Introduction
If your child has ADHD, Dyslexia, or any other learning difference, and you live in Florida, there is something you need to know. The state of Florida is currently offering up to $10,000 per year, per child, to help families pay for private school. For children with diagnosed learning differences, the funding can be even higher.
This is not a small program. It is one of the largest school choice initiatives in the country. And yet, most Florida parents I speak with have either never heard of it or are unsure if their child qualifies.
This guide will walk you through exactly what the Family Empowerment Scholarship is, how it works, who qualifies, and how to use it to enroll your child in a private school that actually understands learning differences.
What Is the Family Empowerment Scholarship?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship, commonly called FES, is Florida’s largest school choice program. It is administered by Step Up For Students, a state-approved nonprofit, and provides funding directly to families for private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and approved educational expenses.
There are two main paths within FES:
FES Educational Options (FES-EO) is available to all Florida families at every income level. This program allows you to use scholarship funds at any participating private school in Florida. The average award is around $8,000 to $10,000 per year, depending on grade level.
FES Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is for students with diagnosed disabilities or learning differences, including ADHD, Dyslexia, autism, and other recognized conditions. This program typically provides a larger award and offers more flexibility in how the funds are used. Some students with significant needs may receive substantially more than the standard amount.
Both programs can be used to attend an accredited private school like Teach With Love MicroSchool. For families with children who have ADHD or Dyslexia, FES-UA is often the right path.
Who Qualifies for FES?
Here is the part most Florida parents are surprised to hear. FES is no longer limited by income. After the 2023 expansion, every Florida family is now eligible to apply for the Family Empowerment Scholarship, regardless of household earnings.
For FES Educational Options, the only requirements are that your child must be a Florida resident and eligible to enroll in a Florida public school.
For FES Unique Abilities, your child must have a qualifying diagnosis or 504 Plan, IEP, or documentation from a licensed professional. ADHD and Dyslexia both qualify. So do many other learning differences that affect a child’s ability to thrive in a traditional public school setting.
Why This Matters for ADHD and Dyslexia Families
For decades, families with children who have learning differences were stuck with two options. They could send their child to a public school that was not equipped to meet their needs. Or they could pay tens of thousands of dollars per year for a specialized private school.
FES changes that. For the first time, Florida families have real financial access to private schools that understand learning differences. Schools that use small class sizes. Schools that offer specialized reading instruction. Schools that work with each child as an individual.
For families across Florida, from The Villages and Sarasota to Naples, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami, this is a turning point.
How to Apply for the FES Scholarship
The application process is straightforward, but timing matters. Funding is limited each year, and families who apply early tend to receive priority.
Step 1: Create a Step Up For Students account. Visit stepupforstudents.org and create a family profile. You will need basic information about your child and your household.
Step 2: Complete the FES application. You will be asked to provide proof of Florida residency, your child’s date of birth, and documentation of any diagnosis if you are applying for FES Unique Abilities.
Step 3: Submit your child’s eligibility documents. For FES-UA, this includes the diagnosis report, IEP, 504 Plan, or letter from a licensed professional.
Step 4: Wait for your award notification. Once approved, you will receive notice of your scholarship amount and how to begin using the funds.
Step 5: Choose your school. This is where many families get stuck. They are approved for funding, but they do not know which schools to choose. The directory of approved schools is large, but not every school specializes in learning differences.
Choosing the Right Private School for Your Child
Receiving FES funding is only the first step. The real decision is which school you will use it at. Here is what every Florida parent should look for, especially if their child has ADHD or Dyslexia.
Class size matters more than almost anything else. Children with ADHD and Dyslexia struggle in large classrooms with too much noise, distraction, and competition for the teacher’s attention. Look for schools with class sizes of ten students or fewer.
Teacher expertise matters more than school reputation. A school with a beautiful campus and a famous name means nothing if the teachers do not understand how to teach a child with ADHD or Dyslexia. Ask about certifications. Ask about training. Ask how the teacher individualizes instruction.
Specialization beats general education. Some private schools accept students with learning differences but treat them the same as every other student. Look for schools that explicitly specialize in ADHD, Dyslexia, and learning differences.
Online options open doors. Traditional brick-and-mortar private schools often have long waitlists and geographic limitations. An accredited online MicroSchool can serve your family no matter where in Florida you live. From rural counties to wealthy suburbs, accredited online instruction makes specialized education accessible to every family.
How Teach With Love Microschool Uses FES Funding
Our accredited online Microschool was built specifically for children with ADHD, Dyslexia, and other learning differences, while also welcoming gifted, traditional, and twice-exceptional students.
We accept FES scholarship funding from Florida families. Our enrollment team works directly with parents to make the financial process simple.
Class sizes are limited to six to eight students. Every child is taught by a certified teacher with thirty years of experience, certifications in Brain Health, ADD/ADHD, Reading, Dyslexia Correction, and Highly Sensitive Children, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
For Florida families across the state, this means your child can attend a school that truly specializes in learning differences, often at no out-of-pocket cost.
What to Do Right Now
If you are a Florida parent of a child with ADHD, Dyslexia, or any learning difference, do not wait until next year to take action. The Family Empowerment Scholarship is open now, and the most successful enrollments happen when families plan ahead.
Here is what I recommend:
First, check eligibility at stepupforstudents.org and begin your application. Even if you are not sure your child qualifies, apply. The application process will clarify your options.
Second, gather your child’s documentation. If you have a diagnosis report, IEP, 504 Plan, or evaluation, organize them now. You will need them.
Third, research approved schools that specialize in learning differences. Do not settle for a school that accepts your child but does not understand them.
Fourth, schedule consultations. A real conversation with a school’s director will tell you more than any brochure ever could.
If you would like to talk through whether Teach With Love MicroSchool would be the right fit for your child, schedule a free consultation. We will explain how FES works at our school, walk you through enrollment, and help you understand what life would look like for your child in our program.
You have waited long enough for the right school. Florida has finally made that school accessible. The next step is yours.
