Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities
Florida families raising a student with unique abilities have access to one of the most flexible school choice programs in the country. The FES-UA scholarship, also known as the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, gives eligible parents direct control over how funds are used to support a child's education.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship program is one of the largest school choice programs in the United States, serving hundreds of thousands of Florida students. The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) provides funds through a personal education savings account for private school tuition, online learning programs, therapies, private tutoring, and other educational supports for students with unique abilities.
Our guide walks Florida parents through who is eligible for the Family Empowerment Scholarship program, how award amounts are calculated through the Matrix of Services, what the funds cover, and how to apply through an approved Scholarship Funding Organization. We also cover how families use FES-UA to pay for online speech therapy at zero out-of-pocket cost.
Key Takeaways
FES-UA serves more than 140,000 students. Florida runs the largest program of its kind in the United States. During the 2025-26 school year, the program funded more than 140,000 students and provided average annual awards of about $10,000 through quarterly deposits into an education savings account.
Eligibility generally runs from age three through 22. Students must be Florida residents with a qualifying disability documented by an IEP or a Florida-licensed physician or psychologist.
Matrix scores help determine award amounts. Base funding applies to students in Cost Factors 251-253. Students with greater documented support needs may qualify for larger awards.
Funds can cover tuition, therapies, curriculum, and tutoring. Families may use FES-UA for online speech therapy through approved providers using direct payment, which can reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for covered services.
What Is the FES-UA Scholarship?
Who Qualifies for the FES-UA Scholarship?
How Much Is the FES-UA Award? Matrix Levels Explained
The Two SFOs: Step Up for Students vs. AAA Scholarships
What the ESA Pays For: Therapies, Devices, and Tuition
What We See Working with Florida Families
What Is the FES-UA Scholarship?
The FES-UA scholarship is a Florida education savings account program for students with a qualifying disability. Administered by Scholarship Funding Organizations under the Florida Department of Education, the program deposits an average of $10,000 per quarter into a restricted-use account that families use for tuition, therapies, curriculum, and approved services.
Florida law gives parents two paths under the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program for Students with Unique Abilities: the Education Savings Account choice and the Public School choice. Most eligible families choose the ESA path, which allows them to direct funds across multiple providers rather than relying on a single school.
FES-UA replaced the McKay Scholarship, consolidating earlier disability scholarship programs into one flexible funding model. Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarships are the two approved Scholarship Funding Organizations that process Family Empowerment Scholarship applications and disburse funds.
Who Qualifies for the FES-UA Scholarship?
Three rules determine FES-UA eligibility: age and grade, a documented qualifying disability, and Florida residency.
Age, Grade, and Residency Requirements
Students must be between the ages of three and 22 and must not have graduated from high school. To remain eligible for the upcoming school year, a student must be under 22 by September of that year.
Applicants need a Florida residential address. Active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces who have received permanent change-of-station orders to Florida can apply before officially relocating, giving military families priority access during the move.
Public school students cannot keep ESA funds. Enrolling a student full-time in a different public school while on the ESA option counts as a permanent change in participation and forfeits eligibility for that academic year.
Qualifying Disabilities for the FES-UA
A Florida statute lists 23 qualifying diagnoses for the unique abilities scholarship. The list covers autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, hearing or visual impairment, specific learning disabilities (including dyslexia), speech or language impairment, and other defined health conditions.
Students with rare diseases, Williams syndrome, and high-risk, homebound, or hospitalized status are also eligible. Many parents find their child is eligible when they did not expect to qualify, so families with a documented diagnosis should apply and let the SFO verify.
Documentation You Will Submit
Applicants need three documents: proof of the student's age (typically a birth certificate), proof of the Florida residential address, and documentation of the qualifying disability. The disability paperwork can be an active Individualized Education Plan from a Florida school district or a diagnosis from a Florida-licensed physician or psychologist.
The student's parent must request the most recent finalized IEP copy from the school district, including the Matrix of Services pages, before applying. A student's parent typically uploads these documents through the EMA portal, and the IEP and matrix score directly influence the scholarship award amount.
How Much Is the FES-UA Award? Matrix Levels Explained
FES-UA award amounts are not flat. Three factors set the funding total: the school district, the student's grade level, and the Matrix of Services Cost Factor assigned by the local district.
How the Matrix of Services Works
The Matrix of Services is a Florida Department of Education tool that rates a student's special education support needs across five domains, resulting in a Support Level from 1 to 5. The five levels correspond to Cost Factors 251 through 255 in the state's funding formula.
Students at the lowest three Cost Factors (251, 252, 253) receive similar base funding. The jump to 254 and 255 represents a substantial increase tied to documented intensive support needs. Only a local school district can assign or revise a matrix level.
If a student qualifies through a medical or mental health diagnosis but has no formal matrix score, they receive the base 251-253 funding. Parents can request an IEP evaluation from their local school district to determine whether a higher tier applies.
Example Award Amounts by District
For the 2025-26 academic year, base funding for Cost Factors 251-253 ranged from roughly $8,800 in some counties to over $12,000 in Collier County. At the next tier, awards range from approximately $18,000 to $22,000, depending on the district. The maximum tier reaches approximately $25,000 to nearly $30,000 in higher-cost counties.
Award amounts update each school year. The Florida Department of Education publishes a complete district-by-district award table before the new school year begins, and the SFO shares the relevant figures with each family during the application process.
The Two SFOs: Step Up for Students vs. AAA Scholarships
Two approved Scholarship Funding Organizations administer FES-UA: Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarships.
Both are state-approved nonprofits that process applications and manage the ESA, but each runs its own EMA portal, payment timing, and provider lists. Step Up for Students is the larger organization that handles most FES-UA applications. AAA Scholarships also administers FES-UA and historically served as the secondary SFO when Step Up reached capacity.
Families pick one SFO and stay with that organization for the school year; switching mid-cycle is not allowed. Renewal applicants must submit by April 30. New applicants have until November 15 to submit; submitting later may reduce the award.
Walk-Through of the EMA Portal Application
Create your EMA portal account: Register at the SFO's website (Step Up for Students or AAA Scholarships) using a parent's email address.
Select the FES-UA program: Choose the Education Savings Account option (most families) or the Public School option.
Complete the application: Provide the student's information, your Florida residential address, and intended educational use of the funds.
Upload documentation: Birth certificate, proof of residency, and IEP or diagnosis letter from a Florida-licensed professional.
Submit and track award status: Monitor the EMA portal for notifications. Once awarded, accept or decline within the deadline noted in your letter.
Renewal vs. New Applicants
Renewal applicants receive priority funding and a streamlined path. The renewal window is shorter (typically February through April), and missing it drops the family back into the new-applicant pool for that cycle.
New applicants compete for funding based on application order and priority criteria. Priority goes to renewal recipients first, then lower-income families, students in foster care, and military families relocating to Florida under station orders.
What the ESA Pays For: Therapies, Devices, and Tuition
Once awarded, the FES-UA scholarship deposits funds quarterly into a restricted-use education savings account. Parents direct the ESA across approved providers and approved purchases rather than receiving a lump sum.
Approved expenses include private school tuition and fees at participating private schools, private tutoring, online learning programs, instructional materials, devices, and curriculum for home education. The Family Empowerment Scholarship also covers nationally norm-referenced testing for private school students learning at home.
Specialized services are the second major funding category. Parents can pay licensed professionals (speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, behavior analysts) directly through the EMA portal. Approved providers are listed in the EMA marketplace, and families can request reimbursement for out-of-network services that meet program rules.
A portion of the funding can be set aside in a personal education savings account to cover future community college costs or four-year university tuition. Families gain a way to plan for higher education alongside current speech therapy needs.
Family Empowerment Scholarship at Connected Speech Pathology
Check out how FES-UA covers speech therapy at Connected Speech Pathology.
Paying for Online Speech Therapy Through the ESA
FES-UA funds cover speech-language services from an approved provider. Parents pay providers directly through the EMA portal, with no out-of-pocket cost as long as the ESA balance covers the cost of sessions.
Online sessions fit the FES-UA model especially well. The provider submits invoices through the EMA marketplace, the SFO releases payment from the ESA, and the family does not handle reimbursement paperwork. Direct payment also avoids the cash-flow gap of reimbursement-based services.
Who Speech Therapy Helps Under FES-UA
Speech-language pathologists work with FES-UA students across a wide range of communication needs. Children with speech therapy for autism often focus on social communication and language goals. Students with childhood apraxia of speech need motor speech planning sessions that build clear, consistent productions over time.
Other common diagnoses include articulation disorders secondary to Down syndrome or other developmental challenges. Each student's plan is built around the goals on the IEP or the diagnosis documentation.
Older students and teens often work on clarity of speech, expressive and receptive language disorders, or language difficulties that affect classroom participation, academic progress, and confidence.
Children ages three to five can use FES-UA funds for early intervention speech therapy, and many students benefit from social communication skills training that supports peer interaction at school.
Annual Renewal, Aging Out, and Common Mistakes
The FES-UA program requires annual renewal. Families that participated last year receive priority status, but only if they renew within the priority window.
Aging Out at Age 22
FES-UA eligibility ends when a student graduates from high school or turns 22 prior to September of the upcoming school year. Families approaching that boundary should plan ahead, since speech therapy and other supports often continue into adulthood through private pay or insurance.
A portion of the personal education savings account can be reserved for community college costs or four-year university tuition. Older students get a smoother transition into post-secondary education.
Common Mistakes Florida Families Make
Missing the renewal deadline. Renewal applicants who submit after April 30 drop into the new applicant queue and lose priority status for that academic year.
Treating the award like a windfall. Families who do not plan a yearly budget often spend too quickly and run short before quarter four. Mapping out sessions, curriculum, and tutoring at the start of the year prevents the end-of-cycle scramble.
Assuming a purchase is covered. Each year's FES-UA Family Handbook lists approved and excluded expenses. Reading the current handbook before each major purchase prevents reimbursement denials.
Mixing public school enrollment with the ESA. Enrolling a student full-time in a public school while receiving ESA funds forfeits eligibility for that academic year. The Public School option is available to families who want a different public placement within their district.
Waiting on documentation. An IEP in draft or addendum form is not sufficient. Request the finalized version, including the Matrix of Services pages, before you submit the application.
What We See Working with Florida Families
Most students' parents' calls we take open with the same question: "How do I know what my child's matrix level should be?" The families who push for a current IEP evaluation before applying often qualify for significantly higher award amounts, especially when documented support needs sit between Cost Factor 253 and 254. The matrix score is rarely fixed; it reflects what the school district has most recently captured.
A second pattern shows up around mid-year carryover. Families who treat FES-UA as a sprint (front-loading services in fall, then running short by spring) miss the value of consistent weekly sessions. The students who make the most progress use steady weekly speech therapy across all four quarters, with the ESA mapped to that rhythm from day one.
The third thing we see often: parents who think their child does not qualify because the diagnosis is unfamiliar. Rare diseases, Williams syndrome, and dual diagnoses (such as ADHD plus speech sound disorder) regularly come back as approved after the SFO review. The bar for application is lower than most families expect.
Frequently Asked Questions About the FES-UA Scholarship
1. Who qualifies for the FES-UA scholarship?
Florida residents ages three through 22 with a qualifying disability are eligible. Documentation can be an IEP from a Florida school district or a diagnosis from a Florida-licensed physician or psychologist. The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program for Students with Unique Abilities has no household income requirement.
2. How much is the FES-UA scholarship award?
Awards average about $10,000 per year. The exact figure depends on the district, grade level, and the Matrix of Services Cost Factor. Higher matrix tiers receive larger amounts based on documented support needs.
3. Can FES-UA funds pay for speech therapy?
Yes, FES-UA covers speech-language services from approved providers, including online sessions. Parents pay providers directly through the EMA portal, so families have zero out-of-pocket cost as long as the ESA balance covers the sessions.
4. What happens with public school enrollment under FES-UA?
Public school enrollment forfeits the FES-UA scholarship award. Enrolling a student full-time in public school while receiving ESA funds results in cancellation of the award for that academic year. Families seeking a different public placement should use the Public School option rather than the ESA.
5. Is FES-UA the same as the McKay Scholarship?
No, but FES-UA replaced the McKay Scholarship. The program consolidated several earlier disability scholarship programs into a single ESA-based model with greater flexibility in therapies, curriculum, and tutoring.
6. Does FES-UA include a transportation stipend?
No. The $750 public school transportation stipend is a separate Florida program for out-of-zone schools. FES-UA funds focus on educational expenses, therapies, and tuition rather than transportation.
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help
Connected Speech Pathology has been a certified direct provider for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities since 2018. We deliver online speech-language therapy and evaluations to FES-UA students across Florida with zero out-of-pocket cost, since funding covers 100 percent of approved services through direct payment.
Our speech therapists work with the diagnoses that drive FES-UA eligibility: childhood apraxia of speech, autism-related communication, articulation and phonological disorders, expressive and receptive language disorders, and speech impairment tied to traumatic brain injury or hearing loss. Each student is matched with a specialist whose caseload aligns with their diagnosis.
The setup is built around the FES-UA workflow. We are listed as an approved provider in the EMA marketplace, we invoice through the SFO directly, and we contact families to confirm sessions ahead of each billing cycle. Whether your child attends a private school, a different private school, or a home education program, we contact every family monthly with an ESA balance update.
Ready to use your FES-UA scholarship for speech therapy? Contact our team to book a free consultation. Every student's parent meets with our lead speech-language pathologist to talk through their child's specific needs before sessions begin.
Summary
The FES-UA scholarship provides Florida families with a flexible funding option for children with qualifying disabilities. Through the Education Savings Account model administered by Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarships under the Florida Department of Education, families direct an average of $10,000 per year to the services their student needs.
Eligibility runs from age 3 to 22 for individuals with a documented qualifying disability, and the Matrix of Services Cost Factor determines the award amount. Online speech therapy from a certified direct provider lets Florida families use scholarship funds with zero out-of-pocket cost, no matter where in the state they live.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a communication coach, speech-language pathologist, and founder of Connected Speech Pathology, an international online practice providing professional communication coaching and speech therapy for children, teens, and adults. With more than two decades of experience, she has worked in medical and educational settings, published research on aphasia, and leads a team of specialists helping clients improve skills in public speaking, vocal presence, accent clarity, articulation, language, fluency, and interpersonal communication.
