We are at the FPEA convention this weekend, and I was able to get clarification from our Step Up contact on a question I've been getting often.
About accessing remaining PEP funds after graduation:
Parents have been asking whether they need to complete a renewal application even if their student is graduating this year, in order to have access to the student's remaining funds after graduation.
The answer for anyone in the Legacy system is Yes. You will need to complete a renewal and check the box saying that your student has graduated but will be a "continuing student."
However...
The answer for anyone in EMA would be No. The EMA renewal application does not have that checkbox, and for students whose accounts are in EMA, you do not need to complete a renewal. You will automatically still have access to use any remaining funds for qualifying expenses after graduation.
*A small update as of 5-29-24, after receiving clarification from our Step Up contact! Families that were previously in Legacy will still be renewing in EMA, but they should renew in order to have access to funds (since everything is being switched to EMA) and they will have the "continuing student" option on the application. Families that were in EMA the whole time do not need to do anything in order to have access to funds after graduation.