ChoiceFlowYour steps to apply and get found
Florida, in four calm stages
Direct services · EMA (Education Market Assistant). One sentence, one action at a time.
This legacy tool has detailed rules for three states. Explore other ESA states in My path.
Where are you stuck?
0 of 12 steps doneGetting paid in Florida
You don’t have to pause sales while waiting for approval
You can equip Florida families to buy from you today and give them the exact itemized invoice format Step Up requires for a documented reimbursement request, subject to eligibility and review.
Step Up Direct Pay (in-marketplace)
Approved route
You are approved in Step Up / EMA. Families pay with scholarship funds at zero out-of-pocket cost.
For services: request direct payment after delivery; current processing time varies.
Provider-supplied terms: no fees, direct deposit, and payment within 30 days or less. The handbook does not guarantee these terms.
Parent Reimbursement (out-of-marketplace)
Eligibility still required
Families buy from your own website, then submit your itemized receipt to Step Up for reimbursement.
Family pays upfront and waits for reimbursement.
Family pays your normal price; Step Up reimburses them
Reimbursement works only when your product or service fits an eligible Florida scholarship category and your receipt meets itemization standards.
Step Up paid invoice requirements
- Provider name, contact info, and business credentials or ID
- Student name matching the scholarship recipient
- Date of payment and date(s) of service rendered
- Clear itemization: curriculum title, course name, or tutoring hourly rate and dates — never vague wording like “educational services”
- Amount paid and a zero balance remaining — marked “PAID” or with the payment transaction receipt attached
Crucial provider rule for services
Parents who submit reimbursement requests for services are asked for provider credentials each time they submit. An EMA account for Direct Pay handles this once — for reimbursement, equip parents with your credentials (state license, teaching certificate, or background check) to attach with every paid invoice.
Advance payment & timing rules
2026–27 reimbursement rules—not permission for advance service direct payment.
Up to 4 months in advance
For eligible services, parents can request reimbursement up to 4 months ahead — for example, in September for tutoring through December.
Step Up provider handbook 2026–27 · PDF p. 13Up to 1 full year in advance
May be approved through the remaining school year, up to one year, with a signed/dated non-refundable letter or published policy; not automatic.
Step Up provider handbook 2026–27 · PDF p. 13Fiscal year window
The scholarship year runs from July 1 through June 30. Purchases must be dated within that year, with only limited exceptions for purchases from a previous year. Provider handbook p. 13 lists private-school tuition and fees, HEIP tuition and fees, services contracted through public schools, full-time private tutoring and state-approved online instruction as exceptions. It also gives a part-time-tutor example. That example does not create an exception for every product or service.
Step Up provider handbook 2026–27 · PDF p. 13Florida Step Up reimbursement-ready paid invoice template
PAID INVOICE — Florida Step Up Reimbursement Provider: [Legal business name] Contact: [Address] · [Phone] · [Email] Business ID / credential: [EIN, license or certificate number] Invoice #: [000] Payment date: [MM/DD/YYYY] Student (scholarship recipient): [Student full name] Parent / payer: [Parent full name] Item or service | Date(s) of service | Qty / hours | Rate | Amount [Curriculum title / course name / "1:1 Math tutoring"] | [MM/DD–MM/DD/YYYY] | [10 hrs] | [$00.00/hr] | [$000.00] Total charged: [$000.00] Amount paid: [$000.00] Balance due: $0.00 Payment method: [Card / ACH / check #] · Transaction ID: [ ] STATUS: PAID IN FULL [Optional, for advance payments up to 1 year] This fee is non-refundable. Provider signature: ______________________ Date: [MM/DD/YYYY] Attach: provider credential (state license, teaching certificate, or background check).
Based on the Step Up 2026–27 provider handbook pp. 12–13 used for this tool. For the NWSA scholarship, purchases must go through EMA/MyScholarShop; families cannot use reimbursement. The handbook points to a separate Purchasing Guide for the documents each purchase category needs. That guide is not among the six sources used here.
Pick the right category
Why this matters
HEIP: business, virtual or in-person delivery per the supplied Step Up email, public curriculum and published fees (FES-UA/PEP). Part-time Tutor is separate credentialed instruction.
Category: Part-time Tutor (individual, credentialed)Create individual credentialed accounts
Why this matters
Each tutor/therapist uploads credentials on their own EMA account.
Link individuals to the business account
Why this matters
Approve business first, then link required personal accounts. Payment goes to the business, never the personal account.
Set rates and service descriptions
Why this matters
Note: sports camps can go under Sports Lessons without credentials (2026-27).
Submit invoices per student, per date
Why this matters
Pre-authorizations for 2026-27 due by May 28, 2027.
Hit a wall or got a rejection letter?
Common roadblocks & FAQs