Last verified: October 2026
Can a Broward family pay for reading intervention & dyslexia programs with Florida scholarship money?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities: eligible; PEP: eligible; Private School Scholarship: eligible from leftover funds after tuition. Structured-literacy programs such as Orton-Gillingham or Wilson can be bought as tutoring, curriculum or a specialized service, depending on who delivers them.
What are the rules for reading intervention & dyslexia programs in 2026-27?
These rules come from Step Up's 2026-27 purchasing guides and its September 16, 2026 summary of changes.
- Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Reading System certifications are named as qualifying tutor credentials.
- A credentialed online provider may be paid even if the provider is outside Florida.
- Diagnostic assessments, first-time or repeat, fall under testing and assessments.
What is not allowed for reading intervention & dyslexia programs?
The items below are excluded or need approval first.
- Programs taught by someone without a qualifying credential
- Medical evaluations outside the listed specialized services
How do Broward families use reading intervention & dyslexia programs?
77 Broward schools report serving a specific learning disability in the state directory. At a school with no reading specialist on staff, a funded structured-literacy tutor is the common way to close the gap.
How does a Broward family pay for reading intervention & dyslexia programs?
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 reading intervention & dyslexia programs, and which do not?
Each program treats reading intervention & dyslexia programs differently, and the table gives the status for all three.
| Program | Status | What the rule says |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Reading help is part-time tutoring if the provider has an approved reading credential, curriculum if a parent delivers it, and a specialized service if a licensed speech-language pathologist does. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | The same tutor credential rules apply, and self-paced online reading programs fall under curriculum or educational software. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Leftover funds after tuition can pay a credentialed reading tutor or an online program. |
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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.