Step Up For Students & FES-UA FAQs

Answers below are educational. Step Up For Students publishes the controlling program rules. Behavioral for Kids can help with therapy intake; we cannot award scholarships or promise funding outcomes.

What is Step Up For Students?

Step Up For Students is a Scholarship Funding Organization that administers Florida choice scholarships, including the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA).

What is FES-UA?

FES-UA is an Education Savings Account (ESA) for eligible students with qualifying diagnoses. Funds may be used for approved education-related expenses, which can include certain specialized services such as ABA, speech, OT, and PT from approved providers.

Is FES-UA the same as Florida Medicaid?

No. Medicaid MMA plans (Sunshine, Molina, Aetna Better Health, CMS Health Plan, etc.) are insurance/managed care pathways. FES-UA is a scholarship/ESA pathway. Rules, portals, and documentation differ.

Can we use FES-UA for ABA?

Step Up lists ABA provided by or under BCBA supervision among specialized services when purchased from approved providers. Confirm current purchasing rules for your year.

How do families pay providers?

Common options include direct billing / reservations through EMA Marketplace Find Providers when available, or paying eligible expenses and requesting reimbursement. Your EMA account and Step Up handbook explain which path applies.

How much funding will my child get?

Awards vary by student and matrix. Do not rely on a clinic website for dollar amounts. Check Step Up’s published scholarship amount information and your award notices.

When should we apply?

Follow Step Up’s published application windows for the school year you need. Windows can change—confirm on the Unique Abilities page.

What ages are eligible?

Step Up describes eligibility around ages 3–22 with specific date rules (turn 3 by December 31 of the application year; must not turn 22 on or before September 1 of the application year). Re-read the official page when you apply.

Does Behavioral for Kids accept Step Up?

We work with families using Step Up For Students / FES-UA. Benefits and purchasing methods vary—call (786) 360-2655 to verify how intake can work for your child. This is not a quote and not a guarantee of marketplace availability on a given day.

Can we combine Step Up with Medicaid or private pay?

Sometimes families use more than one pathway across a year, but program rules control what is allowed. Ask Step Up about ESA purchasing constraints and ask your Medicaid plan about medical necessity coverage. We can help you list questions—not invent dual-coverage promises.

Where do we get official help?

• Step Up: stepupforstudents.org
• Unique Abilities: scholarships/unique-abilities
• Behavioral for Kids intake: (786) 360-2655 · info@behavioralforkids.com · Miami Lakes