Brenda and I were on a call with our Step Up contact this morning, and we have new information to share!
Here are the highlights:
Step Up has confirmed that they will allow the end-of-year standardized tests to be administered according to the test manufacturer's requirements. This means that if a specific test from the Norm-Referenced Assessment list allows for a parent to proctor the test at home, then this will be allowed. Step Up has added wording to their FAQs at the bottom of their PEP info page on the Step Up website to indicate this. (Note: It does still need to be one of the approved tests from the DOE list.)
As I announced in a separate post, MANY people who have been stuck waiting for PEP award verification should hear back this week... maybe even today! You can find more details on this in the post I made earlier today.
DEBIT CARD info: Regarding the debit cards Step Up will be using for reimbursements, there was some concern as to how the funds on the card could be used. It is now confirmed that you will be able to withdraw cash from the cards via certain ATMs (there will be a list of ATMs provided), and/or transfer the funds to your bank account using Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Cash app, etc. They are also working on some videos/FAQs to provide lots more details about the debit cards. Those will be distributed when they're ready. (Update as of 8/25/23: We now have FAQ/info documents from Step Up on how the debit/reimbursement cards will work! You can find them in this post.)
According to Step Up (and according to statute), you can use PEP funds for a full-time private tutoring program. On the call today, though, we asked for some clarification on what that might look like. We were told that: if it's at a registered and eligible private school, a PEP student cannot be full-time enrolled in that private school or it is a conflict with PEP requirements. But, an individual tutor who meets the requirements in statute 1002.43 can provide part-time or full-time tutoring, and those can be paid for using PEP funds.
There are some categories in the Purchasing Guide which are not listed in the PEP statutes in HB1 (such as general school supplies, classroom furnishings, etc.). I asked for clarification on that today, and was told that those categories have been interpreted as subcategories of what are in statute, and for reimbursements between now and December, they are honoring reimbursements for what is in the current Purchasing Guide (as long as it's not one of the categories the Purchasing Guide specifically states does not apply to PEP). The guide will be updated in December, so things may still change. But what's in there right now is what they're using. (NOTE: If you want to see something added or changed in the Purchasing Guide, they want that feedback between now and December! They asked for it! You can submit that feedback on their site here.)
They are still only at 14,000 applications for PEP, and as far as Step Up knows, AAA only has reported a small amount. As of 8/22/23, there are still plenty of the 20,000 scholarship slots for PEP left for this year.
Any virtual/online programs with LIVE instruction will not qualify as "Curriculum." They would either need to fall under the Virtual Programs (meaning the program will need to go through the process to get approved/added to the approved list by the DOE), or they may be able to qualify as a Tutor, if they meet the requirements in the Purchasing Guide for that. Update as of August 24, 2023: Our contact at Step Up has now confirmed that if a live instruction program isn't an approved DOE provider, the instructor can try to qualify as a part-time Tutor as long as they meet one of the criteria in the Purchasing Guide for that. (For example, if they have a Bachelor's degree in the subject area they are instructing, OR have a valid Florida teaching certificate, etc. You can see the full list in the Purchasing Guide found here.)
I have also updated the related FAQs to reflect this new information:
https://www.flhef.org/forum/pep-faq/how-do-the-standardized-tests-for-pep-work
https://www.flhef.org/forum/pep-faq/what-can-pep-funds-be-used-for
https://www.flhef.org/forum/pep-faq/can-the-funds-be-used-for-supplies
I just made an update to this post with a link to a NEW post as of today (8/25/23) with more info on debit cards! See post above.
Where can I find the purchasing guide? Also, our application status hast just changed to FTCPEP; however, I have not received their approval email. Should I wait or cancel our umbrella school now?
Hello all, I want to know if we are going to have access to the scholarshop or it is only refunds
I just made an update to the above post re: the virtual/online live instruction issue. Good news, confirmed today from our Step Up rep as a clarification!
I am wondering if any provision can be made for hiring a native speaker as a tutor for foreign language. I know that tutors are supposed to have FL teaching certification or 3 years of experience, but that can be a challenging to find for foreign language. There are websites like italkie where native speakers can be accessed to improve conversational skills. This is one of my most coveted resources as a homeschool parent since I lack fluency in the language my son is learning. Can we get some clarity and an exception on the qualifications for foreign language instruction?
I have a student who absolutely loves art and photography. Photography was not outlined on the purchase guide. Would this be covered as an elective class? And if so would things like the photography equipment(camera. Tripod, film)/dark room supplies be covered?
Is there a reason the Terranova2/Cat6 is not included in the list besides the DOE not listing it? Is there chance they'll update the list of Standarized Test?
Are Dance classes covered under PEP? I see under 'Electives' in the Purchase Guide that Art Lessons and other types are included but not specifically Dance classes (not sure if that would fall under Elective or technically PE)?
Thank you for all your efforts in deciphering and communicating these details!! God bless you!
Crystal, I saw above where you told someone else, "You can only have on application per student. Had you already applied for a different scholarship for her?"
I applied for FTC/FES-EO (planning to switch to PEP) for my 13 and 7 year olds 8/7/23. Then I learned about the UA Scholarship and two of my kids have eligible diagnoses for that, my 13 year old that was already on the FES-EO and my 4 year old. So, I contacted Step Up to ask if while the FES/PEP application is still showing "Submitted" if I could also go ahead and apply for the UA scholarship for my 13 and 4 year olds. I was told yes - that we could apply for more than one scholarship at the same time, just can't receive funding from more than one at the same time. So, 8/16/23 I submitted the UA application also.
As of 8/22/23, both applications still just say "submitted". I reached out to Step Up today to check on the status of my applications and was told, "It seems we have some kind of issue on our end. I can confirm you have both
FTC/FES-EO and FES-UA applications submitted in your EMA but for some reason, neither application has populated on our side for us to review for you." A ticket was opened and the EMA team is supposed to be looking into it.
Sorry for such a long story, but now I'm hoping I didn't cause any issues by submitting apps for PEP and UA at the same time. This was why I checked first before proceeding. My thoughts were also that if we were too late for UA and got placed on a waitlist, at least we'd be able to utilize PEP for now. Any advice?
I applied for 2 of my 3 students. I held off on my high schooler because the uncertainty around bright futures and dual enrollment. Since then much of this has been clarified. Is there no way to add another student once you have applied? Especially since they are below the number of expected applicants? I know several families that held off because we just didn't know how this was going to work with our older kids approaching college. Or is the only option to possibly add them next year when we renew?
Was anything said about laptops or iPads? It's such a big part of learning in our house!
Hello Crystal,
Soprograms like power homeschool and such won't be covered because they have videos or only the programs that have live videos... not recorded.
While I am not using PEP, but FES EU, the cards are similarly going to be used to reimburse parents for expenses under the statute. When parents are sending the funds back from Zelle, pay pal, or others, how is the deposit going to be reported to the orginal bank account? Can this show up as income or is it going to be reported as reiumbursement? How is accounting for this look like?
RE: Debit Cards.
Did SUFS say if debit cards have been mailed out? Some are saying they won't mail them out until a reimbursement is due, which I feel is a bit different info they first gave out a few weeks back.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for all the helpful information! Couldn't live online instruction also fall under part-time tutoring? I see on p. 12 of the purchasing guide that a valid FL teaching certificate is only 1 of several options-- I was specifically looking at this option: "Has a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree in the subject area in which instruction is given". My kids will be taking part in a once a month literature discussion online that is also paired with asynchronous writing help. This is all with an instructor who would qualify under this requirement. I am really hoping this would qualify without them having to go through the process of getting approved by the DOE.