Last verified: October 2026
Can an Orange County family pay for online courses & virtual school with scholarship funds?
Florida sorts online learning three ways: self-paced courses count as curriculum, live teaching must come from an approved online provider, and full-time virtual school is a separate matter.
Online courses & virtual school: which program pays?
The three programs handle this purchase in different ways.
| Status | How the rule reads | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Abilities (FES-UA) | Eligible | Tuition and fees at an FLDOE-approved online or virtual provider, plus private-pay Florida Virtual School and approved online courses, are eligible. |
| PEP (home-directed ESA) | Conditional / pre-authorization | Self-paced courses are curriculum, live teaching needs an approved online provider, and full-time online school is off the table. |
| Private School Scholarship (FTC/FES-EO) | Eligible | An approved online private school may serve as the child's school of enrollment. |
What rules apply to online courses & virtual school purchases?
- A student who is funded as a full-time public virtual student gives up scholarship eligibility.
- Online providers outside Florida are accepted once the Florida DOE has approved them.
What is not allowed for online courses & virtual school?
- Full-time virtual enrollment under PEP
How does this work in Orange County?
Online options suit Orange County families facing a long commute to the right campus, or students who want a course their school does not teach. American Faith Academy (AmFaith) is one Christian online choice families look at; verify any online school's eligibility with Step Up before enrolling.
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 learning materials?
- How much is the Orange County award?
- Which programs can my child use?
- Can funds pay for curriculum & curriculum materials?
- Can funds pay for at-home classroom furnishings & school supplies?
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.