Last verified: October 2026
How does PEP, the Personalized Education Program, work for Orlando homeschoolers?
A parent applies through Step Up For Students, files a student learning plan, administers an annual norm-referenced test and spends from the account on approved items. The child must not be enrolled full-time in a school or a registered home education program.
The money can go toward curriculum, tutors, online courses, testing and the tuition of a part-time or hybrid private school.
When can an Orange County family apply for PEP?
The PEP deadline for 2026-27 was April 30, 2026, and Step Up's page now lists those applications as closed. It offers a notification sign-up for when 2027-28 applications open, and no dates had been published when this page was checked on October 28, 2026.
A household that needs a seat this year can consider the Private School Scholarship, which accepts new students until November 15, or Unique Abilities if the child has a qualifying need.
Where can PEP and homeschool students take classes in Orlando?
The Orange County listing flags 41 private schools for PEP, mainly small academies and hybrids. Valencia College also accepts PEP students living in Orange or Osceola County for dual enrollment, provided they submit a PEP articulation agreement and the award letter.
For science, the Orlando Science Center's website describes Homeschool Adventure Days for grades K-8, held monthly from September through May except January, at $50 per non-member student with one adult admission included.
What do PEP families in Orange County usually spend on?
Curriculum and tutoring lead the list. The 2026-27 rules bar PEP funds from paying for laptops, tablets and similar devices, so many households budget separately for a device.
Our spending pages go through every category for PEP, FES-UA and leftover private-school funds.
Homeschool, hybrid and full-time private school
The table lays the options side by side.
| Model | How it is funded | Time on a campus |
|---|---|---|
| Homeschool | PEP account, parent-directed | None required |
| Hybrid | PEP pays the school's part-time tuition | A few days a week |
| Full-time private school | Private School Scholarship paid to the school | A full school week |
Related questions
- What can a PEP account buy?
- Which Orlando hybrids accept PEP?
- How does dual enrollment at Valencia work?
- What does PEP pay in Orange County?
How do I start?
Complete the two-minute funding check and an advisor will call with the amounts and dates that apply to your family.