Hurricane Updates

Last Update: 10/29/2024 at 11:50 AM

Dear Step Up Families,

Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused significant devastation across much of Florida, affecting numerous scholarship families, schools, and providers.

Step Up For Students is committed to ensuring those impacted can continue accessing educational opportunities.

The information on this page applies to the following counties*:
Charlotte
Columbia
Dixie
Gilchrist
Hamilton
Hillsborough
Jefferson
Lafayette
Lee
Leon
Levy
Madison
Manatee
Pasco
Pinellas
Polk
Sarasota
Suwannee
Taylor
*List developed in consultation with the Florida Department of Education.

Please view the appropriate section for your student’s scholarship for updates as a result of the hurricanes. Schools and providers, please view your section at the bottom of the page.

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities

FES-UA

Applications (new students)

We continue to accept applications for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities program for the 2024-25 school year. If your student is eligible, we encourage you to apply.

If you have been displaced, we know proof of residency may be a challenge. If you are not able to provide any of the required documentation due to displacement, please complete our Hurricane Relief Residency Form and upload it as your proof of residency with your application.

Permanent change of address within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you were displaced and have permanently relocated within Florida, please log in to EMA and update your physical and mailing addresses. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated physical and mailing addresses must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.
  • If you have a legacy student (a student who received funding in the 2022-23 school year and before), you do NOT need to also update this information in the legacy system.

MyScholarShop orders and reimbursements due to temporary displacement within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you have been displaced temporarily and need to make a MyScholarShop purchase or submit a reimbursement request for your student, please log in to EMA and update ONLY your mailing address before placing your order or submitting your reimbursement. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated mailing address must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.
  • If you have a legacy student (a student who received funding in the 2022-23 school year and before), you do NOT need to also update this information in the legacy system.

Items damaged or broken beyond repair due to the hurricane (current scholarship students)

If an item purchased with scholarship funds is damaged or broken beyond repair due to one or both hurricanes, please click here to learn about the options available to you.

Transferring EMA enrollment to a new school (current scholarship students)

If your student is using their FES-UA scholarship for direct pay at a private school and is transferring to a different eligible, participating private school due to displacement from the hurricane, your prior school must first complete the withdrawal process in EMA for your student. Once completed, your new private school may initiate the enrollment process for your student. Please make sure to provide your new school with your student’s Award ID.

Reminders:

  • Enrollment is a two-step process: First, the school must submit the student’s School Enrollment Form in EMA. Then, the family must approve the student’s enrollment in EMA. Both steps must be completed for the student to be successfully enrolled.
  • A student must be enrolled and attending their eligible, participating school for 10 or more days during a quarterly payment period for the school to receive the full quarter’s distribution.

Personalized Education Program

PEP

Applications (new students)

We continue to accept applications for the Personalized Education Program for the 2024-25 school year. If your student is eligible, we encourage you to apply.

If you have been displaced, we know proof of residency may be a challenge. If you are not able to provide any of the required documentation due to displacement, please complete our Hurricane Relief Residency Form and upload it as your proof of residency with your application.

Permanent change of address within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you were displaced and have permanently relocated within Florida, please log in to EMA and update your physical and mailing addresses. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated physical and mailing addresses must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.

MyScholarShop orders and reimbursements due to temporary displacement within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you have been displaced and need to make a MyScholarShop purchase or submit a reimbursement request for your student, please log in to EMA and update ONLY your mailing address before placing your order or submitting your reimbursement. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated mailing address must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.

Items damaged or broken beyond repair due to the hurricane (current scholarship students)

If an item purchased with scholarship funds is damaged or broken beyond repair due to one or both hurricanes, please click here to learn about the options available to you.

Declining your student’s scholarship (current scholarship students)

If your student has been awarded a scholarship for the 2024-25 school year and, due to a hurricane, you no longer need it or are interested in a different scholarship program, please decline your student’s current scholarship by calling us at 1-877-735-7837. Please note: This is the only way to decline your student’s scholarship.

Once your student's scholarship status is updated to "Declined" in EMA, you may apply for a different scholarship, if interested.

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship / Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options

FTC/FES-EO

Applications (new students)

We continue to accept applications for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship/Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options programs for the 2024-25 school year. If your student is eligible, we encourage you to apply.

If you have been displaced, we know proof of residency may be a challenge. If you are not able to provide any of the required documentation due to displacement, please complete our Hurricane Relief Residency Form and upload it as your proof of residency with your application.

Permanent change of address within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you were displaced and have permanently relocated within Florida, please log in to EMA and update your physical and mailing addresses. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated physical and mailing addresses must be in Florida.
  • If you have an available balance after paying tuition and fees and will be using MyScholarShop, it may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.

Transferring EMA enrollment to a new school (current scholarship students)

If your student is transferring to a different eligible, participating private school due to displacement from the hurricane, your prior school must first complete the withdrawal process in EMA for your student. Once completed, your new private school may initiate the enrollment process for your student. Please make sure to provide your new school with your student’s Award ID.

Reminders:

  • Enrollment is a two-step process: First, the school must submit the student’s School Enrollment Form in EMA. Then, the family must approve the student’s enrollment in EMA. Both steps must be completed for the student to be successfully enrolled.
  • A student must be enrolled and attending their eligible, participating school for 10 or more days during a quarterly payment period for the school to receive the full quarter’s distribution.

MyScholarShop orders and reimbursements due to temporary displacement within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you have been displaced and, after paying for tuition and fees, have an available balance and need to make a MyScholarShop purchase or submit a reimbursement request for your student, please log in to EMA and update ONLY your mailing address before placing your order or submitting your reimbursement. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated mailing address must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.

Items damaged or broken beyond repair due to the hurricane (current scholarship students)

If an item purchased with scholarship funds is damaged or broken beyond repair due to one or both hurricanes, please click here to learn about the options available to you.

Declining your student’s scholarship (current scholarship students)

If your student has been awarded a scholarship for the 2024-25 school year and, due to a hurricane, you no longer need it or are interested in a different scholarship program, please decline your student’s current scholarship by calling us at 1-877-735-7837. Please note: This is the only way to decline your student’s scholarship.

Once your student's scholarship status is updated to "Declined" in EMA, you may apply for a different scholarship, if interested.

New Worlds Scholarship Accounts

Permanent change of address within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you were displaced and have permanently relocated within Florida, please log in to EMA and update your physical and mailing addresses. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated physical and mailing addresses must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.

MyScholarShop orders due to temporary displacement within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you have been displaced and need to make a MyScholarShop purchase, please log in to EMA and update ONLY your mailing address before placing your order. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA.

Please note:

  • The updated mailing address must be in Florida.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your updated mailing address to be reflected in MyScholarShop. Please ensure your mailing address has been updated in MyScholarShop before placing an order.

Items damaged or broken beyond repair due to the hurricane (current scholarship students)

If an item purchased with scholarship funds is damaged or broken beyond repair due to one or both hurricanes, please click here to learn about the options available to you.

Declining your student’s scholarship (current scholarship students)

If your student has been awarded a scholarship for the 2024-25 school year and, due to a hurricane, you no longer need it or are interested in a different scholarship program, please decline your student’s current scholarship by calling us at 1-877-735-7837. Please note: This is the only way to decline your student’s scholarship.

Once your student's scholarship status is updated to "Declined" in EMA, you may apply for a different scholarship, if interested.

Transportation Stipend

Permanent change of address within Florida (current scholarship students)

If you were displaced and have permanently relocated within Florida, please log in to EMA and update your physical and mailing addresses. This is done by clicking on the “Profile” icon in the top right-hand corner of your Dashboard in EMA. Please note: The updated addresses must be in Florida.

Declining your student’s scholarship (current scholarship students)

If your student has been awarded a scholarship for the 2024-25 school year and, due to a hurricane, you no longer need it or are interested in a different scholarship program, please decline your student’s current scholarship by calling us at 1-877-735-7837. Please note: This is the only way to decline your student’s scholarship.

Once your student's scholarship status is updated to "Declined" in EMA, you may apply for a different scholarship, if interested.

Schools and Providers

Communications have been sent to current scholarship families who reside in the counties listed above inviting them to visit this page.

If you are serving scholarship families in these counties, please remind them that this page is available to help them navigate challenges they may experience related to their scholarship.

Please also see the "Applications" section below for information for families impacted by the hurricanes that do NOT yet have a scholarship.

Applications (new students)

We continue to accept applications for all scholarship programs for the 2024-25 school year. Please continue to encourage families to apply for a scholarship if they do not already have one for their student(s).

We know it may be a challenge for impacted families to provide proof of residency. Please direct these families to complete our Hurricane Relief Residency Form and upload it as their proof of residency with their application.

Enrollment (new or current scholarship students)

If a student transfers to your school due to displacement from the hurricane, you may enroll the student in EMA as usual.

Reminders:

  • If the student was previously enrolled in EMA through a different private school, the student’s EMA enrollment must be withdrawn by their prior school before you may complete their EMA enrollment for your school. If this has not been completed, please ask the family to contact their previous school to request that they complete the EMA withdrawal process. Once the student’s EMA enrollment has been withdrawn, you may enroll the student in EMA.
  • Enrollment is a two-step process: First, the school must submit the student’s School Enrollment Form in EMA. Then, the family must approve the student’s enrollment in EMA. Both steps must be completed for the student to be successfully enrolled.
  • A student must be enrolled and attending their eligible, participating school for 10 or more days during a quarterly payment period for the school to receive the full quarter’s distribution.
  • Students enrolled in EMA for the first time between October 26, 2024, and January 15, 2025, will be reviewed for a prorated scholarship award.
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