How to Find and Pay an FES-UA Tutor in EMA
Step-by-step walkthrough for Florida families
Quick Answer
To pay a tutor with your FES-UA scholarship: log into your EMA account at stepupforstudents.org, navigate to Marketplace → Find Providers, search for the tutor's organization name, select a tutoring package, and reserve funds. The tutor bills Step Up directly — you pay nothing out of pocket.
What EMA Is (and Isn't)
EMA stands for Education Market Assistant — it's the online platform that Step Up For Students uses to manage your FES-UA scholarship. Think of it as your scholarship spending portal.
Your actual funding lives in an Education Savings Account (ESA). EMA is just the tool you use to access and spend those ESA dollars. The distinction matters because you'll sometimes see "ESA" and "EMA" used interchangeably online, but they're not the same thing:
- ESA = the money (your FES-UA scholarship funds)
- EMA = the platform where you manage and spend the money
Inside EMA, you'll find two main ways to spend:
- Find Providers — for services like tutoring, therapy, and evaluations. Providers bill Step Up directly; you never pay out of pocket.
- MyScholarShop — for products like curriculum, books, technology, and educational supplies. You shop and checkout like any online store.
For tutoring, you'll use Find Providers. That's what this guide covers.
Before You Start — What You Need
- ✓ Active FES-UA scholarship with a funded balance. If you're still in the application process, you'll need to wait until your scholarship is approved and funded.
- ✓ The provider's exact organization name as it appears in EMA. For us, search for "Special Ed Resource" or "Special Education Resource."
- ✓ A rough budget for how much you want to allocate to tutoring. You don't need to commit everything at once — you can reserve funds for a package and add more later.
- ✓ Your child's tutoring needs identified — ideally through a consultation with the tutor first, so you know which service package to select.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Log into EMA
Go to stepupforstudents.org and click the "Log In" button in the top right corner. Sign in with the email and password associated with your FES-UA account. If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link to reset it.
Navigate to Marketplace → Find Providers
Once logged in, look for the Marketplace menu. Click it, then select Find Providers. This opens the directory of all Step Up-approved service providers — tutors, therapists, evaluators, and more.
Search for the provider
Use the search bar to find your tutor's organization. You can search by name, service type, or location. For our services, search for "Special Ed Resource" or "Special Education Resource". You can also filter by service category (e.g., "Tutoring") to narrow results.
Select the package or service
Click on the provider's profile to see their available service packages. Most tutoring providers offer packages by number of sessions or hours. Select the package that matches what you discussed during your consultation. Review the description and pricing before proceeding.
Reserve funds
Click the button to reserve or commit funds for the selected package. EMA will deduct the amount from your available balance and hold it for this service. The provider is notified that you've authorized payment. This isn't a charge yet — it's a reservation that tells Step Up "this is where I want these dollars to go."
Wait for invoice/approval
After you reserve funds, the tutor submits invoices to Step Up as sessions are completed. Step Up reviews and approves the invoices (typically within 5-10 business days), then pays the provider directly from your reserved funds. You'll see the transactions in your EMA account under your scholarship activity.
Sessions begin — payments handled automatically
Once you're set up, tutoring sessions start according to your agreed schedule. Each session is invoiced by the tutor and paid by Step Up. You don't need to do anything each time — the payment flow is automatic. Just keep an eye on your balance to make sure funds are available for ongoing sessions.
Common Mistakes and FAQs
I don't see Find Providers in my EMA — why?
Find Providers is only available once your FES-UA scholarship is fully approved and funded. If you're still in the application or verification stage, you won't see this option yet. Contact Step Up For Students at stepupforstudents.org/contact to check your application status.
What if my provider isn't listed?
If you can't find a provider in Find Providers, they may not be registered with Step Up as an approved provider. Ask them directly whether they're in EMA. If they're not, they can apply to become an approved provider through Step Up's provider application process. Alternatively, you may need to use the reimbursement process (more paperwork, slower).
How long does the reservation/approval take?
Reserving funds in Find Providers is instant — the money is held immediately. Invoice approval by Step Up typically takes 5-10 business days after the provider submits it. During high-volume periods (start of school year, etc.), it may take slightly longer.
Do I have to pay anything out of pocket?
No — as long as you have sufficient balance in your ESA and the provider is in Find Providers, you pay nothing out of pocket. Step Up pays the provider directly from your scholarship funds. This is called "direct pay" and it's one of the biggest advantages of using Find Providers instead of the reimbursement route.
Can I change providers later?
Yes. If you've reserved funds with a provider but haven't used them, you can typically release the funds and reallocate them to a different provider. Check your EMA account for how to manage reservations, or contact Step Up support for help. Once sessions have been invoiced and paid, those funds can't be reclaimed.
What's the difference between Find Providers and reimbursement?
Find Providers (direct pay): You reserve funds, the provider bills Step Up, Step Up pays them. You never pay out of pocket.
Reimbursement: You pay the provider yourself, then submit receipts to Step Up and wait to be reimbursed. According to Step Up's published timelines, reimbursements can take 4-6 weeks to process.
Direct pay through Find Providers is faster, easier, and doesn't require you to front money.
What happens if my balance runs out mid-year?
FES-UA scholarships are funded annually. If you exhaust your balance before the year ends, no additional funds are added until the next scholarship year. Plan your spending across the year to avoid running out. Your tutor can help you structure a session frequency that fits your budget.
When to Use Direct Pay vs. Reimbursement
✅ Use Find Providers (Direct Pay) When:
- • Your provider is listed in EMA
- • You want to avoid out-of-pocket expenses
- • You prefer automatic payment processing
- • You're setting up ongoing services (tutoring, therapy)
⚠️ Use Reimbursement When:
- • Your provider isn't in EMA and can't/won't register
- • You're making a one-time purchase not available through Find Providers
- • The provider requires upfront payment
- • You're comfortable waiting 4-6 weeks to be reimbursed
Bottom line: If direct pay is an option, use it. It's faster, simpler, and means you're never out money while waiting for paperwork to process.
Need Help Getting Started?
If you're looking for a tutor who specializes in autism, dyslexia, or ADHD, we can walk you through the EMA setup process during your free consultation. We're listed in Find Providers as "Special Ed Resource."
Book a Free Consultation →For more on FES-UA eligibility and funding, see our FES-UA Guide.