Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for field trips, museums & florida theme parks with scholarship funds?
The student's own admission to museums, zoos, parks and ticketed performances is purchasable, and so is one theme-park request a year.
Field trips, museums & Florida theme parks: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | The student's ticket to cultural sites, zoos, aquariums, museums, state and national parks, plays, musicals, orchestral concerts, single-admission leisure events under $75 and approved Florida theme parks. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | Same list, with one Florida theme-park ticket or annual pass per student per school year, up to $299 before tax, submitted on its own with proof of payment. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | A school field-trip fee is an eligible school fee, while other admissions come out of leftover funds. |
What rules apply to field trips, museums & florida theme parks purchases?
- Only the student's own ticket is covered; family packages are prorated.
- Buy from the venue or an authorized seller, since resale tickets are not repaid.
- Trips out of state require pre-authorization.
What is not allowed for field trips, museums & florida theme parks?
- Parking, food, souvenirs and photo packages
- Premium access and special-event upgrades
- Water parks and theme parks missing from the approved list
How does this work in Orange County?
The Orlando Science Center, Orlando Museum of Art, Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park and Wekiwa Springs State Park each fit the museum or park categories. Step Up's guide has listed Gatorland and Epic Universe as approved parks, so check the current list before you buy.
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 experiences?
- How much is the Orange County award?
- Which programs can my child use?
- Can funds pay for summer & after-school programs?
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.