What is the PEP?

The Personalized Education Program is a legal option for homeschooling in Florida with a scholarship that gives thousands of dollars that can be used to purchase curriculum and other educational materials, pay for qualified tutors, field trips, and more.

What are the PEP requirements?

Must be a Florida resident to apply.

Apply for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship with the PEP through a Scholarship Funding Organization (Step Up for Students or AAA Scholarships).

Fill out a Student Learning Plan as part of that application. (This can be edited throughout the year.)

If your student is in a fulltime school (public or private, including umbrella school) withdraw the student before the PEP takes effect.

If your student is currently enrolled in a home education program, terminate the home education program with a Letter of Termination and evaluation before the PEP takes effect.

Educate your child using materials and methods of your choice. (While current PEP law doesn't require keeping records, there are many other reasons to keep records. Records protect both parent and student.

Must pay to use any public school programs--this includes FLVS and other public school virtual online classes.

Have your child take and submit test results by the deadline (around the end of the public school's school year) to the Scholarship Funding Organization.

For more details on the PEP and the approved tests and current program requirements see
https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/annual-assessment-requirement.stml  or
 https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/pep-faqs.stml

Why do I have to terminate home education to take the PEP?

 Why Do PEP Recipients Have to Send a Letter of Termination?

This is a question that gets asked a lot. It confuses many people. "Why do I have to end my homeschooling program if I'm still going to be homeschooling?" is a question I've gotten and answered many times. Or sometimes it will be phrased, "Why do I have to terminate my home education program if I'm still going to be home educating?"

Legal definitions matter.

"Home education" is defined in Florida law as the specific homeschooling option in which a parent directs the education and notifies the district that the parent has taken over directing the child's education, keeps records, and submits evaluation paperwork each year.

"Personalized Education Program" is another option for homeschooling defined in Florida law. It is the specific homeschooling option in which the parent directs the education and has been awarded funding from the state through the Florida tax credit scholarship and requires filing a Student Learning Plan (part of the Florida Tax Credit scholarship application) with a Scholarship Funding Organization (Step Up for Students OR AAA Scholarships) and requires testing using a test from a list of tests approved by the Florida Dept. of Education. Starting in 2027, these test results will be analyzed and that may result in further regulations.

See Florida Statute 1002.01

Both are homeschool options under current Florida law. The word homeschool and the phrase "home education" are not necessarily the same in Florida law. People get confused because many people use them as though they mean the same when they do not.

When a bill was introduced in January 2023 proposing giving funding for homeschooling, homeschool leaders could see that there was enough support for it in Tallahassee that it would pass into law, but homeschool leaders (none of whom it seems were involved in proposing this law) were worried about the long-term implications of the funded version of homeschooling for homeschoolers. Those who have followed homeschool news for decades know that government funding has been offered elsewhere and starts off easy to get but that more and more regulations typically happen as people object to government funds being spent on certain materials (such as faith-based materials) or want more evidence that the funds are being spent as they should.

Homeschool leaders fought to separate Florida homeschooling laws for those who take funding from the government from those who don't because they know from history seen elsewhere that government funding will likely result in more regulations that they want to protect those who aren't accepting the money from. In addition, PEP students must take a test from the Florida Dept. of Education's approved test list while home education students have a variety of options for the annual evaluation including non-testing options. PEP students must pay to use school district programs such as participation in extracurricular activities and using state virtual school online programs--while these are free for home education students. Homeschool leaders knew that district officials would have difficulty keeping straight which requirements applied to which students and would lump them all together unless there was a separate name and paperwork system for the two types of homeschoolers.

The Personalized Education Program is separate from the Home Education System. They have different laws that govern them. Official records for home education are kept by the district, while the Scholarship Funding Organization keeps the official paperwork for PEP students. This was done to protect those of us who don't want government money and the strings that will come with it from affecting those who have chosen not to take the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship with the PEP.

https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/finishedhomeschoo...

Those who are awarded the PEP for next school year but are currently homeschooling through the home education option, will have to send a Letter of Termination with an evaluation to end their home education program after this school year is done. There are posts in the Featured section specifically on the new PEP program and its requirements and on the home education program and its requirements.

https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/recordkeeping-lot...

When can I apply for the PEP?

The application time frame has changed each year. Check with the Scholarship Funding Organizations for the current schedule.

For the 2025-2026 school year, applications are set to close by the end of April though they may close sooner if the allotted slots fill up before that time.

Note that exceptions are made for certain categories of people such as law enforcement officials and children in the foster care system.

For more details on the PEP and the approved tests and current program requirements see
https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/annual-assessment-requirement.stml  or
 https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/pep-faqs.stml

What other options are there for learning from home in Florida?

While there are five distinct options for learning from home in Florida, only two of them are legally considered homeschooling in Florida:
The PEP and Home Education. Both of these options involve the parent directing the education and keeping records of the child's education.

Two of the other options involve using schools--either a private school that allows remote learning which is often called an umbrella school OR a public full-time virtual school. In these options, the school is legally considered the director of the education even if the learning is done at home and/or under the day-to-day direction of the parent. The school is required to keep educational records and the student falls under private or public school laws, as appropriate to the school.

The final option is for a full-time tutoring program in which the tutor directs the education, makes reports to the district, tracks attendance, and makes sure the student follows public school requirements. (Note that both PEP and home education students can use tutors, but the tutor is not considered the director of the homeschooling with these options.)

See here for information on all five learn-from-home options.

How old must a child be to be on the PEP?

The PEP is available to students who are at least 5 years old by Sept. 1st of a school year.

What grade level must a child be in to get the PEP?

A child must be at least five years old by Sept. 1st to apply for a child. As long as the student is officially homeschooled, the parent can decide the student's grade level. The district does not have the right to decide the student's grade level unless the student participates in a district program.

Can we use your portfolio review evaluation services for the PEP?

The PEP requires testing using one of the tests on the FL Dept of Education's official list of tests.

Unfortunately, the PEP does not make exceptions from testing for portfolio review evaluation options. So, no, our portfolio review evaluations will not meet PEP requirements.

On the other hand, some using the PEP have asked for a portfolio review evaluation for their own information and records. This is certainly an option if you choose.

Or if you have been awarded the PEP but need to close out a current home education program, we can do a final evaluation for you.

We do offer Choice Navigation sessions (i.e., consultations) for those who would like assistance figuring out their homeschooling options, need help planning out curriculum or class options, want help preparing records for enrolling in a school or graduating from high school or applying for college, etc. See here for more information on our consultations: Choice Navigation.

For more details on the PEP and the approved tests and current program requirements see
https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/annual-assessment-requirement.stml 
or
 https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/pep-faqs.stml

Do you administer PEP testing?

No, we do not currently offer testing for the PEP nor are we planning, as of 2025, to offer PEP testing in the future.

Under current PEP laws, parents may use any approved test for the PEP as long as they follow the testing company's rules. Some tests, such as iReady or NWEA MAP testing from Homeschool Boss, may be purchased through Step Up for Student's EMA system directly and then taken at home from the privacy of your own computer. Currently, these tests do not require test administrators.

Why do you not administer PEP testing?

We have chosen not to administer PEP testing for multiple reasons. Our top reasons include:

We believe that the current high-stakes testing push in education has been responsible for some of the decline of our education system in recent decades and do not wish to participate in perpetuating this push.

We have administered many formal tests while teaching in schools and have seen many issues with formal testing that affect their reliability. We do not trust the tests.

Are there any other funds available to homeschool parents?

Yes.

1. The Family Empowerment Scholarship: Unique Abilites (often called "Unique Abilities" or "UA" or even by an older name of "Gardiner") is a scholarship specifically for students with special needs. Some use it to pay for private schools or such, but it can be used in conjunction with home education--the method of homeschooling which starts with submitting a Letter of Intent.
https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/home-education-basics.html
The Unique Abilities scholarship can be used to pay for curriculum, therapies, tutoring, classes, electronic devices, and more. This scholarship has been around for several years. It can be done while home educating. It is available to students as young as 3 even though they are not yet homeschooling.

This scholarship offers a greater amount of money with fewer restrictions than the PEP, so if a student qualifies for the Unique Abilities scholarship, that is the better choice. This page has information that will be helpful to those homeschooling a child with special needs and includes references to some Facebook groups that can help a lot with understanding the details of the scholarship: https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/specialneedshomeschooling.html

There are a number of online groups dedicated to understanding these scholarships. It may be a good idea to seek them out. The link above lists some for the Unique Abilities Scholarship that seem to provide accurate information.

Other funding sources?

2. Free Classes
Florida offers free online courses through FLVS.net for those who are homeschooling through the home education system and not using one of the scholarships mentioned above. (These classes must be paid for by those using one of the two scholarships mentioned above.)
https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/home-education...

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3. Free college classes
Florida offers free college courses that are available to those homeschooling. These may be available to students as young as 6th grade per Florida law--check the local college policies to see what their policy is as far as grade levels and/or ages that can participate.
https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/blog/dual-enrollment-earning-college-credit-before-high-school-graduation

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4. Grants for needy families
HSLDA hosts grants for needy homeschooling families. See here for more information: HSLDA grants.

Some homeschool curriculum publishers offer grants or scholarships after natural disasters.
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Note that no one has to take a scholarship. There are reasons not to take them that should be considered.

There are many free and low cost materials for homeschooling. Many of these offer more freedom and can be tweaked to work better than the expensive options. This page lists a number of such options:
https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/curriculum.html

If my student has the Unique Abilities Scholarship, can he also get the PEP?

No, Florida law allows students to use either the PEP or the Family Empowerment Scholarship: Unique Abilities to fund homeschooling. The two cannot be used at the same time for one student.

If one student in the family has the Unique Abilities Scholarship because the student has a qualifying documented special need, that doesn't prevent the parent from applying for the PEP for another child in the family.

If a child has a documented special need, the Unique Abilities scholarship is a better option as it gives more funding with fewer restrictions.

For more information on resources for students with special needs or information on the Unique Abilities Scholarship see this page: Special Needs.

What records must be kept for the PEP?

Florida law does not currently dictate record-keeping requirements for the PEP other than filing a Student Learning Plan as part of the application process and filing test results by the end of the school year.

However, wise parents will keep records of the homeschooling. We recommend following the portfolio review requirements for home education even if using the PEP.

Records protect homeschool parents and students. For example, we have helped parents previously who were being accused of educational neglect in court--usually by a worried relative. Having no records of a child's education will look like educational neglect to a judge. We have also helped several families in the past whose homeschooling parents passed away; those who took over for deceased parents who did not keep adequate (or any) records of the homeschooling found the traumatic situation became worse than necessary. Having no records of a child's homeschooling education will make many situations with social workers or government officials more traumatic or problematic.

Putting together a transcript or report card at the end of the school year is also a good idea, especially for high school students.

Why would anyone refuse the free money that goes with the PEP?

This is a question that I’ve been asked a lot lately. Free is good; isn’t it? Why would anyone turn down free money? Why wouldn’t homeschooling families take the money?

PEP Concerns

If using the PEP or the Unique Abilities scholarships, public school programs are available for a fee. This means that FLVS Flex and other online virtual public school classes must be paid for.

As of April 2025, FLVS Flex charges $375 per segment (semester) per subject for those on scholarships.

These same classes are free to those not using a scholarship.

PEP Test Options

Options number 5 iReady and 15 NWEA MAP are commonly used by PEP homeschoolers as they can be taken on your own computer from your own home.

Consultations

EMA Payment Info

Starting in July 2023, the Personalized Education Program (or PEP) became a new homeschooling option under Florida law. The PEP is for Florida residents who have been granted funding under the Florida Tax Credit scholarship and are not enrolled in a fulltime Florida public or private school nor in home education.

It requires end-of-the-school-year testing, but like the Home Education Program option that’s been in Florida law since the 1980s, it allows parents to choose the methods and materials to use with their children. The thousands of dollars per student that come with the scholarship can be used to purchase curriculum, books, other learning materials, part-time tutoring, classes, and more.

The PEP requires an application for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship which includes a Student Learning Plan. In exchange, money is deposited into an account administered by a Scholarship Funding Organization in multiple installments throughout the year. (Step Up for the Students administers most of these scholarships but AAA Scholarships administers a few.)( For the first two years, funds were deposited in four installments during the school year, though there’s a bill in Tallahassee that wants to change that so that the funding could be divided into ten installments paid out nine times a year with the first payment being double the other eight.)

In the 2023-2024 school year, Florida law allowed for 20,000 of these PEP programs (or slightly more since certain families such as those of law enforcement or foster children were allowed to apply even after the cap was reached.) In 2024-2025, the law allows for 60,000+ PEP programs and 100,000+ are slated for the 2025-2026 school year, with an intention of eventually allowing as many PEP programs as desired.

Students who were homeschooling under home education law have to be withdrawn from home education in order to start the PEP as these are two distinct categories in Florida law. Students who were in full-time school programs (public or private, including umbrella schools) must be withdrawn from those programs to start the PEP.

For the 2025-2026 school year, those who want to apply for the PEP must do so by the end of April—though regular applications could end sooner if all the allotted slots are given out sooner. Students do not have to be homeschooled currently to apply. Students would finish out the 2024-2025 school year in whatever full-time educational program that they are in, but must withdraw from that program at the end of this school year if they wish to accept the PEP for next school year.

Since the PEP gives thousands of dollars for homeschooling and tens of thousands of people have snapped up the money, why are some homeschooling families not taking the money? What issues do they think exist? Read here for answers.