Homeschool funding & ESAs in Florida
Florida offers an education savings account (ESA) that homeschooling families can use, plus the scholarships, grants, and tax-credit options below.
Florida ESA program
Personalized Education Program (PEP) / Step Up For Students
~$8,000/yrOpen to all Florida K-12 students. No income requirement.
Runs through: MyScholarShop
Official program & application →Florida pays you across the year. Keep every receipt straight.
Florida runs two homeschool-relevant accounts through Step Up. PEP (the homeschool-style track, ~$8,000) puts money in your account across the year, and anything bought outside the MyScholarShop marketplace is pay-first, submit-receipts; FES-UA (for a child with a documented disability) works much the same. The ESA Wallet snaps each receipt, checks whether it's likely eligible before you spend, and has your batch organized the moment the window opens.
- Snap a receipt the second you get it — no shoebox at reimbursement time
- Eligibility check before you buy, so fewer rejected claims
- Audit-ready records in one place
- Spend tracked per child against your award
These two differ: PEP REPLACES homeschooling (you register with Step Up, not your district); FES-UA layers on top of homeschooling (you keep your notice of intent). Either way you become a scholarship family — good records matter more, not less.
Scholarships, grants & tax credits
ACT Today! Grant
For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k). Covers ABA therapy, speech/OT, assistive and communication technology, safety equipment, and social-skills programs.
Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant
For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP). Funds research-based dyslexia tutoring, paid directly to clinicians.
HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant
For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months). Covers curriculum, books, co-op tuition, testing, tutoring, and school technology.
HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant
For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months. Covers emergency needs plus replacement curriculum and materials. First-time applicants need not be HSLDA members.
MyGOAL Autism Grant
For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need. Covers therapies plus educational, enrichment, and socialization activities not covered elsewhere.
Our Military Kids Grant
For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans. Funds enrichment activities: tutoring, sports, arts, camps, and STEM.
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant
For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines. Covers medical needs not paid by insurance — therapies, assistive devices, and equipment.
Funding programs change often. About Time organizes receipts and checks likely eligibility — it does not file or submit on your behalf. Confirm amounts, eligibility, and deadlines with each program before you rely on them.