Leaving Public School for FES-UA
Florida family transition guide
What you keep, what you lose, and how to time the transition right.
💡 Quick Answer: Can My Child Use FES-UA While in Public School?
No. FES-UA students cannot be enrolled full-time in a Florida public school while receiving scholarship funds. The state runs an FTE Crosscheck before payments to verify this. To use FES-UA, your child must either attend a private school on the FLDOE-listed schools database OR be registered with a home education program in your county. You can apply for FES-UA before withdrawing from public school — the scholarship doesn't require you to leave first.
If your child is currently in Florida public school and you're considering FES-UA, this guide covers the transition: what you keep, what you lose, how to time the withdrawal, and how to set up services from day one.
The process is straightforward, but the timing matters.
The Non-Negotiable Rule
FES-UA students cannot be enrolled full-time in a Florida public school while receiving scholarship funds.
This isn't a soft guideline — it's enforced through the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Crosscheck. Before Step Up or AAA releases payments, the state verifies your child isn't counted as full-time enrolled in a public school.
If your child shows as enrolled in public school, payments don't process.
The Three Legal Post-Public-School Paths
After leaving public school, FES-UA families use one of these educational settings:
Path 1: Full-time private school enrollment
Enroll your child in a private school that appears on the FLDOE Private School Database. The school must be registered with the Florida Department of Education.
FES-UA can pay tuition at this school (plus therapy, tutoring, and other approved expenses).
Path 2: Home Education program
Register with your county as a home education program. In Florida, this requires:
- • Filing a Notice of Intent with the county superintendent
- • Maintaining a portfolio of educational activities
- • Annual evaluation (testing or teacher review)
FES-UA can fund curriculum, tutoring, therapy, and other approved educational expenses — but not the parent's instruction time.
Path 3: Combination approaches
Some families combine options:
- • Homeschool as the primary setting + part-time private school enrichment
- • Private school enrollment + supplemental tutoring/therapy through FES-UA
What FES-UA cannot combine with:
- • Public school full-time enrollment
- • FES-EO (the scholarship is one or the other)
- • PEP (separate scholarship — see our FES-UA vs FES-EO vs PEP guide)
Timing the Transition Correctly
Apply first, withdraw second.
FES-UA accepts rolling applications. You don't need to leave public school before applying.
The smart sequence:
- 1 Apply for FES-UA while your child is still in public school
- 2 Get approved (takes 4-8 weeks typically)
- 3 Coordinate timing — pick a withdrawal date that aligns with the start of your FES-UA services
- 4 Withdraw from public school formally
- 5 Begin FES-UA services — tutoring, therapy, private school, curriculum
Why this order matters:
If you withdraw first and then apply, you might have a gap where your child has no educational setting and you're waiting for approval. By applying first, you know you have funding secured before you make the switch.
The 30-day rule:
If you unenroll your child from one private school while on FES-UA, you have 30 days to enroll in another FLDOE-listed private school or register as a homeschool. This rule prevents scholarship holders from being in educational limbo.
The Withdrawal Mechanics
Here's what to do when you're ready to withdraw from public school:
1. Request withdrawal forms from the school
Every county has slightly different procedures, but most involve:
- • Completing a withdrawal form
- • Indicating the reason (transferring to private school, homeschool)
- • Providing a forwarding address/school (if applicable)
2. Request copies of records
Before your child leaves, request:
- • Complete IEP (current and historical)
- • All evaluation reports (psychoeducational, speech, OT, etc.)
- • Matrix documentation (support intensity evaluation)
- • Progress monitoring data
- • Report cards and transcripts
You're entitled to these records. Get them before you leave — it's easier than requesting them later.
3. Timeline considerations
- • Withdrawing mid-year is fine — FES-UA doesn't require you to wait for semester breaks
- • Some districts want advance notice; others process same-day
- • Your child's last day should coordinate with your first day of FES-UA services (avoid gaps)
What You Keep from Public School
Your IEP documents — as documentation
The IEP itself was written for the public school setting. Private schools and homeschools aren't bound by it. But the IEP is valuable documentation:
- • It proves your child's eligibility category
- • It contains evaluation data
- • It documents the support services your child was receiving
Keep all IEP documents. They're useful for FES-UA applications and for guiding private providers.
Evaluation reports
Any evaluations conducted by the district are yours. These can support your FES-UA application, guide private tutors and therapists, and serve as baseline data.
Matrix documentation
If your child had a matrix evaluation through the district, that documentation supports your FES-UA matrix code assignment. Keep it.
What You Lose
Be clear-eyed about what changes:
ESE services delivered by the district
Your child's district-provided speech therapy, OT, PT, counseling, and specialized instruction end when they leave public school. FES-UA can fund private versions — but you'll need to find providers and coordinate care yourself.
Access to district therapists
The therapists who know your child won't follow them to private school or homeschool. You'll need to rebuild relationships with new providers.
Section 504 protections at the district level
Section 504 applies to schools receiving federal funding. Private schools have different obligations. Your child still has rights, but the enforcement mechanism changes.
Free evaluations through the district
While homeschooling or in private school, you can still request evaluations from your district (this is your IDEA right), but it may be harder to coordinate. Many families pay for private evaluations instead.
Transportation
Public school transportation ends. You're responsible for getting your child to private school, therapy appointments, tutoring sessions.
Setting Up Services on Day One
Don't leave your child without support. Before the transition:
Identify providers:
- • Tutoring: find a provider enrolled in EMA (like us)
- • Therapy: find speech/OT/PT providers who accept FES-UA
- • Private school: confirm enrollment at an FLDOE-listed school
- • Curriculum: order materials in advance
Reserve funds:
If you're approved before withdrawal, you can reserve funds in your EMA account for your first providers. That way, services can start immediately.
Create a schedule:
Map out your child's week. When is tutoring? When is therapy? When is instruction? FES-UA families have more flexibility — and more responsibility — for structuring the educational week.
Families in Orlando and Miami make this transition regularly. We help families set up tutoring services so there's no gap when they leave public school.
What Happens If You Re-Enroll in Public School
If you later decide to return to public school:
- • FES-UA ends — you can't receive scholarship funds while enrolled in public school
- • Remaining funds return to the state — you don't keep what's in your account
- • You may be eligible for the Transportation Stipend instead (a smaller benefit for public school students with disabilities)
- • Re-applying for FES-UA is possible if you leave public school again later, but you'd go through the application process again
This isn't a one-way door — but it's also not a casual back-and-forth. Decide thoughtfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child use FES-UA while in public school?
No. FES-UA requires the student to be in private school or home education, not public school.
Do I have to withdraw before applying?
No. Apply first, get approved, then coordinate your withdrawal timing.
What happens to my child's IEP?
The IEP was for the public school setting. It doesn't transfer to private school, but the documentation remains valuable.
Can I homeschool with FES-UA?
Yes. Register as a home education program with your county. FES-UA funds curriculum, tutoring, and therapy.
Do I lose the right to district evaluations?
No. Under IDEA, you can still request evaluations from your district even if your child doesn't attend public school.
What if my private school isn't on the FLDOE list?
It needs to be. Only FLDOE-listed private schools qualify for FES-UA tuition payment.
Can I switch back to public school later?
Yes, but FES-UA ends and remaining funds return to the state.
How do I find FES-UA providers?
Step Up's Find Providers tool lists enrolled providers. For tutoring, check if the provider is in EMA.
What happens if I withdraw mid-year?
That's fine. FES-UA doesn't require semester-based transitions.
Do I need to notify Step Up when I withdraw?
You'll need to update your educational setting in your FES-UA account (private school name or homeschool registration).
Ready to Make the Transition?
If you're considering leaving public school for FES-UA, we can help with tutoring services that start the day your child leaves. Schedule a consultation to plan your transition.
Book a Free Consultation →Sources: Florida Statutes 1002.394, Step Up For Students, FLDOE Home Education
Last updated: May 2026