The short answer: around $8,000 per student, on average.
The useful answer: that average hides real variation, and the figure that matters is the one for your district and your child's grade.
Why one number does not exist
PEP awards vary by district and by grade level. Two families in different counties, with children the same age, can receive different amounts.
For 2026-27, published amounts in Alachua County illustrate the pattern:
| Grade band | Amount |
|---|---|
| K-3 | $8,320 |
| 4-8 | $7,736 |
| 9-12 | $7,545 |
Note the shape: in this district the youngest band is funded highest and it steps down with age. Do not assume your county follows the same curve — check yours.
What the money is
PEP is an education savings account, not a reimbursement cheque and not a discount. Funds sit in an account you direct toward approved expenses. That structure is why the approved expense list matters so much: money in the account is only useful if what you want to buy qualifies.
Budgeting honestly
A year of homeschooling rarely costs exactly one scholarship. Before you count on the number:
- Curriculum is the visible cost and often the smallest one.
- Tutoring is where budgets actually go, especially for a subject a parent cannot teach.
- Co-op fees recur, usually per term.
- Testing and evaluation comes annually, and it is easy to forget until it is due.
- Activities — sport, music, field trips — are the line families underestimate most.
Add yours up first. Then look at the award. If the two match, good. If they do not, you have learned that in August rather than in February.
Before you commit money
Award amounts change between years and between districts, and the figures above are examples, not a quote. Confirm your own with Step Up For Students before signing anything that depends on the number.
Last checked: August 2026.