Can You Pay Yourself to Homeschool Your Child Using Florida PEP Funds?

No, you cannot use Florida PEP scholarship funds to pay yourself for teaching your own child. This is explicitly prohibited, even if you are a certified teacher. It's one of the most common misconceptions among new PEP families.

Why This Rule Exists

PEP is a scholarship for third-party educational services, not a parental stipend. The program is designed to fund external providers: schools, tutors, curriculum companies, activity instructors. Compensating yourself for your own teaching labor falls outside the program's legal framework.

What About Relatives?

The same rule applies to anyone in your immediate household. However, a relative who lives separately and meets provider qualifications (certified teacher or demonstrated subject competency) may qualify. This is a gray area, so contact Step Up directly before paying a relative.

What You CAN Do Instead

• Purchase curriculum and materials that you use to teach your child
• Hire an outside tutor who meets the provider requirements
• Use PEP funds for co-ops where your child is taught by a third-party instructor
• Enroll in a private school or microschool where qualified teachers do the instruction

The "Tutor Swap" Some Families Use

Some families with teaching backgrounds informally exchange instruction: each parent teaches the other's child. This is technically legal if both parties are properly credentialed and documented, but it's a gray area worth discussing with Step Up before attempting.