The Step Up For Students application doesn’t ask for a mountain of paperwork, but the rules around each document are specific. A utility bill that’s ten weeks old, a lease in one parent’s name paired with a driver’s license in the other parent’s name, or a diagnosis report that’s password-protected can all send you back to the upload screen.
Below, we go through the official 2026-27 checklist for new and renewal students in plain language, including the small details that can hold up an application. We’re Moonpreneur, and we teach kids robotics, coding, math, and entrepreneurship through live online classes. We have put this guide together for Florida parents who’d like the paperwork sorted so they can get to the fun part, which is planning what their kids learn.
Which scholarships does this checklist cover?
The 2026-27 checklist applies to four programs run by Step Up For Students, the Florida nonprofit that administers several state scholarships. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) are for students attending an eligible private school. The Personalized Education Program (PEP) is for K-12 students who aren’t enrolled full-time in a public or private school. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is for students with a qualifying diagnosis, starting as young as age 3.
Eligibility rules change each year, so read the current handbook for your program on the Step Up For Students website before you start.
Recommended Reading: 10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a Parent
Where the 2026-27 cycle stands right now
If you’re a new to the system, you may still have time. New applications for the Private School Scholarship (FTC and FES-EO) and the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA) are open until November 15, 2026. PEP is different. Its 2026-27 applications closed on April 30, 2026, and renewal applications for all programs closed on the same date. Some Private School Scholarship and PEP students qualify for a deadline exception and can apply until April 15, 2027, though funding isn’t guaranteed. Families can spend 2026-27 funds between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
Dates and capacity can shift during the year, so check Step Up’s current deadlines and payment schedule before you plan around them. If you’re getting ready for 2027-28 instead, learn the rules now but collect recurring bills closer to your application date, since they have to be less than two months old when you submit.
New or renewal: which checklist is yours?
The checklist says renewal students are returning students who received scholarship funds during the 2025-26 school year. Everyone else applies as a new student.
Step Up’s 2026-27 schedule defines it more narrowly. To count as a renewal, your child must have been funded for Quarter 4 under the same scholarship you’re applying to again, and that scholarship can’t have been revoked the year before. If you miss a renewal deadline, your child is treated as a new applicant. And if your child is switching programs, follow the new student checklist.
What Every Applicant Needs
New and renewal applicants in all four programs need two things: proof of Florida residency and a Social Security number.
Proof of Florida Residency
This is one of the five first lines. You'll need two different types of documents from the accepted list. Both must come from the same guardian.
Documents must be current and valid, with recurring bills or statements dated within two months of your submission. The name must match the guardian's full name and the address must match the current physical street address.
Accepted Document Types
Accepted documents may include utility bills, water bills, driver's licenses or other eligible records. Pairing two different types of documents may be required.
If You're a Military Family
Depending on whether you're moving, additional documentation may be required. Families with active-duty members or orders moving into or out of Florida may need updated PCS orders and a recent LES as proof of residency.
Social Security Numbers
You'll enter a Social Security number for yourself and your student. Some applications require the student's number, while others may allow you to leave the field blank.
Important: Requirements can vary by scholarship program. Check the current official requirements before submitting your application.
Extra Documents for New Applicants
New applicants may need to provide additional documents depending on their scholarship and eligibility requirements.
Proof of Your Child's Age
You'll need a birth certificate or a non-expired passport if your child is applying for FES-UA and is three to six years old. The same goes for FTC, FES-EO, and PEP students who are rising kindergarteners or first graders.
Diagnosis Documentation for FES-UA
New FES-UA applicants need to upload diagnosis documentation. You can upload up to five files, with each file up to 5 MB. Accepted documentation should support the student's eligibility.
Proof of Income
This may apply if you're applying for income priority under FTC, FES-EO, or PEP. You may need documentation covering your household income, including income sources and other qualifying benefits.
Keep in mind: If you leave the income section blank or don't upload proof when required, your application may move into a non-priority status.
New vs renewal documents at a glance
Small mistakes that slow down an application
Most of these come straight from the rules above, but they’re easy to miss when you’re uploading documents on your phone at 10 p.m.
Doubling up on a document type is the easiest one to overlook. Two utility bills count as one type, and so do a mortgage statement and a lease. Mixing guardians is another, like pairing a lease in one parent’s name with the other parent’s driver’s license.
Watch the dates, too. The two-month window counts back from the day you submit, not the day you started the application, so if you began a few weeks ago, look at your bills again before you send everything in.
Read every name and address closely. Your documents need to match the full name and physical street address on the application, so look out for nicknames, missing middle names, old addresses, and mailing addresses that differ from where you live.
For uploads, remove the password from any locked PDF and trim large scans down to the pages Step Up needs. And if you’re applying for income priority, remember that every adult 18 and older in the household needs income documentation, not only the parents.
If you get stuck, Step Up For Students offers live chat and phone support at 1 (877) 735-7837, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
After approval: planning a learning year your child is excited about
Once the paperwork is in, you get to decide what your child will learn this year. This is especially relevant for PEP and FES-UA families, since these scholarships work as education savings accounts that let parents direct funds toward approved educational expenses like tutoring and curriculum.
At Moonpreneur, kids learn by building. In our live, instructor-led online classes, students ages 7 to 18 use learning kits to build and program real robotics projects, and they can also study game development. We teach advanced math for grades 2 through 8, run leadership programs like STEM speech and debate and financial literacy, and offer a college prep program for older students who want to turn a passion project into a stronger college application. Along the way, students build portfolios that show what they’ve created, which is a nice way for homeschooling families to document progress. Florida families can also check our upcoming free robotics workshops to try a hands-on session in person.
Before you enroll with any provider, including Moonpreneur, check Step Up’s Vendor and Product Listing or contact Step Up to confirm the expense qualifies. Eligible providers and expenses depend on your scholarship type and Step Up’s current purchasing rules, and those rules change.
The easiest way to see whether Moonpreneur is a good fit is to try a class. You can book a free trial class with no credit card needed.
FAQ
How many proof of residency documents does Step Up For Students require?
Two. They must be two different document types from the accepted list, and both must come from the same guardian, either the primary or secondary parent or guardian.
Can I use a utility bill that's three months old?
No. Recurring bills and statements must be dated within two months of the date you submit your application.
What happens if my child doesn't have a Social Security number?
Leave the Social Security number question blank. FES scholarships require a student Social Security number, so your child will only be considered for FTC.
Do renewal students need to submit a birth certificate?
The 2026–27 renewal checklist doesn't list proof of age. The birth certificate or passport requirement appears on the new student checklist for FES-UA students age three to six and for FTC, FES-EO, and PEP students entering kindergarten or first grade.
Do I have to submit income documents?
Only if you want income priority on a new FTC, FES-EO, or PEP application. Without income documents, your application is placed in non-priority status, and income-prioritized households are awarded first.
Can I use Step Up scholarship funds for Moonpreneur classes?
Approved providers and eligible expenses depend on your scholarship and Step Up's current rules. Check Step Up's Vendor and Product Listing or contact Step Up before enrolling. You can also ask a free Moonpreneur trial class to see if the program suits your child first.
