Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for coding, stem & robotics with scholarship funds?
Coding classes, digital production supplies, lab fees, drones and STEM kits qualify as electives, lab fees or subscription kits.
Coding, STEM & robotics: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Programming and digital production are filed as electives, while science, math and computer lab fees go under lab fees and materials. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Same categories, although PEP cannot buy the computer in 2026-27. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Payable from leftover funds. |
What rules apply to coding, stem & robotics purchases?
- A monitor used for programming is a peripheral, available only through FES-UA and only once every two years.
- The person teaching must meet the credential rules.
What is not allowed for coding, stem & robotics?
- Laptops or computers under PEP
- VR or AR headsets under PEP
How does this work in Orange County?
Before paying any Orlando coding or robotics program, find out whether it is an EMA provider. Direct payment spares you the wait for reimbursement.
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 art, drama, foreign-language & other electives?
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.