Using your Step Up for Students scholarship for reading tutoring is simpler than most parents expect. Once your scholarship is approved, you select an approved provider, reserve funds through the EMA (Education Market Assistant) portal, and begin tutoring sessions, often with little or no out-of-pocket cost.
For Florida families using the Step Up scholarship, finding an approved reading tutor is the first step toward getting your child the support they need.
Viva Phonics is an approved Step Up for Students tutoring provider, offering live one-on-one online reading sessions for Florida families.
Step 1: Find an Approved Tutor
Choose a tutoring provider that accepts Step Up scholarship tutoring funding and specializes in your child’s reading needs.
Tutoring is an eligible expense under the FES-UA and FES-PEP scholarship programs. If you are unsure which scholarship you hold, log into your Step Up portal or contact Step Up for Students directly.
For struggling readers, look for programs that provide:
- Explicit phonics instruction
- Reading fluency practice
- Spelling instruction
- Structured literacy lessons
- Individualized reading intervention
Step 2: Schedule a Reading Assessment
Before beginning tutoring, it helps to know exactly where your child is struggling.
A reading assessment can identify strengths and weaknesses in:
- Letter sounds
- Phonemic awareness
- Decoding
- Word reading
- Reading fluency
- Reading accuracy
- Reading comprehension
This information helps create an individualized tutoring plan that targets your child’s specific reading gaps.
Step 3: Reserve Your Scholarship Funds in the EMA Portal
Log into your EMA (Education Market Assistant) portal, search for Viva Phonics as an approved provider, and reserve your scholarship funds.
Important: Reserving funds in EMA does not automatically schedule your tutoring sessions. Be sure to contact your tutoring provider directly to confirm your start date and schedule.
Step 4: Begin Tutoring
Most students benefit from tutoring multiple times each week for consistent progress.
Frequent practice with explicit reading instruction helps children build decoding skills, reading fluency, spelling, and confidence much faster than occasional tutoring sessions.
What Should You Look for in a Step Up Reading Tutor?
Not all reading tutoring programs use the same instructional methods.
Look for a tutor who provides:
- Explicit phonics instruction
- Structured literacy lessons
- Multisensory learning activities
- Reading fluency practice
- Progress monitoring
- Individualized instruction
- Experience working with struggling readers
The earlier intervention begins, the easier it is to close reading gaps and prevent future reading difficulties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Step Up scholarship for online tutoring?
Many approved providers offer online tutoring services that may be eligible under your scholarship. Check your scholarship guidelines and provider eligibility requirements.
How often should my child attend reading tutoring?
For students who are behind, attending multiple sessions each week often produces the strongest results because reading skills improve through consistent practice.
What ages benefit from reading tutoring?
Reading intervention can help students from kindergarten through middle school, although earlier intervention often leads to faster progress.
Which Step Up scholarships cover reading tutoring?
Tutoring is covered under the FES-UA and FES-PEP scholarship programs. If you hold a different scholarship type, review your program guidelines or contact Step Up for Students to verify eligible expenses.
Is Viva Phonics an approved Step Up provider?
Yes. Viva Phonics is an approved Step Up for Students direct provider. You can find Viva Phonics in the EMA portal and reserve scholarship funds directly for online reading tutoring sessions.
Give Your Child the Reading Support They Need
If your child is struggling to read, don’t wait for the gap to grow larger.
The right reading intervention can build confidence, improve reading skills, and help your child become a successful reader.
Schedule a free reading screening with Viva Phonics to identify your child’s reading strengths and areas of need. We’ll help you determine whether our online reading tutoring program is the right fit and answer any questions you have about using your Step Up scholarship for tutoring.
