If your child is struggling with reading, you may be wondering if reading intervention is covered by Step Up for Students.
The good news is that many Florida families use their scholarship funds for approved reading intervention programs that provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading fluency, spelling, and comprehension.
For many children, early intervention is the key to closing reading gaps and building confidence.
Wondering if Step Up covers dyslexia tutoring specifically?Â
For a step-by-step process guide, see: How to Use Step Up for Students Tutoring.
Which Step Up Scholarship Covers Reading Intervention?
Several Step Up scholarships can help families pay for reading intervention services.
New Worlds Reading Scholarship
The New Worlds Reading Scholarship was designed specifically for K–5 public school students who need additional reading support. Scholarship funds could be used for tutoring, curriculum, and educational programs focused on improving reading skills.
Note: As of 2026, New Worlds Reading Scholarship applications are currently closed. Families should check Step Up for Students for the most current program availability.
FES-UA
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) serves students with qualifying diagnoses, including dyslexia and other learning disabilities. The average scholarship award is approximately $10,000 per year and can be used for approved tutoring and reading intervention services.
FES-PEP
The Personalized Education Program (FES-PEP) supports homeschooling families and provides an average scholarship award of approximately $8,000 per year. Funds may be used for approved tutoring services, curriculum, and educational programs.
For many families, FES-UA and FES-PEP provide enough funding to cover consistent reading intervention throughout the school year.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Reading Intervention?
Many parents know something feels “off” but aren’t sure whether intervention is necessary.
Your child may benefit from reading intervention if they:
- Guess at words instead of sounding them out
- Read slowly or with little expression
- Skip or substitute words while reading
- Struggle to blend sounds together
- Avoid reading whenever possible
- Have difficulty spelling simple words
- Are reading below grade level
- Become frustrated during reading activities
The earlier these challenges are addressed, the easier they are to overcome.
What Is Reading Intervention?
Reading intervention is specialized instruction designed to help students who are performing below grade level in reading.
Unlike general tutoring or homework help, intervention targets the specific skills that struggling readers need to develop in order to become successful readers.
These skills often include:
- Phonemic awareness
- Phonics
- Decoding
- Reading accuracy
- Reading fluency
- Spelling
- Vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
Effective intervention is systematic, explicit, and individualized based on each student’s needs.
How Step Up Reading Intervention Can Help?
Many families use Step Up reading intervention services to provide additional instruction outside of school.
One-on-one tutoring allows lessons to be customized to the student’s reading level while providing frequent opportunities for practice and immediate feedback.
Instead of moving at the pace of an entire classroom, students receive instruction targeted specifically to the skills they need most.
What Should a Reading Intervention Program Include?
Not all tutoring programs are the same.
Look for a program that provides:
- Explicit phonics instruction
- Science of Reading-based practices
- Structured literacy lessons
- Reading fluency instruction
- Spelling and encoding practice
- Decodable reading passages
- Individualized lesson plans
- Ongoing progress monitoring
These components work together to build the foundational skills necessary for reading success.
Why Families Choose Viva Phonics?
At Viva Phonics, our reading intervention program is designed specifically for struggling readers.
Our online tutoring includes:
- Systematic phonics instruction
- Structured literacy lessons
- Reading fluency development
- Spelling instruction
- Decodable text practice
- Individualized instruction
- Progress monitoring
- One-on-one online tutoring
Every student begins with a free reading screening so we can identify strengths, areas of need, and create a personalized instructional plan.
Viva Phonics is an approved Step Up for Students provider. Families can find us in the EMA portal and reserve scholarship funds directly for eligible tutoring services. As an approved direct-pay provider, Viva Phonics bills Step Up directly through EMA, eligible families pay nothing out of pocket.
Parent Review
★★★★★
“We have used Viva Phonics throughout my child’s kindergarten year, and the progress has been amazing. My child is now an emerging reader who can confidently read three-letter words and is always attempting to blend new words—a testament to the phonics instruction they receive. Every tutor we’ve worked with has been wonderful and understands how to keep a kindergartener engaged despite a limited attention span. We are very happy with our child’s progress so far.”
Why Early Reading Intervention Matters
Research shows that children who fall behind in reading in the early grades are significantly more likely to experience academic difficulties later in school.
The Florida Center for Reading Research emphasizes that reading gaps become increasingly difficult to close as students progress through elementary school. Intervention in kindergarten or first grade often requires far less time and effort than intervention in fourth or fifth grade.
The earlier reading difficulties are identified and addressed, the greater the opportunity for long-term success.
Is a Reading Tutoring Scholarship Worth Using?
Strong reading skills affect every academic subject. When children become confident readers, they often gain confidence in writing, science, social studies, and even math, because they can finally access the content instead of struggling with the words.
Schedule a Free Reading Screening
If your child is behind in reading, don’t wait for the gap to grow larger.
Schedule a free reading screening with Viva Phonics to identify your child’s current reading level and receive personalized recommendations for intervention. We’ll also answer your questions about using your Step Up scholarship for reading tutoring services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is reading intervention covered by Step Up for Students?
Yes. Multiple Step Up scholarships may cover reading intervention, including FES-UA and FES-PEP. Families should review current scholarship eligibility requirements and availability through Step Up for Students.
What is the difference between reading tutoring and reading intervention?
Reading intervention is targeted, systematic instruction designed to close specific reading skill gaps. It focuses on the root causes of reading difficulty through explicit phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension instruction.
How do I know if my child needs reading intervention?
Common signs include guessing at words instead of sounding them out, struggling to blend sounds, reading below grade level, reading slowly, avoiding reading, and difficulty spelling.
Is Viva Phonics an approved Step Up provider for reading intervention?
Yes. Viva Phonics is an approved Step Up for Students provider. Eligible families can reserve scholarship funds directly through the EMA portal for approved tutoring services.
