If your child is not enrolled in a full-time private or public school, you may be able to use scholarship funds from Florida’s Personalized Education Program (PEP) to pay for private tutoring! At Knowledge Plus Tutoring, we accept these funds for specialized multi-sensory tutoring in reading, spelling, writing, math, executive functioning skills, and other academic skill areas. We can also provide Orton Gillingham tutoring to your child using their Personalized Education Program funds.
Many families in Boca Raton and the surrounding areas use PEP funds for homeschooling and specialized one-on-one tutoring. For instance, a student might work on their main curriculum at home through homeschooling and receive instruction from a reading specialist for dyslexia tutoring or additional supplemental tutoring in writing, math, or executive functioning.
Who is eligible for PEP funds?
PEP scholarships are available to Florida residents in grades K-12 who are not enrolled in a full-time private or public school. They must turn five by September 1st of the school year they are enrolling in to qualify. While there are no income requirements, priority is given to families that have a lower household income, families renewing their child in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship or Family Empowerment Scholarship, and children who are in foster care or care out of their home.
How do I apply for the PEP scholarship?
To apply for this scholarship, you must submit a Student Learning Plan, which is a customized learning plan that guides your child’s instruction, to a Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO). An SFO is a non-profit organization that issues scholarships and determines your child’s eligibility for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Programs.
What can I use PEP funds for?
PEP funds can be used for a variety of educational programs and services. These options include instructional tuition and fees for private tutoring; materials; curriculum; tuition for eligible home education instruction program; contracted services provided by a public school or school district; fees for nationally standardized norm-referenced tests and assessments; virtual programs approved by the Florida DOE; feels for services provided by a Choice Navigator; tuition as a private pay student at a Florida Virtual School; schooling at an eligible postsecondary educational institution or approved apprenticeship program; and digital materials.
What are some of the requirements for receiving PEP funding? In order to qualify for PEP funding, you must register with a Florida Department of Education approved SFO. Your child can’t be enrolled in a full-time public school, charter school, school for the deaf and blind, college prep academy, developmental research school, or juvenile justice school. Your child must have turned five by September 1 of the school year you want to enroll them in. You must also submit an affidavit through the SFO. Additionally, you need to submit a Student Learning Plan each year, and your child will need to take a state-approved national norm-referenced test each year which you will submit to your SFO before the scholarship can be renewed.
Can families receive Step Up tutoring in Boca Raton?
Yes! If you live in Boca Raton or another area of Palm Beach or Broward County, you can use Florida’s Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship to enhance your child’s learning. If your child is not enrolled in a full-time public or private school, you can use your child’s PEP funds for various educational services, including specialized reading tutoring, writing instruction, math tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and other academic remediation. This tutoring can be particularly beneficial if your child has dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or another learning disability.
What is Knowledge Plus Tutoring in Boca Raton?
At Knowledge Plus Tutoring in Boca Raton, we specialize in helping students with neurodiverse needs build their academic and executive functioning skills. We provide dyslexia tutoring in Boca Raton, Orton Gillingham tutoring in Florida, ADHD Coaching in Palm Beach and Broward Counties, and one-on-one tutoring to neurodiverse students.
If your child needs specialized tutoring in reading, spelling, writing, math, executive functioning, or other skill areas, you may be able to use your PEP funds to pay for this tutoring, with no out-of-pocked expenses. We specialize in helping children with specialized learning needs and would be happy to help your child!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PEP funds be used for dyslexia tutoring?
Yes! Many families choose to spend their PEP funds to pay for specialized one-on-one dyslexia tutoring. The Orton Gillingham method is an optimal approach used for dyslexia tutoring that is research-based and multi-sensory and can help students with dyslexia build much stronger reading and spelling skills.
Can PEP funds be used for Orton Gillingham tutoring?
Yes! Orton Gillingham tutoring is an evidence-based, multi-sensory approach that helps students with dyslexia and reading challenges develop their reading and spelling skills. Families can use their PEP scholarship funds to pay for Orton Gillingham tutoring services if it is with an approved provider.
Can PEP funds help students with learning challenges?
Yes! Families can absolutely use PEP funds to help their child with learning challenges. Students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, autism or executive functioning challenges all benefit from specialized one-on-one tutoring.
How do I find a tutoring program in Boca Raton who accepts Step Up For Students funding?
You can find tutoring programs that accept Step Up For Students funding by looking through the provider directory in your scholarship account. To do so, log in to your Step Up For Students EMA account, click “Marketplace,” and select “Find Providers.” From there, you can filter by type of service (like tutoring) and search by city or ZIP code to find providers in your area who are approved. After finding a provider you wish to go with, such as Knowledge Plus Tutoring, contact them directly to tell them about your child’s needs and see if they can help your child.
Many tutoring programs in Boca Raton and throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties, including Knowledge Plus Tutoring, accept Step Up scholarships for services such as reading tutoring, writing tutoring, math tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and specialized instruction using the Orton Gillingham approach for students with dyslexia and reading challenges. Parents can also ask tutoring companies directly when they call them if they are approved Step Up providers and accept Step Up payments for tutoring.
If your child needs specialized one-on-one in person or virtual tutoring in reading, writing, math, or executive functioning, Knowledge Plus Tutoring accepts Florida PEP scholarship funds. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your child at www.knowledgeplustutoring.com.
Our program provides individualized tutoring using multi-sensory approaches and integrates Orton Gillingham instruction to help students with learning challenges excel.
Dr. Emily Levy, the Director of Knowledge Plus Tutoring, holds her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has been helping students with learning and attentional challenges for over twenty years.
