The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is not one flat amount. For the 2026-27 school year, the award depends on three things: the Florida county where your child lives, your child's age or grade, and whether your child has a matrix of services at Level 4 or 5. This page reproduces Step Up For Students' 2026-27 award chart for all 67 school districts, explains how to read it, and shows how much a matrix level can change the amount. Amounts are in dollars per school year.
How much is the FES-UA scholarship in 2026-27?
Step Up describes the award as worth an average of about $10,000 per student. Reading the 2026-27 chart directly, the ranges across all 67 districts are:
- Levels 1-3, ages 3 and 4 and grades K-3: $10,402 to $14,381
- Levels 1-3, grades 4-8: $9,818 to $13,781
- Levels 1-3, grades 9-12: $9,627 to $13,585
- Level 4 (254): $21,379 to $25,701
- Level 5 (255): $34,429 to $39,091
Volusia has the lowest figure in every column and Monroe the highest. Most autistic children who qualify with a diagnosis, or with a Level 1 to 3 matrix, receive an amount in the first three columns.
How do I read the award chart?
The chart has five money columns. The first three are all "Matrix Levels 1-3 (251-253)," split by grade band. The first of these is labeled "3 & 4 Years" above "Grades K-3," so it covers both 3- and 4-year-olds and children in kindergarten through grade 3. The last two columns are Matrix Level 4 (254) and Matrix Level 5 (255), which are not split by grade.
Three notes printed on the chart matter:
- "Students with a Level 1, 2 or 3 matrix of services OR those with a qualifying diagnosis from an authorized licensed medical professional will be considered for funding at the Matrix Level 251-253."
- "District refers to the student's county of residence as listed in their 2026-27 scholarship application." It is where you live, not where the private school is.
- Students who had a scholarship in 2020-21 get "the greater of the amount calculated below or the amount the student received for the 2020-21 school year." The statute gives this protection to former Gardiner and McKay scholarship students (s. 1002.394(12)(b)4.-5.).
The chart also says "The scholarship amounts are established annually by the Florida Legislature in the state budget." Figures for 2027-28 will be different, so check Step Up's current chart each year.
2026-27 amounts in the counties Hope Center serves
| County (school district) | Hope Center area | Levels 1-3 (251-253): ages 3 & 4 and grades K-3 | Levels 1-3: grades 4-8 | Levels 1-3: grades 9-12 | Level 4 (254) | Level 5 (255) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach | West Palm Beach center | 11,054 | 10,452 | 10,255 | 22,439 | 35,893 |
| Broward | Fort Lauderdale area | 10,658 | 10,060 | 9,865 | 21,941 | 35,295 |
| St. Lucie | St. Lucie County | 11,170 | 10,586 | 10,395 | 21,590 | 34,640 |
| Hillsborough | Temple Terrace (Tampa) center, Apollo Beach, Plant City | 10,593 | 10,001 | 9,808 | 21,739 | 34,958 |
| Polk | Lakeland, Winter Haven | 10,500 | 9,916 | 9,725 | 21,477 | 34,527 |
| Charlotte | Port Charlotte center | 10,971 | 10,387 | 10,196 | 21,948 | 34,998 |
| Highlands | Sebring center | 10,765 | 10,160 | 9,961 | 22,233 | 35,769 |
| Duval | Jacksonville center | 10,573 | 9,985 | 9,793 | 21,649 | 34,797 |
| Orange | Orlando area | 10,584 | 9,995 | 9,803 | 21,655 | 34,799 |
Hope Center's five centers are in West Palm Beach, Temple Terrace (Tampa), Port Charlotte, Jacksonville and Sebring. We also serve families in homes, schools and daycares in Broward, St. Lucie, Orlando, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Plant City and Apollo Beach. For other areas, call to ask whether we can staff your area.
How much can a matrix level raise the award?
A lot. In Palm Beach County, for example, the 2026-27 chart shows $11,054 for a kindergartner at Levels 1-3, $22,439 at Level 4 and $35,893 at Level 5. Across the state, Level 4 is roughly double the Levels 1-3 amount and Level 5 roughly three times it.
Levels 4 and 5 come only from a matrix of services completed by the school district, which reflects the intensity of services in an IEP. A diagnosis alone is funded at the Levels 1-3 amount. Parents can ask the district for an IEP meeting and matrix, which the district must complete within 30 days. How this works is explained in how matrix levels change your FES-UA award.
What does this look like for a family? An example
Illustrative example only, using the 2026-27 chart. Your child's award depends on Step Up's determination.
A family in Hillsborough County has a 6-year-old in first grade with an autism diagnosis and no IEP. The chart's Levels 1-3 column for ages 3 and 4 and grades K-3 shows $10,593 for Hillsborough. If the district later completed a Level 4 matrix, the Hillsborough Level 4 figure is $21,739. When the child moves to grade 4, the Levels 1-3 amount in that county drops to $10,001 because a different grade band applies.
All 67 Florida districts: 2026-27 FES-UA amounts
| District | Levels 1-3 (251-253): ages 3 & 4 and grades K-3 | Levels 1-3: grades 4-8 | Levels 1-3: grades 9-12 | Level 4 (254) | Level 5 (255) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua | 10,484 | 9,900 | 9,709 | 21,461 | 34,511 |
| Baker | 11,118 | 10,513 | 10,314 | 22,586 | 36,122 |
| Bay | 10,571 | 9,987 | 9,796 | 21,548 | 34,598 |
| Bradford | 11,211 | 10,606 | 10,407 | 22,679 | 36,215 |
| Brevard | 10,539 | 9,955 | 9,764 | 21,516 | 34,566 |
| Broward | 10,658 | 10,060 | 9,865 | 21,941 | 35,295 |
| Calhoun | 11,457 | 10,852 | 10,653 | 22,925 | 36,461 |
| Charlotte | 10,971 | 10,387 | 10,196 | 21,948 | 34,998 |
| Citrus | 10,954 | 10,370 | 10,179 | 21,440 | 34,490 |
| Clay | 10,494 | 9,910 | 9,719 | 21,471 | 34,521 |
| Collier | 12,860 | 12,251 | 12,051 | 23,882 | 37,493 |
| Columbia | 10,837 | 10,232 | 10,033 | 22,242 | 35,778 |
| Miami-Dade (listed as Dade) | 10,909 | 10,304 | 10,106 | 22,361 | 35,884 |
| De Soto | 11,554 | 10,949 | 10,750 | 22,556 | 36,092 |
| Dixie | 11,195 | 10,590 | 10,391 | 22,663 | 36,199 |
| Duval | 10,573 | 9,985 | 9,793 | 21,649 | 34,797 |
| Escambia | 10,566 | 9,982 | 9,791 | 21,543 | 34,593 |
| Flagler | 11,000 | 10,416 | 10,225 | 21,393 | 34,443 |
| Franklin | 12,392 | 11,787 | 11,588 | 23,860 | 37,396 |
| Gadsden | 11,036 | 10,431 | 10,232 | 22,504 | 36,040 |
| Gilchrist | 11,431 | 10,826 | 10,627 | 22,899 | 36,435 |
| Glades | 11,723 | 11,118 | 10,919 | 23,191 | 36,727 |
| Gulf | 12,137 | 11,532 | 11,333 | 23,605 | 37,141 |
| Hamilton | 11,795 | 11,190 | 10,991 | 22,890 | 36,426 |
| Hardee | 11,060 | 10,455 | 10,256 | 22,296 | 35,832 |
| Hendry | 10,512 | 9,907 | 9,708 | 21,980 | 35,516 |
| Hernando | 10,742 | 10,158 | 9,967 | 21,425 | 34,475 |
| Highlands | 10,765 | 10,160 | 9,961 | 22,233 | 35,769 |
| Hillsborough | 10,593 | 10,001 | 9,808 | 21,739 | 34,958 |
| Holmes | 11,403 | 10,798 | 10,599 | 22,863 | 36,399 |
| Indian River | 10,891 | 10,307 | 10,116 | 21,868 | 34,918 |
| Jackson | 11,141 | 10,536 | 10,337 | 22,609 | 36,145 |
| Jefferson | 12,816 | 12,211 | 12,012 | 23,878 | 37,414 |
| Lafayette | 11,522 | 10,917 | 10,718 | 22,990 | 36,526 |
| Lake | 10,446 | 9,862 | 9,671 | 21,423 | 34,473 |
| Lee | 11,345 | 10,759 | 10,567 | 21,963 | 35,056 |
| Leon | 10,923 | 10,339 | 10,148 | 21,514 | 34,564 |
| Levy | 11,244 | 10,639 | 10,440 | 22,712 | 36,248 |
| Liberty | 11,596 | 10,991 | 10,792 | 23,064 | 36,600 |
| Madison | 11,206 | 10,601 | 10,402 | 22,549 | 36,085 |
| Manatee | 10,542 | 9,958 | 9,767 | 21,522 | 34,574 |
| Marion | 10,467 | 9,883 | 9,692 | 21,444 | 34,494 |
| Martin | 11,329 | 10,745 | 10,554 | 22,306 | 35,356 |
| Monroe | 14,381 | 13,781 | 13,585 | 25,701 | 39,091 |
| Nassau | 10,989 | 10,405 | 10,214 | 21,966 | 35,016 |
| Okaloosa | 10,719 | 10,134 | 9,943 | 21,636 | 34,705 |
| Okeechobee | 10,907 | 10,302 | 10,103 | 22,375 | 35,911 |
| Orange | 10,584 | 9,995 | 9,803 | 21,655 | 34,799 |
| Osceola | 10,500 | 9,916 | 9,725 | 21,477 | 34,527 |
| Palm Beach | 11,054 | 10,452 | 10,255 | 22,439 | 35,893 |
| Pasco | 10,494 | 9,910 | 9,719 | 21,471 | 34,521 |
| Pinellas | 10,807 | 10,223 | 10,032 | 21,788 | 34,842 |
| Polk | 10,500 | 9,916 | 9,725 | 21,477 | 34,527 |
| Putnam | 11,010 | 10,405 | 10,206 | 22,478 | 36,014 |
| St. Johns | 10,579 | 9,995 | 9,804 | 21,556 | 34,606 |
| St. Lucie | 11,170 | 10,586 | 10,395 | 21,590 | 34,640 |
| Santa Rosa | 10,474 | 9,890 | 9,699 | 21,451 | 34,501 |
| Sarasota | 11,344 | 10,753 | 10,560 | 22,357 | 35,565 |
| Seminole | 10,541 | 9,957 | 9,766 | 21,518 | 34,568 |
| Sumter | 11,233 | 10,649 | 10,458 | 22,210 | 35,260 |
| Suwannee | 10,795 | 10,190 | 9,991 | 22,263 | 35,799 |
| Taylor | 11,063 | 10,458 | 10,259 | 22,531 | 36,067 |
| Union | 11,281 | 10,676 | 10,477 | 22,749 | 36,285 |
| Volusia | 10,402 | 9,818 | 9,627 | 21,379 | 34,429 |
| Wakulla | 10,807 | 10,202 | 10,003 | 22,275 | 35,811 |
| Walton | 12,534 | 11,950 | 11,759 | 23,472 | 36,522 |
| Washington | 11,422 | 10,817 | 10,618 | 22,890 | 36,426 |
How is the money paid, and are there limits?
- Quarterly payments. The state releases funds to Step Up for deposit in quarterly payments: for renewing students no later than August 1, November 1, February 1 and April 1; for new students no later than September 1, November 1, February 1 and April 1 (s. 1002.394(12)(b)7.).
- Account cap. No funds may be transferred into a UA account with a balance above $50,000 (s. 1002.394(12)(b)11.).
- Not taxable. The statute says scholarship money is not taxable income to the student or parent.
- Deadlines. New 2026-27 applications close November 15, 2026; see what to do before November 15.
The award is not a measure of what your child needs, and it may not cover full private school tuition plus therapy. Compare it with real costs before deciding, and read FES-UA vs staying in public school to understand the rights trade-off.
Can FES-UA pay for ABA?
The statute lists applied behavior analysis among the specialized services the scholarship can pay for when provided by an approved provider. Whether a particular ABA provider can be paid through FES-UA depends on Step Up's rules and the provider's approvals, so ask before services start; see using FES-UA for ABA. Many families use health insurance as the main payer for ABA. Hope Center offers a free insurance benefits check, and you can contact us or call 561-337-8865 to talk about payment options for your child.