Last verified: October 2026. Checked against Step Up For Students' 2026-27 award tables, handbooks and purchasing guides.
How much does Step Up pay for a Lee County student?
Private School Scholarship and PEP: $8,779 (K-3), $8,193 (4-8), $8,001 (9-12). Unique Abilities: $11,345, $10,759 or $10,567 at the base matrix levels, up to $35,056 at level 5.
Which Step Up dates matter for Fort Myers families this year?
November 15, 2026 for new applications; December 15 for award acceptance and Quarter 3 enrollment; January 15, 2027 as the last chance for unenrolled students; February 15 for Quarter 4 transfers; July 31, 2027 for reimbursement requests.
How many Lee schools participate in Step Up programs?
The October 28, 2026 directory shows 55 Lee schools flagged for FTC/FES-EO, 50 for FES-UA and 5 for PEP, out of 71 registered.
How does the money actually reach a Lee school?
Through EMA. Each quarter the school submits the student's enrollment, the parent approves it, and Step Up pays once the state transfers the quarter's funds.
| What it is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| Private School Scholarship: $8,001-$8,779, paid to a school | Not paid to parents, and not for computers |
| FES-UA: from $10,567, parent-directed | Not combinable with the standard award |
| PEP: county award for learning outside full-time school | Not a full-time online school or a computer budget |