What can a Lee County family use to pay for private school?
10 sources Lee County families can draw on, with eligibility, local dollar amounts and calendar for each.
Last verified: October 2026. Checked against Step Up For Students' 2026-27 award tables, handbooks and purchasing guides.
Florida Private School Scholarship (FTC / FES-EO)
Any K-12 student who lives in Lee County can take this award to a participating private school: $8,779 for K-3, $8,193 for grades 4-8 and $8,001 for grades 9-12 in 2026-27.
Who qualifies →Disability account · Lee matrixUnique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA)
An education account parents control, open to Lee children from age 3 to grade 12 who have a qualifying condition or IEP. The base 2026-27 Lee amount is $10,567 to $11,345 by grade band, and higher matrix levels pay more.
Who qualifies →Home-education accountPersonalized Education Program (PEP)
Florida's education savings account for students who learn outside a full-time private school: homeschool, part-week hybrid campuses, tutoring and online courses, all paid from an account the parent manages.
Who qualifies →Free · age 4Florida VPK (Free Voluntary Pre-K)
A Florida child who has turned 4 by September 1 gets one free pre-kindergarten year at a participating provider, including many Lee church preschools and private school pre-K rooms.
Who qualifies →Income-based · working familiesSchool Readiness (Child Care Assistance)
Help with child care costs for Lee parents who work or study and meet the income test. The subsidy goes straight to the center, church program or school aftercare they use.
Who qualifies →New · starts 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
A new federal program funded by taxpayer donations to scholarship organizations. Florida opted in on January 28, 2026, with Step Up For Students set to operate it via its new nonprofit, the Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsCatholic School Tuition Assistance (Diocese of Venice)
Lee County's diocesan Catholic schools belong to the Diocese of Venice. Families typically apply the state scholarship first, then school-administered need-based aid and Catholic family discounts.
Who qualifies →Florida's second SFOAAA Scholarship Foundation
The other organization Florida authorizes to process the Private School Scholarship. Same county amounts, same participating schools, different paperwork route.
Who qualifies →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
What each campus does on its own: grants based on need, discounts for siblings or church members, and monthly plans. It's often what closes the final stretch of the bill.
Who qualifies →Partner fundEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
A private fund for families at participating church-run and community schools, meant to help with part of what remains after the state scholarship.
Who qualifies →How do the main Florida programs compare in Lee County?
| Program | How it pays | Lee amount (K-3 / 4-8 / 9-12) | Who | What it is not |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private School Scholarship (FTC / FES-EO) | Pays a participating private school | $8,779 / $8,193 / $8,001 | No income cap | Not a home-education account; computers are prohibited |
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Parent-directed account | $10,567-$11,345 base; up to $35,056 at matrix level 5 | Diagnosis or IEP | Can't be held alongside the standard award |
| PEP | Parent-directed account, no full-time school | $8,779 / $8,193 / $8,001 | Not in public school or a registered home-ed program | Main 2026-27 window closed April 30, 2026; computers prohibited |
| VPK | Free pre-K hours at a provider | Free (state pays provider) | Child is 4 by September 1 | Not full-day child care |
Which 2026-27 dates matter?
- Nov 15, 2026Applications close for new 2026-27 students seeking the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) or the Unique Abilities Scholarship (FES-UA).
- Dec 15, 2026A new 2026-27 Private School or FES-UA student must accept the award in EMA by today; the school's Quarter 3 enrollment, approved by the parent, is due the same day.
- Jan 1, 2027The federal Scholarship Tax Credit starts. Governor DeSantis opted Florida in on January 28, 2026, and Step Up plans to run it through the Step Up, Step Further Scholarship Fund.
- Jan 15, 2027Last call for 2026-27: a child with no EMA enrollment by this date won't be considered for this year's funding at all.
- Feb 15, 2027Quarter 4 enrollment deadline, the one that applies to students transferring in mid-year.
- Feb 1, 2027 (expected)The 2027-28 season should open, following the 2026-27 pattern of a February 1 start. Step Up had not posted 2027-28 dates when we checked.
- Apr 30, 2027 (expected)Renewal deadline for all three programs and the new-PEP deadline, if 2027-28 repeats 2026-27. Confirm on Step Up's site before relying on it.
- Jul 31, 2027Last day to submit reimbursement requests for purchases made with 2026-27 scholarship funds.
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