Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for educational software & subscriptions with scholarship funds?
Learning apps, graphics and photo-editing tools, subscription kits and age-appropriate educational video can all be bought.
Educational software & subscriptions: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Educational software, subscription kits and digital materials are authorized. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Same coverage, priced as a single user; family plans are prorated. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Payable from leftover funds. |
What rules apply to educational software & subscriptions purchases?
- A subscription kit has to suit the child's age and size.
- The guides list graphics and photo-editing software as eligible educational software.
What is not allowed for educational software & subscriptions?
- Gaming subscriptions
- The part of a family plan that is not the student's share
How does this work in Orange County?
Adaptive reading and math subscriptions come up often among Orange County families. Start in MyScholarShop, where the listed items are already pre-approved.
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 technology?
- How much is the Orange County award?
- Which programs can my child use?
- Can funds pay for laptops, tablets & digital devices?
- Can funds pay for home internet?
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.