What is the difference between a registered private school and a PEP hybrid?
A registered private school submits the yearly state survey, signs up with Step Up and/or AAA, and takes the Private School Scholarship, worth $8,890 for a K-3 Palm Beach County child in 2026-27. A PEP hybrid gathers students in person for at least two full days weekly and is paid from each household's account, while a Student Learning Plan handles the other days.
Can a certified teacher run a private tutoring program instead?
It can work. A Florida-certified teacher may teach a small group as a full-time private tutor, subject to hour minimums and group caps that depend on grade. The FES-UA purchasing guide puts the hour minimum at 720 a year for K-3 and 900 for grades 4-12, with five students at once unless the site meets the published conditions.
Where are microschools and hybrids already operating?
16 Palm Beach County private schools carry the state's PEP participant flag in the October 28, 2026 directory, and they are spread across the county, from Boca Raton to Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and West Palm Beach.
What should a founder confirm with Step Up first?
Confirm eligibility, the current provider handbook and the schedule for new-school registration before you collect deposits. Handbooks are revised during the year.