not?
Each program treats home internet differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | In-home service and mobile hotspots at the residential address on the application, including a modem or router rented through the provider. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | The same rule applies; shared family use does not prorate the cost. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Allowed from leftover funds under the internet section of the Private School purchasing guide. |
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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.