Using Step Up For Students to Pay for ABA Therapy in Lake County, FL: A Parent Guide

You have a diagnosis, a stack of papers, and one big question: how do we pay for the help our child needs? Maybe your health plan doesn't cover ABA, or you're still sorting out your options. Maybe a friend at the park in Tavares mentioned "the Step Up scholarship," and you aren't sure where to start.

You want your child to flourish, and you deserve a clear picture of the tools available to you. Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), run by Step Up For Students, is one of them. This guide explains, in plain language, how Lake County families can use it for applied behavior analysis (ABA).

This article is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Scholarship rules change every year, so always confirm details with Step Up For Students and the Florida Department of Education before you apply or spend funds.

What Is the FES-UA Scholarship?

FES-UA is an education savings account (ESA). The state deposits funds into an account for your child, and you use them for approved expenses that support your child's learning. The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) explains that families apply and renew each year through an approved scholarship funding organization, which decides eligibility, deposits funds, and approves spending (FLDOE). Step Up For Students is one of those organizations.

Step Up says families can use the scholarship for private school tuition, home education expenses, therapists, specialists, curriculum, and other approved expenses (Step Up For Students).

Can FES-UA Pay for ABA Therapy?

Yes. Florida law lists "specialized services by approved providers" as an authorized use of FES-UA funds, and the first service named is "applied behavior analysis services" (Florida Statutes § 1002.394). The 2026–27 FES-UA Purchasing Guidelines add that an approved provider is generally one licensed by the Florida Department of Health, approved by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, or approved as a Specialized Instructional Services provider, and that ABA must be provided by or under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). For example, sessions led by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) under a BCBA's supervision qualify (FES-UA Purchasing Guidelines).

Why ABA? The CDC says behavioral approaches "have the most evidence for treating symptoms" of autism, and it names ABA as a notable example (CDC). The American Academy of Pediatrics' 2020 clinical report on autism also reviews behavioral interventions as a core part of care (Hyman et al., 2020).

Who Is Eligible?

According to Step Up's 2026–27 Family Handbook, your child must (Step Up Family Handbook):

• Be the right age. Your child must turn 3 on or before December 31 of the year you apply (or be eligible to enroll in a Florida public school) and must not turn 22 on or before September 1 of that year.
• Live in Florida. There are special rules for some active-duty military families.
• Have an IEP or a qualifying diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorder is on the list. A diagnosis must come from an eligible licensed professional, such as a physician or a Florida-licensed psychologist. An IEP must be district-issued and written within the past three years.

An Important Note for Lake County Schools Families

FES-UA funds can't be used while your child is enrolled full time in a public school, including charter schools. To receive and use funds, your child must be enrolled in an eligible private school or a registered home education program (Step Up Family Handbook). Your child can still use some public school classes or activities if you contract for them on a private-pay basis, but the school must not report your child as a full-time public-school student. If your child attends Lake County Schools full time, weigh this carefully before you make any changes. The Lake County Schools Exceptional Student Education (ESE) team can explain what services your child receives now (Lake County Schools).

How to Apply

Step 1: Create an EMA Account

Applications go through EMA (Education Market Assistant), Step Up's online portal. In EMA you apply, upload documents, track funds, request reimbursements, and find providers. Create one account per family, and never share your login with a provider or school. Step Up says letting someone else manage your account can cost your child the scholarship (Step Up Family Handbook).

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

For new applicants, Step Up asks for (Step Up):

• Two different proof-of-residency documents from the same parent or guardian (for example, a utility bill and a lease). Recurring bills should be dated within two months of your application.
• A birth certificate or non-expired passport for younger children (Step Up currently requires this for first-time applicants in the early childhood years)
• Your Social Security number and your child's
• Your child's IEP or diagnosis paperwork

Step 3: Watch the Deadlines

For the 2026–27 school year, Step Up's dates are (Step Up 2026–27 Dates):

• Renewals: February 1 to April 30, 2026
• New applications: February 1 to November 15, 2026
• Accept or decline: by December 15, 2026 for new students (May 31 for renewals)

These dates are for the 2026–27 school year. Applications may close early if the program reaches capacity, so apply as early as you can. If you are reading this after November 15, 2026, the new-application window may already be closed; watch Step Up For Students for the next school year's dates. Under state law, applications that come in after the deadline may be considered for the following school year (Florida Statutes § 1002.394).

Step 4: Renew Every Year

FES-UA isn't automatic. Families renew each year, and renewing students get priority. A renewal filed after the deadline is treated as a new application.

How Much Is the Scholarship?

Award amounts vary. Step Up's handbook says the amount depends on your child's grade level, county of residence, and matrix level of services from the school district. Step Up publishes a 2026–27 amounts chart by county on its Unique Abilities page. Check there for current Lake County figures, and in EMA for your child's actual balance.

How Paying for ABA Works

Step Up describes two main ways to pay for services like therapy (Step Up Family Handbook):

Direct Billing Through the EMA Marketplace

Providers that set up an EMA provider account appear under Find Providers in the EMA Marketplace. You reserve funds for that provider, and the provider is paid from your child's account. Payment can only be approved after the service is provided.

Reimbursement

You pay the provider yourself, then submit a reimbursement request in EMA. For specialized services, the invoice must be on business letterhead and show your child's name, the dates and type of service, the amount, the provider's name, the provider's license number, and proof of payment. Step Up warns that invoices listing billing codes instead of the service type may slow things down. Reviews can take up to 60 days.

Two Rules to Know

• No double payment. Services already paid for by health insurance or an HSA can't also be reimbursed through the scholarship. If you also use insurance for ABA, ask Step Up how this applies to your family.
• No refunds or rebates. Families may not receive any payment, refund, or rebate of scholarship funds from a provider.

How Blaze ABA Can Help

At Blaze ABA, based in Leesburg, our clinicians have seen families flourish when the right care meets them where they are, with a caring community behind them. We serve families in Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Mount Dora, Lady Lake, and Clermont, with therapy at home, at school, and in the community. We accept Step Up For Students funding.

Our plan is simple:

1. A targeted Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) to understand what your child's behavior is telling us.
2. An individualized plan built around your child and your family's goals, with progress you can see.

If you're still mapping out the bigger picture, our guide to starting ABA in Leesburg walks through every step, from screening to first sessions (read it here).

Ready for the first step? Start intake online.

Frequently Asked Questions

This article is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Rules, deadlines, and amounts change each year. Please confirm current details with Step Up For Students and the Florida Department of Education.

References

1. Step Up For Students. Scholarships for Unique Abilities (FES-UA). https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/unique-abilities/
2. Step Up For Students. Apply for a Unique Abilities Scholarship. https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/unique-abilities/apply/
3. Step Up For Students. 2026–27 FES-UA Family Handbook (last modified October 29, 2026). https://www.stepupforstudents.org/handbook-web/fes-ua-family-handbook/
4. Step Up For Students. 2026–27 Scholarship Application Dates. https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hubfs/Scholarship%20Info/2026-27_ScholarshipApplicationDates_FINAL.pdf
5. Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities (UCF). FES-UA Purchasing Guidelines 2026–2027 (July 1, 2026). https://fcsua.org/docs/fesua/2026-27-purchasing-english.pdf
6. Florida Department of Education. Family Empowerment Scholarship. https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/fes/
7. The Florida Senate. 2026 Florida Statutes § 1002.394, The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/1002.394
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/treatment/index.html
9. Hyman SL, Levy SE, Myers SM, et al. Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1):e20193447. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31843864/
10. Lake County Schools. Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Parent Resources. https://www.lake.k12.fl.us/page/ese-parent-resources