Florida Step Up For Students Scholarships and Thrive Online Academy
Looking for a Christian education that fits your child’s learning needs and your family’s schedule? Florida scholarships administered by Step Up For Students may help pay for eligible educational services.
Thrive Online Academy’s Florida scholarship participation is through our Family Focused Tutors partnership, as outlined on our financial aid page. Contact our team to confirm which services are available under your child’s specific scholarship before enrolling or arranging payment.
Talk With Thrive About Florida Scholarship Options
What Is Step Up For Students?
Step Up For Students, often called SUFS, is a nonprofit organization that administers several Florida education scholarship programs.
Each program has its own eligibility requirements, approved expenses, and enrollment rules. Knowing which scholarship your child receives is the first step toward understanding how you can use it.
The main options families may encounter are:
| Scholarship | Who it serves | General purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Private School Scholarships: FTC and FES-EO | Eligible Florida K–12 students | Tuition and fees at eligible participating private schools |
| Personalized Education Program: FTC-PEP | Eligible students receiving a parent-directed education | Approved educational services, curriculum, and other learning expenses |
| Unique Abilities Scholarship: FES-UA | Eligible students with qualifying disabilities | A range of approved educational services and resources |
Explore the Step Up For Students scholarship programs to compare your options.
Can You Use Step Up For Students With Thrive?
Thrive lists its Florida participation as approved through our Family Focused Tutors partnership. Families interested in using scholarship funds should contact us to discuss the specific services they need and the scholarship they hold.
Before making a commitment, confirm:
- Which services are available through the partnership.
- Whether those services qualify under your child’s scholarship.
- Which provider name and payment process to use.
- Any costs your family will need to pay separately.
Our financial aid information describes the partnership. It does not establish that every Thrive tuition package is payable under every Florida scholarship.
Contact Thrive to Review Your Scholarship
Which Florida Scholarship Might Fit Your Family?
Personalized Education Program: PEP
PEP supports parent-directed education for eligible K–12 students who are not enrolled full time in a public or private school. Families of all income levels may qualify, subject to residency, age, and other program requirements.
Approved expense categories include instructional materials, tutoring, qualifying online instruction, and certain part-time or hybrid school arrangements.
PEP also has its own participation requirements. Families should confirm how their planned educational arrangement fits those rules before changing enrollment.
Applications for the 2026–27 PEP school year are closed. Step Up lists April 30, 2026, as the deadline for new and renewing applicants and offers notifications for the next application cycle.
Visit the official PEP scholarship page for eligibility, application updates, and program resources.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students With Unique Abilities: FES-UA
The Unique Abilities Scholarship supports eligible Florida students with qualifying disabilities. Families can direct funds toward approved educational expenses, which may include curriculum, tutoring, therapies, home education resources, and eligible tuition.
Step Up reports an average award of approximately $10,000. Individual awards vary, so families should use their own scholarship information when planning expenses.
Eligibility requires qualifying disability documentation and compliance with the program’s age and residency rules. A 504 plan alone does not establish eligibility, according to the Florida Department of Education’s FES-UA guidance.
Review the Unique Abilities Scholarship for current requirements.
Private School Scholarships: FTC and FES-EO
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options help eligible students attend participating private schools.
Florida residents eligible for K–12 public school may qualify regardless of household income. Step Up describes an average scholarship of approximately $8,000, with actual awards varying.
These scholarships have specific school participation requirements. Receiving a private school scholarship does not automatically make every online school or tutoring service eligible for payment.
Learn more about Florida’s Private School Scholarships.
Christian Online Learning With Thrive
Funding is one part of choosing an education. Your child’s daily experience matters just as much.
Thrive offers an online Christian homeschool program for kindergarten through 12th grade, combining learning from home with curriculum, academic structure, and a Christian school community.
Families can explore:
- Christ-centered curriculum.
- Flexible scheduling with academic expectations.
- Personalized academic placement.
- Grading and progress monitoring.
- Plans that include direct support from Christian teachers.
Live teacher support varies by plan. Some students work independently, while others benefit from regular individual instruction.
Tell our team about your child’s strengths, challenges, and current learning routine. We can discuss the educational options available and separately review which services may qualify for scholarship payment.
How Much Could Scholarship Funding Cover?
Your available funding depends on your scholarship, individual award, remaining balance, and approved expenses.
Thrive’s published annual tuition options range from $4,000 to $10,000 before applicable discounts, with application and enrollment fees listed separately. Review our current fees and tuition when comparing programs.
For Florida families, the next step is an itemized review of the services available through the Family Focused Tutors partnership. Ask which charges can be paid with your scholarship and which would remain your responsibility.
Do not assume the full annual award is immediately available or that paying an expense yourself guarantees reimbursement. Review the applicable Step Up purchasing guide before purchasing services.
How to Get Started
1. Identify Your Scholarship
Check whether your child has PEP, FES-UA, FTC, or FES-EO. If you are exploring funding for the first time, compare the programs through Step Up For Students.
2. Contact Thrive
Share your child’s grade, learning needs, and scholarship type. Ask about the services available through our Family Focused Tutors partnership.
3. Confirm Eligible Services and Costs
Review the proposed services, provider information, payment process, and any remaining family expenses. Use the current scholarship purchasing guide to confirm requirements.
4. Complete the Appropriate Enrollment and Payment Steps
Once the educational arrangement and funding are confirmed, follow the instructions provided by Thrive and your scholarship administrator.
Discuss Your Next Steps With Thrive
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Step Up For Students one scholarship?
No. Step Up administers several programs. The scholarship name on your award determines which eligibility and spending rules apply.
Can Florida scholarship funds pay for online learning?
Certain scholarships allow qualifying online instruction and other educational services. Eligibility depends on the scholarship, provider, and expense category. Check the current purchasing guides before committing to a program.
Does Thrive enrollment guarantee scholarship approval?
No. Scholarship approval is separate from Thrive’s enrollment process. Families must qualify through the scholarship program and confirm that the proposed services are eligible.
Will the scholarship cover everything?
Coverage depends on your available award and approved charges. Ask for an itemized cost review so you understand any remaining expenses before starting.
Explore Christian Education for Your Florida Student
Whether your child needs more academic support or your family wants a flexible Christian learning environment, we would love to hear what you are looking for.
Our team can explain Thrive’s programs and help you understand the next steps for exploring services through our Florida partnership.
Scholarship information reviewed September 16, 2026. Confirm current eligibility, application availability, and approved expenses with Step Up For Students.