Florida families are spending scholarship money on tutoring, therapy, and enrichment right now, and many of them can't find enough providers. If you're a teacher, a tutor, or a mom with a real teaching skill, you may already have what they're looking for. What usually stops people isn't their skills. It's the setup.
I know this system from both sides. I'm a special education teacher and an approved Step Up provider. I'm also a Step Up parent: three of my four children receive Step Up scholarships, including the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities, private school scholarships, and New Worlds Reading.
So I know what it takes to get approved, and I know what parents are looking for when they choose a provider. In this guide I'll lay it out the way I wish someone had laid it out for me: what it is, who it's for, and the steps in order.
What is a Step Up for Students provider?
Step Up for Students is the organization that helps run several of Florida's K-12 scholarship programs. Many families on these scholarships receive funds in an education account they can spend on approved services: tutoring, therapies, specialized programs, courses, and more.
A provider is a person or business that has been approved to offer those services. Once approved, families can find you and pay you directly from their scholarship funds through Step Up's system, called EMA.
Which scholarship programs are involved?
Step Up's provider pages list several programs. Which ones your service qualifies for depends on the service type:
- FES-UA (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities)
- FES-EO (Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options)
- FTC (Florida Tax Credit Scholarship)
- PEP (Personalized Education Program)
- New Worlds (reading and math tutoring, after-school, and summer programs)
Want the setup handled for you?
In my December Done-For-You program, we build your website and your offer so you're ready to welcome families. Limited scholarships available.
Who can become a provider?
Step Up groups providers by the type of service they offer. Its checklist includes categories such as:
- Tutoring (full-time and part-time)
- Specialized services and therapies (including music and art therapy)
- Specialized after-school and summer programs
- Virtual instruction and online course providers
- Testing and assessment providers
- Private schools, home education programs, and others
Each category has its own requirements. For example, Step Up's reading and math provider page says part-time tutoring under New Worlds must focus on reading and/or math, and part-time tutors need state-approved credentials.
Good fits I see often
- Certified teachers who want to tutor reading or math after school
- Special education teachers supporting students with unique abilities
- Teachers who want to offer a small after-school or summer program
- Moms with a teaching background who want flexible, meaningful income
The steps, in order
Pick your service category
Decide exactly what you'll offer, then find it on Step Up's Service Categories Chart. This tells you which scholarships cover it and which documents you'll need. Be specific: "1:1 reading tutoring for grades K–3" is easier to approve and easier to sell than "tutoring."
"I offer [service] for [grade or need], [online / in person in your city], focused on [result families want]."
Join the provider interest list
Step Up's provider page has a link to join the Service Provider Interest List. Do this early so you get updates.
Set up your business
Payments go to a business, not to you personally. Step Up states that all payments are issued to the Business Account. Many teachers set up an LLC and a business bank account first. Talk to a tax professional about what's right for you.
Create your EMA accounts
You'll create a Business Account for your business, and each person who delivers a credentialed service (including you) creates a Personal Account. Then you link them. Step Up has onboarding videos for both.
Upload your documents
Follow the checklist for your category. Expect to provide proof of your credentials and business information. Gather everything before you start uploading so you're not stuck halfway through.
List your services and wait for approval
Add your services to the EMA Marketplace. Once Step Up reviews and approves you, families can find you and pay you directly from their scholarship accounts.
Get the free teacher guide
Comment GUIDE on any Teacher to CEO Academy Facebook post and I'll send it to you in Messenger.
How do you get paid?
Families pay approved providers from their scholarship funds through EMA, and payments are issued to your Business Account. Funding amounts vary by program. For example, Step Up's New Worlds page listed $1,200 education savings accounts for the 2024–25 school year for tutoring, programs, and approved materials. Other programs can be larger, depending on the student. Always check current amounts with Step Up.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Being too general. Families choose specific help for a specific need.
- Skipping the business setup. Without a Business Account, you can't receive direct payments.
- No website. Families research before they book. A simple, professional site builds trust fast.
- Going by old information. Rules change. Check the official handbook every school year.
Your next step
You already have the hardest part: years of knowing how to help children learn. The rest is setup, and setup is learnable. Start with Step 1 today. Pick your service and write your one-sentence offer.
And if you'd rather have someone build the website and offer with you, that's exactly what my December program is for.
Your teacher business, built for you
Website, offer, and both of my books included. Limited scholarships for qualifying teachers and moms. I reply to every application within 2 days.
This article shares my own experience and publicly available information from Step Up for Students. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Step Up for Students.
Special education teacher, approved Step Up provider, Step Up parent of three scholarship students, and founder of Teacher to CEO Academy. I help teachers and moms turn what they already know into income, without the tech overwhelm. teachertoceo.org