Can a Hillsborough family pay for this with scholarship funds?
Covered as part-time tutoring when the provider holds an approved research-based reading certification, as curriculum when self-delivered, or as a specialized service when delivered by a licensed speech-language pathologist.
Same tutoring credential rules; self-paced online reading programs are eligible under Curriculum / Educational Software.
Leftover funds after tuition may pay for a credentialed reading tutor or an online program.
Rules that apply
- Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Reading System certifications are named in the guides as qualifying tutor credentials.
- Online delivery by a credentialed provider is eligible even if the provider is outside Florida.
- Standardized diagnostic assessments (initial or re-evaluation) are eligible under Testing & Assessments.
What is not allowed
- Programs delivered by an uncredentialed tutor
- Medical evaluations outside the listed specialized services
In Hillsborough
Of the Hillsborough private schools in our directory, 102 report serving at least one disability category to the state and 69 list specific learning disability. For a child at a school without a dedicated reading specialist, a funded structured-literacy tutor is the usual way to close the gap.
How to buy it
Check MyScholarShop first (anything listed is pre-approved), then Find Providers in EMA for direct pay to tutors, therapists and instructors. Otherwise pay with a card, keep the itemized receipt and submit for reimbursement. Anything not listed as eligible needs a pre-authorization request before you buy; 2026-27 requests close May 28, 2027.
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Sources: FES-UA Purchasing Guide (FCSUA / Step Up For Students) with the 2026-27 summary of changes; PEP Purchasing Guide 2026-27; Step Up For Students "Program Handbooks and Purchasing Guides — Summary of Changes," revised September 16, 2026. Summaries, not legal advice; your SFO's handbook controls.