Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is an education savings account for students with disabilities, including autism. It can pay for private school tuition, therapies such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) from approved providers, curriculum and more. Most families must already live in Florida to apply. Military families get two exceptions: one for families arriving on permanent change of station (PCS) orders, and one for renewing families who are ordered out of state but keep Florida as their legal home. This guide explains both, the seat-cap exemption for military children, and how to time an application around a move. For how the scholarship works in general, start with our FES-UA guide.
Can we apply for FES-UA before we move to Florida?
Yes, if you have PCS orders to Florida. The scholarship law, s. 1002.394(3)(b)1., Florida Statutes, says a student may qualify if the student "is a resident of this state or the dependent child of an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who has received permanent change of station orders to this state or, at the time of renewal, whose home of record or state of legal residence is Florida."
Step Up For Students, which runs the scholarship, says in its 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook (last modified September 16, 2026) that a first-time applicant can qualify if they are "a dependent of an active-duty U.S. military member currently stationed outside of Florida but has Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders to Florida."
Step Up defines an active-duty member as "a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard, including members of the Reserve components and the National Guard."
What documents do military families need?
Step Up's handbook sets different proof-of-residency rules depending on where the family lives.
| Your situation | Application type | What Step Up asks for |
|---|---|---|
| Already living in Florida | New or renewal | The usual two Florida proof-of-residency documents (not PCS orders or the LES). Step Up's military families page says these may be from the primary or secondary guardian. |
| Moving to Florida on PCS orders, not yet living here | New | Upload your PCS orders and a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) dated within two months of the application in the Proof of Residency section. The physical address in your guardian profile should match the new Florida unit address on the orders. |
| Arrived in Florida after applying with PCS orders | Update | Update your physical and mailing addresses in the guardian profile and submit new Florida proof-of-residency documents. |
| On the scholarship in Florida, then PCS orders out of state, keeping Florida as legal residence | Renewal | Upload an LES dated within two months that shows Florida as your legal residence, plus your PCS orders, and complete a PCS Order Verification Request in EMA, Step Up's online account system. |
One limit surprises families. Step Up warns that "a parent or guardian with a legal domicile in Florida but who is currently on orders to another state is not eligible to apply for the scholarship for the first time." Past ties, such as having lived in Florida or holding an old Florida ID, are not enough. The out-of-state route is for renewals only.
Does a military child need an IEP or a Florida diagnosis?
The student needs one or the other. Under s. 1002.394(3)(b)4., the student must be "the subject of an IEP written in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education or with the applicable rules of another state," or have a diagnosis of a disability from:
- a physician licensed in Florida under chapter 458 or 459;
- a psychologist licensed in Florida under chapter 490; or
- a physician with an active license from another state or territory, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.
Two things matter for families moving in. First, an IEP written under another state's rules counts. Second, the statute names out-of-state physicians, but lists only Florida-licensed psychologists. If your child's autism diagnosis came from a psychologist in another state, ask Step Up before you apply whether it will be accepted, or use your child's current IEP. Autism spectrum disorder is on the statute's list of qualifying disabilities.
The student must also be 3 or 4 in the year of application or eligible for kindergarten through grade 12. Step Up's handbook says the child must be 3 on or before December 31 of the application year and younger than 22 on or before September 1.
Are military children exempt from the FES-UA seat cap?
Yes. Florida sets a maximum number of FES-UA scholarships each year. The statute set it at 72,615 for 2024-25, with yearly growth after that (s. 1002.394(12)(b)1.). The same paragraph says an eligible student "shall be excluded from the maximum number of students" if the student "is a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or a member of the United States Armed Forces, a foster child, or an adopted child."
Step Up's handbook lists "Children of active-duty U.S. military members" among students who qualify for a cap exception, and explains that they "may still receive a scholarship even if the program is full." It adds an important limit: "A capacity exemption does not extend or bypass application deadlines." EMA will ask for proof of military status, which Step Up says is the service member's LES dated within two months of the application, plus PCS orders if applicable.
When should we apply around a PCS move?
Deadlines follow the school year, not your orders. For 2026-27, Step Up's handbook says:
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Renewal applications | February 1 to April 30, 2026 (accept by May 31, 2026) |
| New applications | February 1 to November 15, 2026 |
| Accept or decline (new students) | By December 15, 2026 |
| Funding cut-off | Only students found eligible and accepted on or before December 15, 2026 can be considered for 2026-27 funding |
As of October 20, 2026, the 2026-27 new-application window is still open until November 15, 2026. If your orders arrive after that, you will likely be looking at the 2027-28 school year. Step Up keeps a 2027-28 interest list; check its site for the dates it announces. Our guide to the FES-UA new application deadline has more detail.
A practical order of steps for a family with PCS orders to Florida:
- Gather your PCS orders, a current LES, and your child's IEP or qualifying diagnosis.
- Create a guardian profile in EMA using the Florida unit address on your orders.
- Apply during the open window and upload documents in the Proof of Residency and Additional Documents sections.
- After you move, update your addresses and upload Florida residency documents.
- Accept the scholarship by the deadline.
If we are ordered out of Florida, can we keep the scholarship?
Possibly, as a renewal student, if Florida stays your legal residence and you complete Step Up's PCS verification. Step Up's handbook lists a move out of state as a reason a scholarship ends, "except for renewing students of active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces who receive permanent change of station orders out of state while maintaining legal residence in Florida." Some rules change while you live outside Florida:
- Scholarship funds may not pay tuition at private schools outside Florida. Only Florida private schools participate.
- Step Up's out-of-state rules say services must be delivered in Florida, except for credentialed providers who can work virtually.
- Approved military families living out of state may be reimbursed for authorized purchases shipped out of state.
Ask Step Up how these rules apply to any therapy you plan to pay for while you are stationed elsewhere.
How does FES-UA fit with TRICARE ABA?
They are separate programs. TRICARE covers ABA through the Autism Care Demonstration as health coverage. FES-UA is an education account. The statute lets FES-UA pay for ABA from "approved providers," which s. 1002.394(2)(a) defines as a provider approved by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a health care practitioner as defined in s. 456.001, or a provider approved by the Department of Education under s. 1002.66. Step Up decides what it will reimburse and requires detailed invoices. See using FES-UA for ABA.
Also weigh the school trade-off. When a student receives the scholarship, the statute says the school district "is not obligated to provide the student with a free appropriate public education." See FES-UA vs public school.
Where Hope Center fits
Hope Center for Behavior Change provides ABA in homes, schools, daycares and our centers, and is in network with TRICARE East (Humana Military). Families can use FES-UA scholarship funds toward balances left after insurance at Hope Center, most often BCBA supervision and parent training. Call us to confirm for your child. We can help you understand your TRICARE ABA benefits with a free benefits check. See our military families page, our PCS to Florida guide, contact us or call 561-337-8865.