Florida: Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options
Record Keeping
- Funding Breakdown
Funding Breakdown
- Qualifications
Qualifications
- Student Eligibility
Student Eligibility
- How to Apply
How to Apply
- Usage Explanation
Usage Explanation
- Rollover Funds Explanation
Rollover Funds Explanation
- Guidelines
Guidelines
- State Statute
State Statute
Funding Breakdown
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) in Florida provides funding to eligible K-12 students to support a range of educational expenses. The amount available is determined through the Florida Education Finance Plan (FEFP) which varies based on factors such as the student’s grade level, county of residence, and public school spending for students with disabilities.
The per-pupling amount is calculated as a percentage of the unweighted full-time equivalent (FTE) amount, which is the base per-pupil funding allocated to public schools through the FEFP. The FES-EO provides up to 100% of unweighted FTE amount, plus additional funds from state categorical programs.
A separate appropriation also provides transportation grants that are worth up to $750 for students attending out-of-district public schools.
Example Breakdown based on the 2025-2026 Academic Year
While exact per-pupil amounts for the 2025-2026 school year depend on the final FEFP calculations, which are updated annually, the following figures provide a reliable estimate based on available data.
- Average Scholarship Amount: According to Step Up for Students the average FES-EO scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year is approximately $8,000 per student.
- Maximum Funding: The maximum funding is equivalent to 100% of the unweighted FTE amount plus additional categorical funds.
Funding Breakdown
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) in Florida provides funding to eligible K-12 students to support a range of educational expenses. The amount available is determined through the Florida Education Finance Plan (FEFP) which varies based on factors such as the student’s grade level, county of residence, and public school spending for students with disabilities.
The per-pupling amount is calculated as a percentage of the unweighted full-time equivalent (FTE) amount, which is the base per-pupil funding allocated to public schools through the FEFP. The FES-EO provides up to 100% of unweighted FTE amount, plus additional funds from state categorical programs.
A separate appropriation also provides transportation grants that are worth up to $750 for students attending out-of-district public schools.
Example Breakdown based on the 2025-2026 Academic Year
While exact per-pupil amounts for the 2025-2026 school year depend on the final FEFP calculations, which are updated annually, the following figures provide a reliable estimate based on available data.
- Average Scholarship Amount: According to Step Up for Students the average FES-EO scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year is approximately $8,000 per student.
- Maximum Funding: The maximum funding is equivalent to 100% of the unweighted FTE amount plus additional categorical funds.
Qualifications
- Income Limit: None; Priority to 185% FPL and Foster Care
- Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
- Testing Mandates: State test or nationally norm-referenced tests (students with disabilities exempt if testing not appropriate)
- Special Needs Pathway: None
Student Eligibility
Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship (ESA) program grants eligibility to all K-12 students who are Florida residents and eligible to enroll in a public school.
Priority Explanation
Priority is given to students from households with incomes up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Limit and children in foster care or out-of-home care, with secondary priority for those households with incomes between 185% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Limit. Students previously awarded the Hope Scholarship for bullying or violence in public schools are also eligible for the FES program.
How to Apply
Visit the webpage here.
- Parents fill out a universal application, which applies to both the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) program and the Family Empowerment Scholarship program (FES), but students are granted access under FTC until 75% of all estimated net eligible contributions are used, at which point students may be awarded Family Empowerment Scholarships.
Usage Explanation
Qualifying expenses for education savings accounts include:
- Private school tuition and fees
- Curriculum
- Physical and digital instructional materials
- Tuition and fees for college
- Private tutoring
- Virtual Education with Florida Virtual School or another approved provider
- Fees for nationally norm-referenced testing
- AP exams and industry certifications
- Unbundled courses and services at a public district school
- Feeds associated with a choice navigator
Rollover Funds Explanation
In Florida, unused funds from a Family Empowerment Scholarship for Education Options (FES-EO) account may roll over to the next school year.
Guidelines
Additional Program Guidelines
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Budget Cap: None
- Account Cap: 100% of Formula Funding
Participant and Family Guidelines
- Education Requirements: N/A
- Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
- Disbursement Payment/Frequency: Quarterly
- Reimbursement Allowed: Yes
Education Provider Guidelines
- Accreditation/Approval: State
- Employment Standards: Background checks for teachers and other employees who work with scholarship recipients; Teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, three years of teaching experience or special expertise
- Nondiscrimination: Federal
- Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: None
- Financial: Surety bond or letter of credit if in operation <3 years; Independent financial report if >$250,000 in scholarships
- Miscellaneous: None
Scholarship Organization Guidelines
- Scholarship to Contribution Ratio: N/A
- State Reporting: Quarterly reporting; Scholarship recipients, scholarships awarded and timeliness of reimbursements
- Financial: Surety bond or letter of credit of $100,000 or 25% of scholarships, whichever is greater; Annual CPA audit
- Award Priority: Low-income students (185% FPL or less) or students in foster care
- Miscellaneous: None
State Statute
(Last updated July 15, 2024)