Do Florida PEP students have to take an annual assessment to renew?

Yes, renewal PEP students must take a FLDOE-approved norm-referenced test and submit results to their Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) before their scholarship can be renewed for the next school year. This requirement does not apply to brand-new PEP applicants.

When is the Florida PEP Student Learning Plan deadline for 2026-27?

The Student Learning Plan (SLP) must be submitted in EMA by May 31, 2026 to be eligible for 2026-27 PEP funding. Renewal students must also have their annual assessment results uploaded to EMA before renewal is processed.

What assessments are approved for Florida PEP annual testing?

Approved assessments include Renaissance Star Early Literacy, Renaissance Star Reading and Math, Curriculum Associates i-Ready, Edmentum Exact Path, and Florida statewide assessments under Florida Statute 1008.22. The full approved list is on the FLDOE website.

Where do I submit my child's PEP assessment results?

Assessment results are uploaded directly to your EMA (Education Market Assistant) account at app.stepupforstudents.org. Log in, navigate to your student's profile, and upload the results document before your renewal deadline.

Florida PEP Annual Assessment Requirement 2025–2026: What Renewal Families Must Do

Who This Applies To

The annual assessment requirement applies to renewal students only, families who received PEP funding in the 2024–2025 school year and want to continue for 2025–2026 and into 2026–2027.

New applicants starting PEP for the first time do not need to complete an assessment before applying. The requirement kicks in after your first funded year.

💡

According to Step Up for Students: "Students who were awarded and funded with a PEP scholarship in the previous school year must take a Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) approved norm-referenced test during the year they use PEP. Test scores must be submitted to your Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) and can be uploaded directly to your account in EMA."

What the Assessment Requirement Actually Means

Florida law requires all PEP students to take a nationally norm-referenced standardized test (or a Florida statewide assessment) annually. This is how the state measures student progress and ensures accountability within the scholarship program.

The test itself does not have to show a passing score or a specific level of performance. It simply has to be taken and the results submitted to Step Up (or AAA). There is no minimum score requirement for renewal.

What matters is:

The test is from the approved list
It was administered during the school year you're renewing from
Results are uploaded to your EMA account before your renewal is processed

Approved Assessments for Florida PEP

You can choose any test from the FLDOE-approved list. The most commonly used options for PEP homeschool families are:

Assessment	Provider	Format	Status
Renaissance Star Reading & Math	Renaissance	Online, at home	✓ Approved
Renaissance Star Early Literacy	Renaissance	Online, at home	✓ Approved
i-Ready Diagnostic	Curriculum Associates	Online, at home	✓ Approved
Edmentum Exact Path	Edmentum	Online, at home	✓ Approved
Florida Statewide Assessments	FLDOE / School District	In person (public school)	Optional

Many families use online tests like Renaissance Star or i-Ready because they can be administered at home by the parent, no testing center required. Sites like peptesting.com offer approved tests specifically for PEP families.

⚠️

Important: Always verify that the specific test and provider you choose are on the current FLDOE approved list before purchasing. The approved list can change year to year. Check FLDOE's annual assessment page for the most current version.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete and Submit

Choose an approved assessment
Pick a test from the FLDOE-approved list. Most PEP families use online options (Renaissance Star, i-Ready) that can be completed at home without scheduling a testing center.
Administer the test
Complete the assessment during the 2025–2026 school year. For online tests, you can do this any time before your renewal deadline. Many families complete the assessment in April or May to give time for submission.
Receive your results document
The testing provider will give you a results report. Save this as a PDF. You'll need to upload it to your EMA account.
Log into EMA and upload results
Go to your EMA account (app.stepupforstudents.org), navigate to your student's profile, find the assessment results section, and upload the results PDF. Both Step Up and AAA accept uploads directly in EMA.
Submit your Student Learning Plan (SLP) by May 31, 2026
Your SLP must also be submitted in EMA before May 31, 2026 for your scholarship to renew for the 2026–2027 school year. These are two separate requirements. Both must be done.
Confirm your renewal is processed
After uploading, check your EMA account to confirm your renewal status. If anything is flagged as missing, address it immediately.

What Happens If You Miss the Assessment Requirement

If your assessment results are not submitted before your renewal is processed, your PEP scholarship will not renew for the following school year. This means no funding for 2026–2027 even if you've been a PEP family for years.

Unlike the July 31 reimbursement deadline (which affects current-year funds), the assessment requirement affects next year's funding. Miss it and you start the new school year without scholarship dollars, and re-applying as a "new" student puts you back in the priority queue.

🚨

Don't wait until May: Take the assessment in March or April. This gives you time to resolve any issues with uploading, contact your SFO if something goes wrong, and still meet the May 31 SLP deadline comfortably.

Student Learning Plan (SLP) vs. Assessment: What's the Difference?

These are two separate renewal requirements that families often confuse:

Student Learning Plan (SLP): An annual educational plan you create and submit in EMA outlining your child's learning goals and curriculum for the year. Due May 31, 2026 for 2026-27 renewal.
Annual Assessment: A standardized test your child takes during the school year. Results must be uploaded to EMA before renewal is processed. Historically due around July 1 for prior cycles.

Both are required. Completing one without the other will still block your renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The annual assessment requirement only applies to renewal students, specifically families who received PEP funding in the previous school year. If you're applying to PEP for the first time for the 2026-27 school year, you do not need to complete an assessment before applying.

No. There is no minimum score requirement for PEP renewal. The requirement is simply that your child takes an approved test and you submit the results to your SFO. The assessment is for accountability and progress tracking, not a performance gate.

It depends on whether the test is on the FLDOE approved list for PEP. If your child took an approved norm-referenced test as part of your home education evaluation and it's on the approved list, you may be able to use those results. Check with your SFO to confirm before assuming the same results satisfy both requirements.

Contact your Scholarship Funding Organization directly: Step Up for Students at (877) 735-7837 (M–F 8am–5pm EST) or AAA Scholarship Foundation. They can assist with EMA access issues and confirm alternative submission methods if the portal is unavailable.

Yes. The annual assessment requirement is a Florida law requirement that applies to all PEP scholarship students regardless of which SFO manages their scholarship. Both Step Up and AAA families must complete an approved assessment and submit results before renewal.

📋

The assessment deadline, SLP deadline, and July 31 reimbursement deadline are three separate due dates that renewal families need to track simultaneously. Florida PEP Tracker keeps all your PEP deadlines in one place, with automatic reminders so nothing falls through the cracks.

Track all your PEP deadlines free →

📖 For the full reimbursement process: The Complete Florida PEP Reimbursement Guide →

Florida PEP Annual Assessment Requirement: What Every Renewal Family Needs to Do

Key Deadlines for 2026–27 Renewal