What can PEP funds be used for?

Step Up for Students released a FTC FES-EO Purchasing Guide (this post has been updated with the latest as of 4/22/24!) that provides a detailed explanation for use of funds. We have linked this document at the bottom of this post.

Please note that the Purchasing Guide covers approved uses for all FTC FES-EO funds, some of which do not apply to PEP, so please read it carefully! The Purchasing Guide clearly specifies if/when a listed use does not apply to PEP students.

You can also refer to the exact language in the HB1 Enacted document in the Helpful Docs page on our site.

In short, here are some of the major things for which PEP funds can be used:

Curriculum (defined in Florida Statute 1002.394 (2) as a "a complete course of study for a particular content area or grade level, including any required supplemental materials and associated online instruction."

Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time enrollment in a home education instructional program; an eligible postsecondary educational institution, or a program offered by the postsecondary educational institution [See lines 1234-1239 of the the HB1 Enacted document linked above for more info on this.]

• Note: As the Purchasing Guide specifies, full-time tuition is "not an eligible expense for FTC-PEP students."

• Note: Part-time clases at an eligible private school might qualify, but not all private schools qualify under these scholarships. ("Schools must meet state eligibility criteria and elect to participate in the FTC/FES-EO program.")

• Note: Part-time would cover individual courses for PEP students through a qualified home education instructional program like SAINTS, Class Source, etc. (See p.9 of the attached Purchasing Guide for specification on what qualifies as a "home education instructional program.")

• Note: You will not need to take scholarship funds from PEP, etc., to pay for Dual Enrollment at a qualified postsecondary educational institution, because Dual Enrollment is covered under statute 1009.25 under a different scholarship. But if you are doing a private postsecondary institution, that will not be covered.

Pre-Apprenticeship Programs (there are special approval requirements through the Department of Education for this)

Virtual programs (must be offered by a department-approved provider. There is a list of approved providers in the Purchasing Guide. If you would like a different program approved, you would need to go through the Department of Education to get it approved, because Step Up has to use the approved list.)

Certain standardized tests and certification exams (what falls under this category is explained in the attached Purchasing Guide)

Electives and Sports lessons/equipment (what falls under each category is explained in the attached Purchasing Guide)

Instructional materials including books, digital materials, certain types of school supplies, even classroom furnishings... (What falls under each category is explained in the attached Purchasing Guide)

...and some other categories, as well!

There is a lot more detail in the FTC FES-EO Purchasing Guide, which you can access below!

Click below to download that PDF. If you still have questions after viewing this, reach out to us through the contact form here on the website!

(Note: As of 4/22/2024, this is now the UPDATED Purchasing Guide, which contains some clarifications on certain categories, and which Step Up released effective March 2024.)

NOTE:  Step Up is actively taking feedback from parents about the Purchasing Guide, which means we can help shape this program by providing our suggestions for programs and resources to be added, changes to spending caps, etc.! Please reach out to Step Up if there's a change you'd like to see! They have a feedback form specifically for that here.