NewsWUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)August 13, 2026Hillsborough
Florida homeschool parents report funding denials despite $29 million surplus in voucher program
Florida parents using the Personalized Education Program (PEP) are reporting scholarship denials despite recent state projections showing a $29 million surplus in available funding. Step Up For Students, the organization managing the program, has not yet clarified why denials are occurring or how the additional funds will be allocated.
Read the full story at WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)Why It Matters
Families relying on the $8,000 annual voucher to cover private lessons and curriculum face uncertainty as the program struggles to reconcile its reported budget surplus with ongoing denial letters sent to applicants.
Key Facts
Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.
Who's Mentioned
personElisabeth Goodman“Office of Economic and Demographic Research staff”organizationAAA“Scholarship funding distributor”personLindsay Poverdomo-Joly“Coral Springs resident and PEP scholarship user”personScott Kent“Spokesman for Step Up For Students”organizationEducation Estimating Conference“State body reviewing scholarship financial projections”personDenise Potvin“Florida House budget chief”personTim Elwell“Staff director for the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education”organizationStep Up For Students“Primary administrator of the PEP scholarship program”