MyScholarShop
A pre-approved online store for curriculum, instructional materials and more. Vendors are paid straight from your account — no out-of-pocket cost and no reimbursement paperwork.
✓ No money upfront
EMA = Education Market Assistant
Confused by your EMA account? Start here.
EMA is the official portal Florida scholarship families use to log in, see their funds, and pay for education. This is an independent plain-English guide — the real login, how the money works, and a 30-second checker to make sure a text or email isn't a scam.
Is this a scam? 30-second check
Got a text, email, call, or link about your scholarship? Answer 2 quick questions.
What is it asking you to do?
Where did it come from?
Scam
This is almost certainly a scam.
This checker runs entirely in your browser — nothing you tap is sent anywhere. When unsure, call Step Up For Students at 1-877-735-7837.
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The one real place to log in
There is only one official EMA portal. Anything else asking for your EMA password is fake.
Official EMA login & application
apply.stepupforstudents.org
Forgot your username or password? Use the “Forgot Username” and “Forgot Password” links right on that login screen. Locked out by the security code (MFA)? You can request an MFA reset, or call Step Up For Students.
⚠ Never type your EMA password into a site you reached from a text or email link. Type the address yourself.
Plain English
So… what exactly is EMA?
1
It's your scholarship account portal
EMA — Education Market Assistant — is the online account run by Step Up For Students where Florida families apply for scholarships, see their funds, and pay for approved education costs. One parent/guardian profile holds all your students.
2
It works across the main scholarships
The same EMA account handles the Private School scholarships (FTC & FES-EO), the Unique Abilities scholarship (FES-UA), and the Personalized Education Program (PEP) for homeschool-style families.
3
It's a website, not an app
You use EMA in a web browser at apply.stepupforstudents.org. There is no official “EMA app” in the app stores — if you see one, be cautious.
4
You approve the money as it arrives
Funds land a few times a year, and you log in to EMA to review and approve (or deny) each deposit and to spend it. More on that below.
When the money moves
How your funds actually work
Funds are deposited into your EMA account four times a year, on a rolling basis — it can take up to two weeks for every account to update after each round.
Each quarter you log in to EMA to review and approve or deny the payment. Watch your email and your EMA account for updates.
Roughly: accepted by mid-summer → funds around Sept 1; then Nov 1, Feb 1, and April 1 for later enrollment rounds.
Paid out of pocket? Reimbursement requests can take up to 60 days to review once your documents are complete, paid by ACH, check, or PayPal.
Exact dates and amounts come from Step Up For Students and can change — always confirm the current schedule inside your EMA account.
Three ways to spend
Getting your money to work
All three run inside EMA. Two of them need no out-of-pocket payment at all.
Find Providers
Use the Marketplace → “Find Providers” in your EMA dashboard to book approved tutors, schools and services that bill the scholarship directly.
✓ No money upfront
Reimbursement
Paid out of pocket for an approved expense? Upload your receipts in EMA and get repaid by ACH, check or PayPal. Keep every receipt.
Up to 60 days to process
PEP (homeschool) families can use all three of these too.
Stay safe
Real Step Up vs. a scammer
Straight from Step Up For Students' own Security Center.
Step Up will NEVER
- Ask for copies of your debit or credit card
- Text you asking for personal details
- DM you on social media for sensitive info
- Ask for your account credentials or banking info by phone, text or email
The real deal looks like
- Emails from a @sufs.org address (watch for look-alikes)
- Login only at apply.stepupforstudents.org
- Phone support at 1-877-735-7837 (Mon–Fri 8–5 ET)
- Report a suspicious message to [email protected]
Straight answers
EMA account questions
Where do I log in to my EMA account?
Only at apply.stepupforstudents.org. Type it yourself rather than following a link from a text or email. Use the “Forgot Username / Forgot Password” links on that screen if you're locked out.
What does EMA stand for?
Education Market Assistant — the online portal Step Up For Students families use to apply for scholarships, manage funds, and pay approved providers.
Is there an EMA app I should download?
No official EMA mobile app was found in the app stores — EMA is a website you use in a browser. Be cautious of any “EMA app” claiming to be official.
I can't get my security (MFA) code — what now?
If you can't access the phone number linked to your account or aren't receiving your code, you can request an MFA reset from the login screen, or call Step Up For Students at 1-877-735-7837 (Mon–Fri, 8–5 ET).
When will my scholarship funds show up?
Funds are deposited about four times a year on a rolling basis (it can take up to two weeks per round), and you approve each deposit inside EMA. See how funds work above, and confirm exact dates in your account.
How do I spend the money?
Three ways, all inside EMA: MyScholarShop (pre-paid store), Find Providers (approved partners bill directly), and reimbursement (you pay, upload receipts, get repaid). See spending.
Someone is asking me to pay a fee — is that normal?
No. Applying is free and Step Up never asks for a fee, gift card, or your card details. Run it through the scam checker and, if unsure, call 1-877-735-7837.
Are you Step Up For Students / EMA?
No. This is an independent guide with no affiliation to Step Up For Students, EMA, or any government agency. We link to the official sources so you can always verify.
Stay in the know
EMA tips + scam alerts, once in a while
Occasional plain-English help for scholarship families — new features, funding reminders, and heads-ups when a scam is going around. No spam.
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