Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for laptops, tablets & digital devices with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: not eligible; Private School Scholarship: not eligible. Devices changed more than anything else for 2026-27: PEP now prohibits them, while FES-UA still allows a defined list.
What are the rules for laptops, tablets & digital devices in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- FES-UA allows one computer every two years, and a sooner replacement needs approval ahead of time; PEP and the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) do not pay for computers.
- FES-UA also allows one monitor, headset, printer, speakers or VR headset per two years, and a sooner replacement needs approval ahead of time.
- Under FES-UA, prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids count as assistive technology; smart or AR glasses were added to the prohibited list for 2026-27.
What is not allowed for laptops, tablets & digital devices?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- All consumer devices under PEP in 2026-27
- Smart or augmented-reality glasses
How do Broward families use laptops, tablets & digital devices?
For a Broward child who could qualify for either PEP or FES-UA, device eligibility is now a real reason to prefer FES-UA.
How does a Broward family pay for laptops, tablets & digital devices?
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 laptops, tablets & digital devices, and which do not?
Each program treats laptops, tablets & digital devices differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | One computer every two years (sooner with pre-authorization) and similar devices, peripherals (a monitor, headset, printer or speakers, one purchase per two years), assistive technology, training and extended warranties. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Not eligible | PEP money in 2026-27 will not pay for laptops, desktops, phones, tablets, smartwatches, e-readers, printers, monitors, keyboards, mice, headsets or VR headsets. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Not eligible | Not a permitted leftover-funds category in the 2026-27 guide. |
Related questions
Build my child's spending plan →
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.