Quick Links

• General Eligibility
• FES-EO Eligibility Requirements
• FES-UA Eligibility Requirements
• Florida Residency Requirements
• Income Requirements (FES-EO)
• Disability Requirements (FES-UA)
• Foster Care & Out-of-Home Care Priority
• Active Duty Military Families

General Eligibility

To be considered for either scholarship program, students must:

• Live in Florida
• Be eligible to enroll in a Florida public school
• Meet the age requirements for the scholarship program they are applying for

FES-EO Eligibility Requirements

Age Requirement

Students applying for FES-EO must:

• Be at least 5 years old on or before September 1 of the upcoming school year
• Be 21 years old or younger on September 1 of the upcoming school year

For example:

• A student who turns 5 on September 1 qualifies
• A student who is already 22 on September 1 does not qualify

Income Information (Optional)

Providing household income information is not required to apply for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO).

If funding is limited, families who choose to provide income information may receive scholarship priority in accordance with Florida law.

If you would like to provide income information, you may submit one of the following:

• Federal 1040 tax return
• Valid tax documentation showing Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Tax documents must be from 2024 or 2025.

Note: Families who do not provide income information may still apply and be considered for the scholarship. However, they will not receive income-based priority if available funding is limited.

Foster Care and Out-of-Home Care Priority 

Students in foster care and out-of-home may receive priority consideration if families provide official documentation verifying status.

FES-UA Eligibility Requirements

Age Requirement

Students applying for FES-UA must:

• Turn 3 years old on or before December 31 of the program year
• Be 21 years old or younger on September 1 of the program year

For example:

• A student who turns 3 on December 31 qualifies
• A student who is already 22 on September 1 does not qualify

Disability Documentation Requirement

Families must provide documentation showing the student has a qualifying disability.

Accepted documentation may include:

• Florida IEP
• Out-of-state IEP
• Documentation from a qualified professional showing a diagnosis

An IEP or diagnosis must be signed by one of the following qualified professionals:

• Medical Doctor (MD)
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• Physician Assistant (PA)
• Psychologist

Documentation signed by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or nurse practitioner is not accepted.

Florida Residency Requirements

Families must provide proof of Florida residency.

Most families must submit two (2) approved residency documents.

Examples of accepted residency documents include:

• Florida driver’s license or state-issued ID
• Utility bill dated within the last 60 days
• Mortgage statement or lease agreement
• Paystub
• Property deed
• Government benefits documentation

Active Duty Military Families

Active Duty Military families may provide one residency document instead of two.

Families must also provide:

• Active Duty military orders
• Confirmation that they are stationed in Florida

Important Reminder

Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee scholarship funding or approval. Applications must be complete, accurate, and include all required documentation for review.