If your family homeschools through Florida's Personalized Education Program (PEP), November is a big month. Step Up For Students lists November 1, 2026 as the date it receives Quarter 2 funding from the state, so the next deposit is on its way to your account.
This guide explains how PEP funding works this school year, the rules worth keeping in mind, and a simple plan for spending your Quarter 2 funds on curriculum your child will actually use.
A Quick Refresher: What Is PEP?
PEP is one of Florida's education choice scholarships, administered by Step Up For Students. It's designed for students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are not enrolled full time in a public or private school, and it's available regardless of household income.
PEP is not the same as traditional home education under Florida law. PEP students are registered with Step Up rather than their school district, and families don't file a letter of intent. Instead, the scholarship comes with its own requirements, including a yearly student learning plan and an annual test.
Applications for the 2026–27 school year closed on April 30, 2026, so this guide is aimed at families who are already enrolled. If you're hoping to join next year, Step Up's PEP page has a sign-up form for application updates.
How Much Is the PEP Award?
PEP award amounts are set each year by the Florida Legislature and depend on your county and your child's grade band (K–3, 4–8 or 9–12). For 2026–27, Step Up's published award table ranges from $7,463 for high school students in Volusia County to $12,217 for K–3 students in Monroe County. Most large counties sit at around $7,600 to $8,900.
Your exact amount appears in your EMA account, and that's the figure to plan around.
When Do PEP Funds Arrive in 2026–27?
Funding is paid in four quarterly installments. These are the dates Step Up receives funds from the state; Step Up says accounts are funded within up to two weeks after each date.
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Quarter 1 (July–September): August 1, 2026 for renewing students; September 1, 2026 for new students and late renewals
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Quarter 2 (October–December): November 1, 2026
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Quarter 3 (January–March): February 1, 2027
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Quarter 4 (April–June): April 1, 2027
Each quarter, families also need to confirm that their child is not enrolled full time in a public school.
What Can You Spend PEP Funds On?
Step Up lists a broad range of approved expense categories for PEP, including:
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Curriculum and instructional materials
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Part-time tutoring
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Tuition and fees for home education instructional programs
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Part-time or hybrid private school tuition and fees
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Approved online and virtual learning providers
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Standardized testing fees, including proctoring
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Contracted services from a public school or district
There are limits too. For example, PEP funds can't be used for digital devices such as computers, laptops or tablets. Step Up updated its purchasing guides in September 2026, so check the current PEP Purchasing Guide before you buy anything you're unsure about.
Three Ways to Pay
All PEP spending runs through EMA (Education Market Assistant), Step Up's online platform. There are three main routes:
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MyScholarShop. Buy curriculum and instructional materials from approved vendors inside EMA, with no money out of your own pocket.
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Direct pay to providers. Services such as tutoring can be billed directly through the Find Providers section of EMA.
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Reimbursement. Pay yourself, then submit a request with your documentation. Step Up says reimbursements can take up to 60 days to process, so factor that into your family budget.
Rules Worth Knowing Before You Spend
Keep your learning plan in mind
Every PEP student needs a student learning plan on file in EMA each year. It's a useful planning tool as well as a requirement: before you buy, ask whether a purchase clearly supports the plan you've written for your child.
Don't forget the annual test
PEP students must take a norm-referenced test (or a statewide assessment) each year and submit the results through EMA before renewal. Testing fees are an allowable expense, so it's worth budgeting for this now rather than in the spring.
Watch the deadlines
The 2026–27 spending period runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and reimbursement requests are due by July 31, 2027. Step Up also notes that an account's balance must be $24,000 or less by each quarter's deadline to keep receiving funds, and that accounts with no spending for two consecutive fiscal years are closed.
A Simple Quarter 2 Spending Plan
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Review the first quarter. What did your child love? What gathered dust? Let that shape what you buy next.
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Check your learning plan. Make sure each core subject has a resource your child enjoys, not just math and reading.
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Choose resources that do double duty. Story-led history builds reading comprehension and vocabulary at the same time as historical knowledge.
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Book the annual test early. Securing a testing slot now avoids a spring rush.
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Keep a reserve. Holding a little back gives you room to follow a new interest or add tutoring later in the year.
Why History Deserves a Place in Your PEP Budget
When budgets are tight, social studies is often the subject that gets squeezed. That's a shame, because history is full of the real stories that hook reluctant readers: pharaohs and pyramids, Roman engineers, Viking explorers and children who lived through World War II. A good history resource can:
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Build reading stamina through stories children want to finish
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Grow the vocabulary and background knowledge that help in every subject
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Encourage critical thinking as children ask "how do we know?"
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Spark writing, art and project work the whole family can share
Where to Find Official Information
PEP rules, amounts and dates can change from year to year, so treat Step Up For Students as your source of truth. Its PEP Family Handbook, Purchasing Guide and payment schedule FAQ have the latest details. Visit the Step Up For Students PEP page to check the current guidance before you spend.
Bringing History to Life in Your Florida Homeschool
If you're looking for a history curriculum that makes every scholarship dollar count, Mysteries in Time is a great fit for PEP families.
Each title pairs an exciting storybook with a history fact magazine, so children follow a gripping adventure and then dig into the real history behind it. From Ancient Egypt and the Romans to the Vikings and World War II, every topic is packed with facts, activities and challenges that build reading skills alongside historical knowledge.
It's secular, flexible and easy to fit around the rest of your curriculum, and because it combines reading and social studies, it earns its place in your learning plan. Explore Mysteries in Time and make history a highlight of your homeschool this year.