Florida scholarship Authority hub

FES-UA Scholarship & Step Up For Students Unique Abilities

Looking up the FES-UA scholarship, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities, or Step Up For Students Unique Abilities? This parent hub explains how Florida’s FES-UA Education Savings Account works for Miami-Dade families— including how caregivers commonly explore Step Up For Students ABA funding for approved specialized services.

Behavioral for Kids works with scholarship families for ABA and related therapies. Always verify eligibility, award amounts, and purchasing rules with Step Up For Students —clinic pages are not a benefits quote.

Call (786) 360-2655 Official Unique Abilities site

What families need to know

Step Up For Students is a Scholarship Funding Organization. FES-UA is an Education Savings Account (ESA) for eligible students with qualifying diagnoses— including Autism Spectrum Disorder among many others listed by Step Up.

Typical eligibility themes include Florida residency (with military exceptions), ages about 3–22 with specific calendar cutoffs (turn 3 by December 31 of the application year; must not turn 22 on or before September 1), and an IEP or validated qualifying diagnosis from an eligible licensed professional—as Step Up defines for the year you apply.

Approved specialized services can include ABA by/under BCBA supervision, speech, OT, and PT from approved providers. Families commonly use EMA / Find Providers for marketplace direct billing when available, or reimbursement for eligible expenses.

Award amounts vary by student and matrix. Application windows can change by school year. For 2026–27 and beyond, confirm published windows and amounts on Step Up’s site—do not treat clinic copy as a quote.

Using FES-UA for ABA therapy

Many parents specifically search for Step Up For Students ABA or how to use the FES-UA scholarship for applied behavior analysis. In Step Up materials, ABA provided by or under BCBA supervision is commonly listed among approved specialized services when obtained from approved providers. That does not guarantee a particular hour count, marketplace listing, or reimbursement outcome for your child.

  1. 1 Confirm FES-UA / Unique Abilities eligibility and award status with Step Up For Students.
  2. 2 Review the current purchasing guide for specialized services and your EMA options (direct billing vs reimbursement).
  3. 3 Complete clinical intake with an ABA provider—goals, assessment needs, and English/Spanish caregiver training preferences.
  4. 4 Align scheduling with how funds will be reserved or reimbursed for your scholarship year.
Deep dive: Using FES-UA for ABA → ABA therapy services → Florida Medicaid guide (different pathway) →

Explore the Step Up guides

Knowledge and answer pages written for caregivers—pair these with Step Up’s official handbooks.

knowledge

FES-UA Eligibility: Who Qualifies for Unique Abilities

Plain-language FES-UA eligibility themes for Florida families—residency, age windows, qualifying diagnoses, and where to confirm official rules with Step Up For Students.

Read guide → knowledge

How to Apply for FES-UA with Step Up For Students

Parent-focused overview of applying for Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) through Step Up—documents, timing, and official links.

Read guide → knowledge

Speech, OT & PT with FES-UA

How FES-UA specialized services may include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy alongside ABA—verify approved providers and purchasing rules with Step Up.

Read guide → knowledge

Using FES-UA for ABA Therapy

How Florida families commonly use Step Up For Students FES-UA Education Savings Account funds for ABA—EMA Marketplace, approved providers, and what to verify before starting.

Read guide → answer

Step Up For Students & FES-UA FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Step Up For Students, FES-UA Education Savings Accounts, ABA, EMA Find Providers, and how Behavioral for Kids works with scholarship families.

Read guide →

How Behavioral for Kids helps

  • FES-UA = Education Savings Account for eligible students with unique abilities
  • Approved specialized services can include ABA (by/under BCBA supervision), speech, OT, and PT from approved providers
  • Families use EMA / Find Providers; direct billing or reimbursement may be available depending on Step Up rules
  • We emphasize parent education—verify eligibility and purchasing rules on Step Up’s official site

Bring to intake

  • Step Up / FES-UA award or EMA account confirmation if you have it
  • Diagnosis documentation or IEP materials used for eligibility
  • Notes on whether you plan marketplace direct billing or reimbursement
  • Child’s goals for ABA and any related therapies
  • Questions about combining scholarship funds with other coverage when allowed

What happens next

  1. 1

    We explain how clinic intake works alongside Step Up purchasing rules.

  2. 2

    We help you list documents and questions for Step Up and for our clinical team.

  3. 3

    We discuss ABA (and speech/OT/PT when relevant) without inventing award dollar amounts.

  4. 4

    You leave with a clear call-to-action: verify with Step Up + complete our intake.

Schedule an appointment

Frequently asked questions

More answers on the FAQs page.

What is the FES-UA scholarship?
FES-UA stands for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities. It is a Florida Education Savings Account (ESA) administered by Step Up For Students for eligible students with qualifying diagnoses. Funds may be used for approved education-related expenses, including certain specialized services from approved providers.
What is Step Up For Students Unique Abilities?
“Unique Abilities” refers to the FES-UA pathway within Step Up For Students. Step Up is a Scholarship Funding Organization that administers Florida choice scholarships; Unique Abilities / FES-UA is the ESA designed for students with qualifying disabilities or diagnoses as Step Up defines for the application year.
Can Step Up For Students pay for ABA therapy?
Step Up purchasing guidance lists applied behavior analysis (ABA) services provided by or under the supervision of a BCBA among approved specialized services when obtained from approved providers. Families often ask about “Step Up For Students ABA” for this reason. Confirm current rules, marketplace/reimbursement methods, and documentation in the Step Up handbook for your scholarship year—processes can change.
How do families use FES-UA for ABA therapy?
Common patterns include searching approved providers in EMA (Marketplace / Find Providers) for direct purchasing when available, or paying eligible expenses and requesting reimbursement with required documents. Build the clinical recommendation with your ABA provider first, then align scheduling with how funds are reserved or reimbursed. See our Using FES-UA for ABA guide for a parent workflow.
Is FES-UA the same as Florida Medicaid for ABA?
No. Florida Medicaid is a health coverage pathway that often requires prior authorization for medically necessary ABA. FES-UA is an education scholarship ESA with separate eligibility and purchasing rules. Some families explore both, but paperwork and approval logic differ. Read our Florida Medicaid ABA guide for the insurance side.
Does Behavioral for Kids work with Step Up families?
Yes. We work with families using Step Up For Students / FES-UA for ABA and related therapies when clinically appropriate. Benefits and purchasing methods vary—call (786) 360-2655 or email info@behavioralforkids.com to verify how intake can work for your child. This is not a benefits quote.
Where should families apply for FES-UA?
Apply through Step Up For Students at https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/unique-abilities/. Application windows can change by school year—confirm deadlines and required documents on their official site.
Do you publish award dollar amounts?
No. Award amounts vary by student and matrix. Families should confirm current award information with Step Up rather than relying on clinic webpages for dollar figures.

Also helpful

Talk with our bilingual team

We will help you map ABA intake beside your Step Up questions—without inventing award amounts or network claims.

(786) 360-2655 Step Up For Students