Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for art, drama, foreign-language & other electives with scholarship funds?
Lessons in cooking, drama, foreign language, photography, sewing, woodworking and art are eligible, as are the supplies and equipment they need.
Art, drama, foreign-language & other electives: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Electives, elective supplies and elective equipment are all authorized. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Same categories. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Payable from leftover funds. |
What rules apply to art, drama, foreign-language & other electives purchases?
- Provider credential rules match those for other electives.
- Supplies cover consumables such as paint, canvas, clay, fabric, thread and wood; equipment like easels, kilns, cameras and power tools is limited to one every two years.
- Dues for groups like Scouts, 4-H and FFA are treated as elective course fees.
What is not allowed for art, drama, foreign-language & other electives?
- Costume jewelry and fine jewelry
- Home improvements and large appliances
- Gas or electric garden power tools
How does this work in Orange County?
Spanish is the foreign language Orlando families ask about most, in a county where the Census Bureau reports that 38.5% of residents age 5 and older speak a language other than English at home (2020-2024 estimate). Either a credentialed tutor or an approved online course works.
How do I buy it?
Begin in MyScholarShop, where every listed item already has approval. Next, search the EMA provider directory for tutors, therapists and instructors who can be paid directly. If neither works, buy the item, save an itemized receipt and file for reimbursement. Anything the guide does not name as eligible needs a pre-authorization request before purchase, and the 2026-27 window for those runs until May 28, 2027.
Related questions
- What else can the scholarship buy under electives & enrichment?
- How much is the Orange County award?
- Which programs can my child use?
- Can funds pay for music lessons & instruments?
- Can funds pay for coding, stem & robotics?
Build my child's spending plan →
Sources: the 2026-27 Step Up For Students purchasing guides for FES-UA, PEP and the Private School Scholarship. These are summaries and not legal advice; your scholarship funding organization's handbook governs.