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Step Up For Students Scholarships

How EMA and FES-UA work for families using our therapy, home education, and enrichment services.

EMA Platform FES-UA Accepted PEP Not Accepted

Two things we separate, so you stay clear

Parents often come to us confused because how we deliver services and how families pay for them get tangled up in the Step Up vocabulary. We keep them separate:

  • 1
    What we do

    Licensed speech and occupational therapy, a home education instructional program, and elective music and art lessons — delivered at our Miami-Dade location.

  • 2
    How you pay

    Through the Step Up EMA platform if you have an FES-UA scholarship, or your medical insurance.

Scholarship we accept

FES-UA via Step Up For Students

We are a listed provider in the EMA Marketplace for FES-UA. Read the summary, then verify current details in the Step Up handbook for your scholarship year.

Accepted
FES-UA

Family Empowerment Scholarship — Unique Abilities

An ESA-style scholarship for eligible Florida students ages 3 through grade 12 (or age 22) with a qualifying diagnosis. Funds are deposited quarterly into the student's account inside EMA (the Step Up platform) and can be used to purchase approved products and pay approved service providers, including specialized services like licensed speech therapy and occupational therapy.

Eligible at our center

  • Speech Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Home Education Instructional Program
  • Music & Art Lessons (as elective enrichment)

Things to know

  • Eligibility requires a qualifying diagnosis (autism spectrum disorder, speech impairment, language impairment, specific learning disability, and others). Eligibility is determined by the scholarship program, not by our clinic. See the full list on the Step Up website.
  • Students ages 3 through grade 12 or age 22, whichever comes first.
  • Florida law allows only one active scholarship application per student at a time.
  • Licensed speech and occupational therapy are listed as eligible specialized services.
  • Home education students under FES-UA must meet Florida home education statute (s. 1002.41) requirements.
  • Rules and eligibility update each scholarship year — verify with the current Step Up parent handbook.
Not Accepted

About PEP (Personalized Education Program)

We do not currently accept PEP at our center. PEP is an ESA option under the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship where parents direct their child's education. It is a separate pathway from FES-UA and from district-registered home education.

If you have PEP, please check the Step Up For Students provider directory for PEP-approved providers in your area. Note that Miami-Dade's home education intent form states that families using PEP cannot simultaneously establish a home education program with the district.

This information is provided for reference only. Always verify with Step Up directly.

EMA Workflow

How EMA works with us

Once your scholarship is active, booking services through EMA is a 4-step flow.

  1. 1

    Log in to your EMA account

    Families access the Step Up EMA platform to manage their scholarship, check balances, and find approved providers.

  2. 2

    Find us under Service Providers

    Search for "Speech and Language Connection" in the EMA Marketplace under the Service Providers tab.

  3. 3

    Authorize the service

    Authorize sessions for billing through EMA. Direct-to-provider payments are typically processed after services are rendered.

  4. 4

    Start your services

    Schedule your intake with us. Once sessions begin, we handle provider-side billing through EMA based on your authorization.

Step Up For Students — Apply for a scholarship today

A few important reminders

  • Rules change. Step Up handbooks are updated regularly as Florida laws and scholarship rules are amended. Always check the current parent handbook before making decisions.
  • Don't double-dip. Expenses already paid by another source (like health insurance) should not be submitted for scholarship reimbursement.
  • PEP and district home education are different. If you have PEP, you cannot simultaneously establish a district-registered home education program.
  • Home education compliance is your responsibility. Florida's home education statute (s. 1002.41) requires notice of intent, a portfolio, and an annual educational evaluation — these are family responsibilities, not provider responsibilities.
  • Lessons vs therapy. Music lessons and art lessons are elective enrichment. Music therapy and art therapy are credentialed clinical services with specific requirements. We provide lessons, not therapy.
Common Questions

Scholarship FAQs

The questions most scholarship families ask us during intake.

Do you accept PEP?

No. We currently accept FES-UA only. If you have a PEP scholarship, please check the Step Up For Students provider directory for PEP-approved providers in your area. We are happy to answer general questions about our services regardless of scholarship status.

What is EMA?

EMA is the Step Up For Students platform that families use to manage their scholarship — from application through purchasing approved products and services. FES-UA transactions flow through EMA.

How do scholarship funds actually get to providers like you?

Families authorize sessions in their EMA account, and direct-to-provider payments are typically processed after a service has been rendered. Step Up also offers reimbursement workflows for families who pay out of pocket and submit for reimbursement.

Can FES-UA cover speech therapy and occupational therapy?

Step Up's purchasing guidance lists licensed speech therapy and occupational therapy as specialized services eligible under FES-UA. Coverage and eligibility details can change each scholarship year — always verify in the current Step Up handbook for your specific scholarship.

Can I combine scholarship funds with my health insurance?

Step Up guidance warns that expenses already paid by another agency or source (including health insurance) should not be submitted for reimbursement. Talk with Step Up directly about how to sequence payments if you have both options available.

What's the difference between PEP and district-registered home education?

They are different pathways. Under PEP, parents direct their child's education through an ESA. District-registered home education follows Florida's home education statute (s. 1002.41). Miami-Dade's home education intent form states families using PEP cannot also establish a home education program with the district.

Can I use my scholarship for music or art lessons?

Music and art LESSONS can typically be included as elective enrichment within a home education instructional program. "Music therapy" and "art therapy" are separate, credentialed clinical services with specific requirements under Step Up. We provide lessons, not therapy — please check the current Step Up handbook for exactly how electives fit within your scholarship.

Do you accept families who are not on any scholarship?

No. We only accept de FES-UA scholarship through Step Up for Students.

Does my child need a diagnosis to qualify for FES-UA?

Yes. FES-UA eligibility requires a qualifying diagnosis such as autism spectrum disorder, speech impairment, language impairment, specific learning disability, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others. The full list of eligible conditions is available on the Step Up For Students website. If you're unsure whether your child qualifies, contact Step Up directly.

Can my child apply for more than one scholarship at a time?

No. Florida law allows only one active scholarship application per student at a time. If your child is denied or you decline an awarded scholarship, you may then submit an application for a different one.

Where can I read the official rules?

The Step Up For Students parent handbook and purchasing guide are the primary sources. Florida Department of Education and your local district also publish guidance on home education. We always recommend verifying the current year's rules directly with Step Up before making decisions.

Ready to enroll or have questions?

We'll walk you through your specific scholarship situation during a free intake call — no pressure, no commitment.

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