TL;DR: Lee County has a cluster of private schools built around autism and exceptional education, from Lehigh Acres to Cape Coral, and 50 Lee schools in all accept the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA). For 2026-27 a Lee student's FES-UA account starts at $10,567 to $11,345 and can reach $35,056 at the highest matrix level. It can pay a school, a therapist and, once every two years, a computer.
Which Lee County private schools focus on autism and exceptional education?
Seven schools on the Lee register describe that focus in their names. The state's Lee export doesn't list the disability categories each school serves, so the names and the FES-UA flag are the starting point, and a phone call is the next step.
| School | City | Grades | Reported enrollment | FES-UA flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Academy for Autism | Lehigh Acres | PK-12 | 104 | Yes |
| Christian Academy for Autism Lehigh Acres | Lehigh Acres | PK-12 | 53 | Yes |
| Lee Autism Academy | Fort Myers | K-12 | 10 | No |
| In Your Hands Behavior | North Fort Myers | K-5 | not reported | Yes |
| Smart Start Exceptional Student Education | Fort Myers | PK-5 | 4 | Yes |
| Emerge Specialized Education Center | Fort Myers | PK-12 | 6 | No |
| Center Academy Cape Coral | Cape Coral | 4-12 | 39 | Yes |
5 of the seven carry the FES-UA flag as of October 28, 2026. A school without the flag can't receive FES-UA money as tuition, so if you're drawn to one of those, ask whether it plans to register. Beyond these, plenty of mainstream Christian and independent schools in Lee also take FES-UA; the full list is on our Unique Abilities page.
Where are Lee's FES-UA schools concentrated?
Across the whole county, not in one corner. Of the 50 Lee schools flagged for FES-UA, 10 are in downtown Fort Myers, Dunbar and Tice, 10 are in Midtown, McGregor and Cypress Lake, 8 are in Cape Coral, 7 are in south Fort Myers and Gateway, 6 are in Lehigh Acres and Alva, 3 are in Estero, 3 are in Bonita Springs and 3 in North Fort Myers. The Christian Academy for Autism runs two separate campuses in Lehigh Acres, each with its own state record, and the two together reported 157 students. That spread matters in a county as wide as Lee: a family in Cape Coral and a family in Lehigh Acres can usually find an FES-UA school without a cross-county commute, which the scholarship won't pay for. Our FES-UA school list can be filtered by city or ZIP.
How much is the Unique Abilities Scholarship for a Lee County child?
It depends on grade and on the matrix of services. Step Up's 2026-27 table gives a Lee student $11,345 in grades K-3, $10,759 in grades 4-8 and $10,567 in grades 9-12 at matrix levels 1 through 3, which is also the amount for a student funded on a diagnosis alone. Level 4 pays $21,963 and Level 5 pays $35,056. Children with significant needs often benefit from asking the school district for a matrix review.
FES-UA vs. the standard Private School Scholarship: what changes?
Almost everything except eligibility for school. The standard award pays only a school, at $8,779 for a Lee K-3 student. FES-UA is an account the parent directs, worth more at every grade band, and it can pay licensed speech, occupational, physical and ABA therapists, credentialed tutors, curriculum, assistive technology and specialized summer programs alongside tuition.
- FES-UA starts at age 3; the standard award starts at kindergarten.
- FES-UA can buy one computer every two years, with earlier replacement only after pre-authorization. The standard award and PEP prohibit computers.
- A child holds one program at a time.
The therapy piece is often what decides it. A family can keep a child at a mainstream Fort Myers school for most of the day and pay a licensed speech-language pathologist or behavior analyst from the same account, either on campus if the school bills it as an eligible fee or at an outside clinic. Approved providers are paid directly, so there's no need to front the cost and wait for reimbursement.
Our therapy rules page and device rules page cover the details.
Who can sign the documentation?
A medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, physician assistant or psychologist. A Florida or out-of-state IEP also counts, but the signature rule still applies, and documentation signed by a nurse practitioner isn't accepted. The program recognizes 23 conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disability, speech and language impairments, intellectual disability and anaphylaxis. Having a listed condition doesn't guarantee approval, so send complete records the first time.
What dates matter this fall for a Lee FES-UA family?
Three. Step Up's switching window before Quarter 3 runs October 2 to October 30, 2026, for a student already funded on another program. New FES-UA applications for 2026-27 close November 15, 2026. A new student must accept the award by December 15. After that, the next realistic start is 2027-28; Step Up hadn't posted those dates when we checked.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lee County private schools focus on autism and exceptional education?
The Lee register includes Christian Academy for Autism (two Lehigh Acres campuses), Lee Autism Academy, In Your Hands Behavior, Smart Start Exceptional Student Education, Emerge Specialized Education Center and Center Academy Cape Coral; check each one's FES-UA flag.
How much is the Unique Abilities Scholarship for a Lee County child?
$11,345 (K-3), $10,759 (4-8) or $10,567 (9-12) at matrix levels 1-3 in 2026-27, and $21,963 or $35,056 at levels 4 and 5.
Can FES-UA buy a laptop?
Yes: one computer every two years, sooner only with pre-authorization. PEP and the standard award don't allow computers.
Who can sign the documentation?
An MD, DO, physician assistant or psychologist; a nurse practitioner's signature isn't accepted.
Related questions
- How do Lee families match a child to a school?
- What is FES-UA and who qualifies?
- Which Lee schools are flagged for FES-UA?
- Which private schools are in Lehigh Acres?
Sources
- Step Up For Students: 2026-27 FES-UA award amounts
- Step Up For Students: FES-UA Purchasing Guide
- Which disabilities qualify for the Unique Abilities Scholarship
- Step Up For Students: FAQs for 2026-27 deadlines and payment schedules
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