Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for home internet with scholarship funds?
Florida allows scholarship money to cover a household's home internet bill, which few states do.
Home internet: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Service at the home address on the application, mobile hotspots included, qualifies, as does a modem or router rental billed on the same invoice. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Eligible | The same applies: in-home service and hotspots at the Florida address. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible from leftover funds after tuition | Payable from what remains after tuition, according to the internet section of the private-school guide. |
What rules apply to home internet purchases?
- The address on the service account must match the residence on the scholarship application.
- Streaming is dealt with under educational software and subscriptions, which have their own receipt rules.
What is not allowed for home internet?
- Business plans, standalone mobile plans and Starlink RV plans
How does this work in Orange County?
Store the provider's invoice showing your Orange County service address with the account's other receipts, because reimbursement reviewers check for it.
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 educational software & subscriptions?
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.