How to use Florida scholarship funds for Outschool classes

Three ways to pay for Outschool with your scholarship

Florida Step Up for Students families have three ways to spend their scholarship on Outschool classes. Which one you use depends on whether you want live instruction or self-paced content, and how you prefer to handle the money.

For program eligibility and how to apply, see our Florida Step Up for Students guide. For the full picture of Florida's scholarship programs, see our Florida ESA programs overview.

EMA (Education Marketplace Assistant): covers live classes with approved teachers. Buy a program-funded wallet, then enroll on Outschool. No out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement step.

Reimbursement: covers live classes with any approved teacher. Pay upfront with a credit card, then submit your receipt to Step Up.

MyScholarShop: covers self-paced classes only. Buy directly with your scholarship funds.

Most families use EMA or reimbursement for live classes. MyScholarShop works for self-paced classes but covers only a small portion of Outschool's catalog.

Option 1: buy through EMA (recommended for live classes)

The Education Marketplace Assistant (EMA) lets you purchase an Outschool program-funded wallet using your Florida scholarship funds. The wallet funds go directly into your Outschool account, so there's no out-of-pocket cost and no reimbursement step.

Outschool is a Home Education Instructional Program (HEIP) approved provider. All approved Outschool teachers' classes are eligible, with no credential verification needed on your end.

Before you buy in EMA

1. Check your Outschool email. Your Outschool account must use the same email address associated with your Florida scholarship. If you're new to Outschool, create an account with that email first.
2. Review how wallet funds work. Program-funded wallets are non-transferable and can only be used for eligible, state-approved Outschool classes. They may be subject to both state and Outschool restrictions.

How to purchase in EMA

1. Log in to your EMA account and navigate to the marketplace. Select Find Providers.
2. Search for Outschool.com and click the listing.
3. Select the Outschool.com location option.
4. Scroll down and choose a service level, then select Add to Cart.
5. Pick your wallet amount ($50, $100, $200, or $500) and select Reserve Funds.

After your EMA order is processed

Your wallet funds will be credited to your Outschool account within one business day. You can check your balance from your Transactions Page on Outschool.

When browsing for classes, use the program filter dropdown on search or category landing pages to see only classes approved by your state program. If you've filled out your kid's profile under Public Funding Programs, the filter will be selected automatically.

Option 2: pay upfront and request reimbursement

If you prefer to enroll first and get reimbursed later, you can pay for any live Outschool class with a credit card and submit the receipt through your Step Up ESA account.

Outschool is an approved HEIP provider, so all live classes are now eligible for reimbursement. Teacher credential documentation is no longer required. Outschool receipts include "HEIP approved" to make submission easier.

What you need for your reimbursement submission

Proof of payment (any of these):

• Credit card receipt with the full transaction date (mm/dd/yy), payee name, and amount
• Credit card or bank statement showing the same details

Receipt or invoice with:

• The scholarship kid's first and last name
• The teacher's first and last name
• The company name (Outschool)
• The type of service (e.g., live online class)
• Dates and hours of instruction, including the year
• The service rate

To get a custom receipt from Outschool, see How to Get a Receipt for Public Funding Reimbursement.

How to submit for reimbursement

1. Log in to your Step Up ESA account.
2. Start a reimbursement request and choose the matching expense category.
3. Upload your receipt and enrollment confirmation.
4. Enter the amount and submit.

Submit each receipt soon after you pay rather than batching them at the end of the year. If a request is returned for more documentation, fix and resubmit right away. The wrong expense category is the most common reason requests get sent back.

Outschool's reimbursement guarantee

Pay for your Outschool classes, submit your receipts through Step Up for Students or AAA Scholarships, and if an eligible class is ever denied, Outschool will make it right. Here's how it works:

1. Pay for Outschool classes and save your receipts.
2. Submit them through Step Up for Students for reimbursement.
3. If an approved class is denied, Outschool covers it.

Option 3: buy self-paced classes in MyScholarShop

Outschool's self-paced classes are available in MyScholarShop, listed under "Stand-Alone Online Class." You can purchase these directly with your scholarship funds, with no reimbursement needed.

Self-paced classes are a small portion of Outschool's catalog. For the full range of live, teacher-led classes, use EMA or reimbursement instead.

Which option should I use?

• Want live classes without paying upfront? Use EMA. It's the simplest path for most families.
• Already enrolled and need to get reimbursed? Submit your receipt through your Step Up ESA account.
• Looking for self-paced content? Check MyScholarShop.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay upfront for Outschool classes?

Not if you use EMA. EMA lets you fund a wallet on Outschool first, so you can enroll in live classes without any out-of-pocket cost. If you skip EMA and enroll directly, you'll need to pay and then request reimbursement.

Which Florida scholarships work with Outschool?

Families with FES-UA (Unique Abilities), PEP (Personalized Education Program), or FES-EO (Educational Options) funds can all use their scholarship for Outschool. FES-EO families use funds remaining after private school tuition. For a full program comparison, see our Florida ESA programs overview.

How long does reimbursement take?

It depends on how complete your submission is. A clean request with an itemized receipt and the correct expense category moves fastest. Submit early and check your Step Up portal for status updates.

Can I buy Outschool classes through MyScholarShop?

Yes, but only self-paced classes. MyScholarShop covers a small portion of Outschool's catalog. For live, teacher-led classes, use EMA or reimbursement.

What if my reimbursement is denied for an approved class?

Outschool has a reimbursement guarantee. If you submit a receipt for an eligible Outschool class and it's denied, Outschool will cover it. Contact the Outschool Support Team with the denial details.

What if I have questions about my scholarship or my order?

For questions about scholarship eligibility or your EMA account, contact Step Up for Students. For questions about Outschool's ordering process, contact the Outschool Support Team.

Get started

Browse Outschool's Florida-eligible classes to find live and self-paced options that fit your kid's interests. Fund your wallet through EMA, and you can be enrolled in a class today.