Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for online courses & virtual school with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: conditional / pre-authorization; Private School Scholarship: eligible. Florida separates self-paced courses (curriculum), live classes from an approved online provider, and full-time virtual school.
What are the rules for online courses & virtual school in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- A student enrolled full time in FLVS as a publicly funded student loses scholarship eligibility.
- An out-of-state online provider can participate if the state has approved it.
What is not allowed for online courses & virtual school?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Full-time virtual enrollment under PEP
How do Broward families use online courses & virtual school?
9 Broward addresses in the directory include programs with virtual or online in the school name. Some parents also look at a Christian online school such as American Faith Academy (AmFaith). Whichever provider you consider, check its eligibility with Step Up before you enroll.
How does a Broward family pay for online courses & virtual school?
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 online courses & virtual school, and which do not?
Each program treats online courses & virtual school differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Tuition for an online or virtual school approved by the FLDOE, Florida Virtual School when a family pays privately, and approved individual online courses. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Conditional / pre-authorization | Self-paced courses are curriculum and live instruction must come from an approved provider; a full-time online school is not permitted on PEP. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible | An approved online private school can be the school the student enrolls in. |
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.