Florida has two education savings account options that families of autistic children often weigh against each other: the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) and the Personalized Education Program (PEP). Both put state money into an account the parent manages, both are administered by scholarship-funding organizations such as Step Up For Students, and both mean the school district no longer owes your child a free appropriate public education (FAPE) while the scholarship is in use. But they come from different statutes, cover different expenses and run on different calendars. This guide compares them using the 2026 Florida Statutes and Step Up's published information, and explains why FES-UA is usually the closer fit when therapy is part of the plan.
Where does each program come from?
- FES-UA is part of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program in s. 1002.394, Florida Statutes. It is for students with a listed disability, including autism spectrum disorder. Our full guide is FES-UA explained for autism families.
- PEP is part of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program in s. 1002.395. Section 1002.01(2) defines a personalized education program as "the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 1003.01(16) and 1003.21(1) while registered with an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization pursuant to s. 1002.395." PEP does not require a disability.
A student cannot hold both. Section 1002.395(4)(c) bars a tax credit scholarship while the student is "receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to this chapter."
How do PEP and FES-UA compare side by side?
| Feature | FES-UA (s. 1002.394) | PEP (s. 1002.395) |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Florida resident (or qualifying military family) with a listed disability, such as autism, who has an IEP or a diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist | Florida resident (or qualifying military family) eligible for K-12 who will not be enrolled full time in a public or private school. Step Up says PEP is "open to all families, regardless of household income" |
| Ages | From age 3 (Step Up: 3 on or before 31 December of the application year) to under 22 | Step Up: at least 5 by 1 September and under 21 for the application year; the statute ends the scholarship at graduation or age 21 |
| Therapies such as ABA, speech, OT, PT | Named in the statute as "specialized services by approved providers," including "applied behavior analysis services" | Not in the statute's list of authorized uses (s. 1002.395(6)(d)4), and Step Up's PEP page does not list therapies |
| Other uses | Private school tuition, home education costs, tutoring, curriculum, instructional materials and assistive technology, tests, contracted public school services, Florida Prepaid or college savings, and more | Private school tuition and fees (part time for PEP students), instructional materials, curriculum, home education instructional programs, approved virtual programs, tests, contracted public school services, part-time tutoring and choice navigator services |
| Student learning plan and testing | Different rules apply; see the FES-UA Family Handbook | Parent submits a student learning plan, revised at least annually, and the student takes a nationally norm-referenced test or a statewide assessment before renewal |
| Application window for new students | Opens 1 February; accepted until 15 November for that school year (2026-27: closes 15 November 2026) | 1 February to 30 April of the prior school year; accept or decline by 31 May (Step Up: 2026-27 applications closed 30 April 2026) |
| Maximum account balance for new deposits | No deposits once the account balance exceeds $50,000 | No transfers once the account balance exceeds $24,000 |
| Limit on number of scholarships | Funded-seat cap that grows each year, with some groups exempt | For PEP students, 20,000 in 2023-24, allowed to increase by 40,000 each later year (this subparagraph is repealed 1 July 2027) |
| FAPE from the district | Not owed while the scholarship is in use | Not owed: "When the student receives a scholarship, the district school board is not obligated to provide the student with a free appropriate public education" |
Award amounts for both are set by formula and change each year; Step Up publishes current amounts. Step Up describes FES-UA as averaging about $10,000 per student, with higher amounts for students with higher matrix levels. See FES-UA amounts by county. We have not verified a current PEP amount from a primary source, so we do not state one here.
Why does FES-UA usually fit an autistic child's therapy needs better?
The main difference is what the money can pay for. Section 1002.394(4)(b)3 lists "specialized services by approved providers or by a hospital in this state which are selected by the parent," and names "applied behavior analysis services," speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and listening and spoken language services. PEP's authorized uses in s. 1002.395(6)(d)4 cover education costs, tutoring and curriculum, but do not name therapies.
FES-UA also starts younger (age 3), runs to 22 instead of 21, and has a larger account balance limit. Its matrix-of-services system can increase the award for students with higher needs.
That does not mean FES-UA can automatically pay any ABA provider. The provider must be an "approved provider" under the statute, and Step Up decides what it reimburses. Read using FES-UA for ABA and ask any provider directly whether its services can be paid that way before you budget for it.
When might PEP still make sense?
PEP is built for parent-directed learning outside full-time school. It may be worth comparing if:
- your child does not have a qualifying disability or a diagnosis or IEP that meets FES-UA rules;
- therapy is fully covered another way, for example through health insurance, and you mainly need curriculum, tutoring or part-time classes; or
- a scholarship-funding organization tells you a specific need you have fits PEP's uses and not FES-UA's.
PEP is also different from a traditional home education program registered with the district under s. 1002.41. A student participating in a home education program as defined in s. 1002.01(1) is not eligible for a tax credit scholarship (s. 1002.395(4)(e)); PEP is its own track. Our guide to homeschooling an autistic child in Florida covers the options.
Can I switch from FES-UA to PEP, or back?
Switching is possible, but timing is strict. Step Up's 2026-27 FES-UA Family Handbook (last modified 16 September 2026) says:
- switching from a UA scholarship to PEP "must be completed by the April 30 application deadline for the Personalized Education Program";
- UA students whose scholarship was already confirmed could decline it to apply for a different scholarship for 2026-27 by 15 June 2026 (renewal students) or 15 July 2026 (new students); and
- after those dates, families wishing to switch programs "may do so only between October 2nd and the last business day of October."
Dates can change each year, and the handbook has more conditions than we can summarize here. Before you decline a UA scholarship, confirm the current rules with Step Up in writing. Declining one scholarship does not guarantee a place in another.
A decision checklist
- Does my child qualify for FES-UA? A listed disability plus an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis.
- Do I plan to pay for ABA, speech, OT or PT from the account? If yes, FES-UA is the program whose statute names those services.
- Will my child attend public school full time? Then neither applies; both end or are unavailable while the student is enrolled full time in public school. Compare with FES-UA vs public school.
- Am I ready for PEP's requirements? A student learning plan, an annual norm-referenced test and a sworn compliance statement.
- Which window is open now? As of 20 October 2026, FES-UA new applications for 2026-27 remain open until 15 November 2026; PEP's 2026-27 window has closed. See the FES-UA deadline.
- What happens to IEP services? Either scholarship means the district does not owe FAPE while it is in use. You can still ask the district to develop an IEP or matrix for FES-UA purposes.
This is general information, not advice for your family. Step Up For Students, the Florida Department of Education and, for legal questions, a Florida education attorney can answer questions about your child's situation.
How does ABA get paid if not through a scholarship?
Many Florida families use health insurance as the main way to pay for ABA. Hope Center works with Florida Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East, and offers a sliding scale for self-pay. We have not confirmed our status as an FES-UA scholarship provider, so ask us directly before planning to use scholarship funds. Start with a free benefits check, contact us, or call 561-337-8865. There is no waitlist.