Florida families can use Step Up For Students scholarships toward ballet classes. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide to applying — from creating your EMA account to enrolling your dancer at Brevard Ballet Academy.
For many Brevard County families, a Step Up For Students scholarship is what makes serious ballet training possible. Brevard Ballet Academy is an approved Step Up For Students facility, which means eligible families can put scholarship funds toward classical ballet classes in Melbourne. This guide walks you through how the application works.
Step 1: Choose the Right Scholarship
Step Up For Students administers several programs, but the two that typically fund enrichment activities like ballet are the Personalized Education Program (PEP) — for students who are not enrolled full-time in public school and not in a registered Florida home-education program — and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), for students with a qualifying diagnosis. Both are education savings accounts (ESAs) with parent-directed spending. If you are unsure which fits your family, read our guide comparing the Step Up scholarships.
Step 2: Create Your EMA Account and Apply
Families apply and manage everything through EMA (Education Market Assistant), Step Up’s online portal. You will create an account, select your program, and submit the required eligibility documentation for your student. Applications for a given school year generally open in the winter (around February), so applying early is wise.
01
Create an EMA account
Register at the Step Up For Students application portal and set up your family profile.
02
Select your program
Choose PEP, FES-UA, or another program based on your student’s situation.
03
Submit documentation
Provide proof of Florida residency, your student’s information, and any required eligibility documents.
04
Await your award
Step Up reviews applications and notifies families of approval. Funds are then deposited into your student’s EMA account on the state’s funding schedule.
Step 3: Know the Funding Timeline
For the ESA programs, funds are deposited into your account in installments across the year rather than all at once. Roughly speaking, the earlier you complete your enrollment steps, the earlier your first deposit arrives. Because the exact enroll-by and funding dates shift each year, confirm the current schedule on Step Up’s website before you plan around it.
Step 4: Contact Brevard Ballet Academy to Enroll
Once your scholarship is approved and funded, reach out to BBA and let us know you are using Step Up For Students. We will help you choose the right class for your dancer and coordinate the payment process through EMA. Learn more on our Step Up For Students page, or read how paying for ballet with Step Up actually works.
Ready to Use Your Scholarship at BBA?
Approved for Step Up For Students? Contact us and we’ll guide you through enrollment in Melbourne, FL.
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