Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for music lessons & instruments with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: eligible; Private School Scholarship: eligible from leftover funds after tuition. Lessons, instruments, rentals, repairs and tuning all qualify as elective expenses.
What are the rules for music lessons & instruments in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- To teach an elective, a provider must show a relevant credential or degree, current enrollment in a program, three documented years of experience, or a Florida educator certificate, which may be valid or expired.
- Only one equipment purchase is allowed in any two-year period.
What is not allowed for music lessons & instruments?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Concert tickets (added to the prohibited list for 2026-27)
How do Broward families use music lessons & instruments?
Check whether a Broward instructor is listed in EMA's Find Providers before you book, because a listed instructor is paid straight from the account and you need no reimbursement.
How does a Broward family pay for music lessons & instruments?
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 music lessons & instruments, and which do not?
Each program treats music lessons & instruments differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Lessons count as electives, and instruments, rentals, insurance, repair and tuning count as musical equipment. Credentialed music therapy is a separate category. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Same, and musical equipment rentals became eligible in 2026-27. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Allowed from leftover funds; a band or choir fee charged by the school is an eligible school fee. |
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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.