Helping Your Child Succeed in Tutoring
July 21, 2026
Jamie Blatt, Founder & Lead Tutor • Updated August 2026 • 5 min read
QUICK FACTS
The Step Up for Students Unique Abilities (UA) Scholarship is an educational choice program designed to give families flexibility in how their child learns. However, to access funds for private tutoring, therapies, or curriculum, your child must be enrolled in an approved private school or home education program—staying enrolled in a traditional public school only unlocks options to transfer schools, not direct funding for outside services.
One of the most common questions I receive from parents is:
How can the Step Up for Students Unique Abilities (UA) Scholarship be used and whether it can be used while a child is enrolled in public school.
The confusion is completely understandable because many parents first learn about the UA Scholarship during their child's annual IEP meeting at their public school.
Since the school is required to provide information about available educational options, families often assume that simply qualifying for the scholarship means they can use the funds for tutoring, therapies, curriculum, or school supplies while remaining enrolled in their neighborhood public school. In most cases, that is not how the program works.
The UA Scholarship is an Educational Choice Program
The UA Scholarship is designed to give families educational choice. Once awarded, families generally use the scholarship to pursue one of the following options:
- Private school enrollment, where scholarship funds help cover eligible educational expenses.
- Home education (homeschooling), where funds may be used for approved educational services and materials in accordance with Step Up for Students guidelines.
If your child remains fully enrolled in a traditional public school, you generally cannot use UA scholarship funds for expenses such as:
- Part-time tutoring
- School supplies
- Educational curriculum
- Therapies
- Other approved educational services
This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the program.
Why Does My Public School Tell Me About the UA Scholarship?
This is where many families become confused.
During your child's annual IEP meeting, your school is required to inform you about educational options available to students with disabilities, including the UA Scholarship.
However, the scholarship also includes a Public School Choice option. This does not mean you receive scholarship funds while staying in your current public school.
Instead, it allows parents to:
- Choose another public school within their school district, with transportation provided by the district; or
- Enroll their child in a public school in a neighboring district (when space is available) that already offers the services outlined in the student's IEP, with transportation provided by the parent.
This option provides greater flexibility in selecting the public school that best meets your child's needs, but it is different from using scholarship funds for educational purchases.
The Bottom Line
If your goal is to use UA scholarship funds for services such as tutoring, curriculum, educational materials, or eligible therapies, your child cannot remain enrolled full-time in a traditional public school. Families typically access those scholarship funds when they choose an approved private school or a home education program.
Because scholarship rules can change and every family's situation is unique, it's always a good idea to review the current Step Up for Students guidelines or speak directly with a scholarship representative if you're unsure which option best fits your child's educational plan.
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