2024-25 FTC/FES-EO/PEP Parent/Guardian Handbook
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Many participating private schools charge more than the value of the scholarship. In some
cases, they may decide to provide scholarship students with supplemental financial assistance.
The parent or guardian should work with the school but may be required to pay the difference
between the value of the scholarship and the full tuition and fees.
If a student is enrolled at a school before a scholarship has been awarded, the parent or
guardian will be responsible for paying any tuition and fees due to the school.
Once funding has begun, if a full-time student unenrolls from their private school at any time
during the school year, the student will be unable to access any funds for other expenses until
they have enrolled again in a participating private school.
Transferring Schools and the 10-Day Rule
Students utilizing the private school scholarship option may transfer their scholarship among
eligible participating private schools. If a parent or guardian is not satisfied with the private
school they have chosen, they may find another one.
Before a parent or guardian withdraws their student from the private school, they should notify
the school and understand the school’s transfer policy.
A student may not be enrolled in a new eligible private school in EMA until the student has
been withdrawn from the prior school in EMA.
The transfer process may include a final payment to the private school the student is leaving. If
a payment is owed to that school, it must be approved by the parent or guardian. If the school
has been overpaid, Step Up will invoice the school for the overpayment.
If a student’s scholarship requires full-time enrollment in an eligible private school, funding has
been distributed to their account, and the student withdraws and does not re-enroll in an
eligible private school within 30 days, the student’s scholarship account must be closed and
any remaining funds for that quarterly payment period must revert to the state.
Once a student is enrolled and attending their eligible, participating school for 10 or more days
during a quarterly payment period, the school will receive the full quarter’s distribution.
If a student transfers to a different participating school in the same quarter, the first school the
student attended for 10 days or more during that quarter will receive the full quarter’s payment.
The parent or guardian and the two schools may negotiate any amount owed to the new school
from the quarterly payment made to the first school. This is not required, but, in the spirit of
partnership for the good of the student, is highly recommended.
Parents or guardians should allow five business days for the current school to withdraw the
student. If the student has not been withdrawn after five business days, they should contact
the Customer Engagement Center at Step Up For Students.