Your PEP Scholarship Covers A Full Year of Reading Growth
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Use your Florida PEP scholarship for AI reading assessments, Skills Lab practice, and progress tracking. $99/student/year—about 1.2% of your scholarship. Pay now, get reimbursed through EMA.
Step Up for Students Approved
Florida PEP families receive approximately $8,000 per student. For just $99—about 1.2% of your scholarship—your K-5 child gets AI-scored reading assessments, personalized Skills Lab practice, and progress tracking. Pay securely online, then submit to EMA for full reimbursement.
From Enrollment to First Assessment in Minutes
Pay now, get reimbursed through your Step Up EMA portal—your child starts immediately
- Quick Enrollment Form (2 Minutes). Enter your child's name and grade level. That is all we need to get started. No lengthy applications.
- Pay $99 Securely Online. Continue to our secure checkout and pay with your credit or debit card. You will receive a paid invoice instantly—formatted specifically for Step Up EMA reimbursement with the correct category and documentation.
- Submit to EMA for Reimbursement. Log in to your Step Up EMA portal at stepupforstudents.org. Submit a reimbursement request under Instructional Materials, then upload your paid ReadingFluency invoice and credit card statement as proof of payment. Allow up to 60 days for processing.
- Your Child Starts Immediately. Your child gets full access the moment you pay—no need to wait for reimbursement. They read aloud for 60 seconds and get an instant score showing exactly where they stand compared to grade-level benchmarks.
See Where They Stand. Watch Them Grow.
Everything your K-5 reader needs to build fluency—reimbursable through your PEP scholarship
Know Their Reading Level in 60 Seconds
Your child reads aloud for one minute. AI transcribes every word and scores their Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM)—the same metric Florida schools use to measure reading fluency and identify students who need intervention.
Practice Built Around Their Specific Struggles
Skills Lab identifies your child's actual trouble words and builds targeted exercises around them. Phonics practice, modeled reading, and vocabulary work that addresses their real gaps—not generic worksheets.
Track Progress Between Annual Evaluations
Florida PEP students need an annual norm-referenced test. ReadingFluency gives you ongoing reading data between those formal evaluations—weekly or monthly check-ins so you can adjust instruction before the annual test arrives.
Fresh Reading Passages Every Time
AI generates new passages matched to your child's exact grade level for every assessment. They are always reading something new, building real comprehension—not memorizing and reciting the same material.
A Parent Dashboard That Guides Your Decisions
Every assessment score, every trouble word, and every progress trend in one place. You see clearly whether your child is on track, above, or below grade level—the data you need to make confident curriculum choices.
$99 Reimbursed Through Your EMA Portal
Florida PEP families receive approximately $8,000 per student. ReadingFluency costs $99—about 1.2% of your scholarship. Pay with your card, submit the invoice to EMA, and get reimbursed. Your child has full access the moment you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Florida PEP scholarship?
The FTC Personalized Education Program (PEP) is a Florida scholarship for families who homeschool or use a combination of educational options outside traditional full-time public or private school. Step Up for Students administers the program, which provides approximately $8,000 per student in a flexible education savings account. You pay for approved expenses upfront, then submit receipts through the EMA portal for reimbursement.
How does the reimbursement process work?
After you pay for ReadingFluency ($99), log in to your Step Up EMA (Education Management Account) portal at stepupforstudents.org. Submit a reimbursement request under Educational Software & Subscriptions. Upload your paid invoice (which we provide instantly) and your credit card statement showing the charge. Step Up processes reimbursement requests within approximately 60 days after all documentation is submitted.
What EMA category should I use?
Submit your reimbursement under Instructional Materials. Our paid invoice is formatted to match what Step Up expects—the correct vendor details, service description, and category information—so you can submit without guesswork.
Does my child get access immediately, or do I wait for reimbursement?
Your child gets full access the moment you pay—no waiting for reimbursement. The 60-day reimbursement timeline is between you and Step Up. Your child can complete their first reading assessment within minutes of enrollment.
Is PEP accepting new students?
PEP scholarship availability varies by year. The program has been at capacity for new students in some application cycles while still accepting renewing students. Check stepupforstudents.org for the most current 2026-27 availability and application deadlines. If you are a renewing PEP family, your renewal status is tied to the scholarship you used in the prior year.
Can I use my FES-UA scholarship instead of PEP?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) is a separate program with its own approved vendor list and reimbursement process. If you are using FES-UA, check with Step Up for Students directly to confirm that educational software and subscriptions are covered under your specific scholarship type before purchasing.
Is ReadingFluency on MyScholarShop?
ReadingFluency is not currently listed on MyScholarShop. Instead, you purchase directly from our website for $99 and submit the paid invoice through your EMA portal for reimbursement. The purchase and the invoice upload take about five minutes.
Can ReadingFluency count toward my child's annual evaluation?
ReadingFluency provides ongoing reading fluency assessments throughout the year, but it is not a state-approved annual evaluation tool. Florida PEP students in grades K-12 are required to take a state-approved norm-referenced test annually and submit results to their scholarship funding organization. ReadingFluency gives you valuable data to track progress between those formal evaluations—weekly or monthly check-ins so you know exactly where your child stands before test day.
What grades does ReadingFluency cover?
Grades K through 5. Every reading passage, benchmark target, and Skills Lab activity is calibrated to your child's specific grade level. Scoring uses Hasbrouck and Tindal (2017) oral reading fluency norms—the nationally recognized standard used by reading specialists and schools across the country.
How does ReadingFluency compare to hiring a reading tutor?
One hour of private reading tutoring costs $40-80 in Florida. ReadingFluency gives your child unlimited assessments, personalized Skills Lab practice, AI-generated reading passages, and progress tracking for a full year—roughly the equivalent of 12 tutoring sessions at a fraction of the cost. And your PEP scholarship reimburses you, so there is no long-term out-of-pocket cost.
What exactly is included for $99/year?
Unlimited 60-second reading assessments with AI scoring, full Skills Lab access (phonics, modeled reading, trouble word practice), AI-generated reading passages matched to your child's grade level, progress tracking with national benchmarks, and a parent dashboard showing every result. One subscription covers the full year for one student.
What if my reimbursement request is denied?
Reimbursement denials are uncommon when submitted under the correct category with proper documentation. Make sure you select Instructional Materials in EMA and upload both your paid invoice and credit card statement. If a request is denied, contact Step Up for Students directly for clarification. Our support team can also help you resubmit with the correct documentation.