Paying Eligible Expenses Directly from Step Up for Students' Scholarships

*“Direct payment” means Step Up pays Enlightium directly through the EMA platform.

**“Reimbursement” means parents pay Enlightium first and then request repayment from Step Up. Enlightium Academy cannot guarantee reimbursement approval or timing.

This article applies to students who:

1. Have been awarded PEP or FES-UA scholarships by Step Up for Students, and 
2. Are enrolled full-time in the Online Program’s Silver+, Gold, or Diamond packages

As of October 2025, FTC or FES-EO scholarships may not be used for full-time Enlightium Academy tuition and fees, due to limitations in how Florida defines private schools.

Enlightium students in the following packages who have been awarded PEP or FES-UA scholarships may not submit payments directly through the EMA platform at this time, but they may still request reimbursements from Step Up for Enlightium tuition and fees:

• The Book-Based Program’s AOP and BJU Press packages
• The Online Program’s Bronze and Silver packages

As of October 2025, Sapphire Live tuition is not considered an eligible expense for PEP, and no portion of Sapphire Live tuition is eligible for direct payment. Parents should know that they are not likely to be reimbursed for Sapphire payments.

Step Up classifies live teacher support as “tutoring.” The support included in Enlightium’s Silver+, Gold, and Diamond packages qualifies as part-time tutoring, allowing tuition and certain fees to be paid directly by Step Up.

Please refer to our blog page, “How Florida Families Can Use the Personalized Education Program (PEP) for Tuition Assistance”, for more information on applying for the PEP scholarship and requesting reimbursements through Step Up for Students. Enlightium cannot guarantee reimbursement approval or timing, but Step Up has said that most reimbursement requests should be reviewed within 60 days of submission. Parents should contact Step Up directly for the most up-to-date information.

Keep in mind that the primary parent on the account is ultimately responsible for each student’s tuition and fees. In the event that Step Up does not complete a direct payment on a student’s behalf, the primary parent must make other arrangements to ensure that the payment is completed.

If your student is enrolled in the Online Program’s Silver+, Gold, or Diamond packages and you wish to pay the tuition through EMA, please follow the steps below:

1. Ensure your student is enrolled full-time at Enlightium Academy.
2. Log in to your EMA account.
3. Click on “Marketplace” and then click on “Find a Provider.”
4. Select your Enlightium student in the dropdown menu. If you have multiple students attending Enlightium, make sure that the correct student is selected.
5. Search for “Enlightium Academy.”
6. Select the “Enlightium Academy” location in Spokane, WA. Please note that this location is applicable for all Enlightium families, including those who do not live in Spokane.
7. Select the “part-time tutoring” service for your student’s support package and grade level. Make sure to select the “quarterly tuition and fees installment” option.
8. Review the information and click “Reserve Funds.” Then confirm that Step Up can provide your information to us, and click “Confirm.”
   1. The standard full-year tuition, enrollment fee, and voucher processing fee are based on the support package and grade level you choose. If the actual amount due for your student is less, an Enlightium representative will adjust the amount to the actual cost.
   2. You can reserve funds for up to four quarterly payments at once. Enlightium will be able to finalize the payments as services are rendered each quarter.
9. An Enlightium representative will confirm details of the payment and services before submitting the payment for processing.
10. Once the payment is approved by Step Up, Enlightium will adjust any remaining balance on your account accordingly. You will receive a confirmation that Enlightium received approval for the payment, as well as an updated payment plan if applicable.

Please note that a voucher processing fee of up to $150 per student per year applies for payment plans that include payments received through third-party platforms such as EMA.

Add-Ons are not currently eligible for direct payment through the EMA portal.