Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for laptops, tablets & digital devices with scholarship funds?
Devices are where the programs diverge most: the 2026-27 PEP guide prohibits them, while FES-UA continues to pay for them.
Laptops, tablets & digital devices: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Authorized items include one computer every two years (sooner with pre-authorization), other digital devices, peripherals (monitor, headset, printer, speakers, once every two years), assistive technology, training and warranties. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Not eligible | The 2026-27 PEP guide bans laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, phones, desktops, e-readers, smartwatches and peripherals like monitors, keyboards and printers. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Not eligible | The private-school guide does not list devices among the categories payable from leftover funds. |
What rules apply to laptops, tablets & digital devices purchases?
- FES-UA allows one computer every two years, and a sooner replacement needs pre-authorization; PEP and the Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) prohibit computers.
- FES-UA also allows a monitor, headset, printer, speakers or VR headset once every two years; replacing one earlier requires pre-authorization.
- FES-UA treats prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids as assistive technology, but smart or augmented-reality glasses are prohibited.
What is not allowed for laptops, tablets & digital devices?
- All consumer devices under PEP
- Smart or augmented-reality glasses
How does this work in Orange County?
If an Orlando family is choosing between PEP and FES-UA for a child who has a qualifying diagnosis, device eligibility is a concrete reason to lean toward FES-UA.
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 home internet?
- 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.