Can a Palm Beach County family pay for music, art, coding & other electives with scholarship funds?
It depends on the program: Unique Abilities and PEP and Private School Scholarship can pay for it. The cards below give each program's rule.
Elective lessons, supplies and equipment, instruments, rentals, repairs and tuning.
The same categories; musical equipment rentals became eligible for 2026-27 and drama costumes and accessories were added.
Only from leftover money; a band or choir fee charged by the school counts as an eligible school fee.
Which rules apply to music, art, coding & other electives?
- An elective provider needs a relevant credential, degree, program enrollment, documented experience or a Florida educator's certificate.
- Equipment is generally limited to one purchase every two years.
- Fees for clubs such as Scouts, 4-H or FFA are treated as eligible elective course fees.
What is not allowed for music, art, coding & other electives?
- Concert tickets (added to the prohibited list for 2026-27)
- Costumes and fine jewelry
- General household supplies and improvements such as irrigation systems
How does music, art, coding & other electives work for a Palm Beach County family?
Ask a Palm Beach music or art instructor whether they are listed in EMA's Find Providers. If they are, the account pays them directly and there is no reimbursement to file.
How does a family buy music, art, coding & other electives?
Look in MyScholarShop first, because its listings are pre-approved. Next try Find Providers in EMA, which lets the account pay tutors, therapists and instructors directly. If neither fits, pay by card, hold the itemized receipt and file for reimbursement. A purchase the guides do not list as eligible needs pre-authorization before you spend.
What can the funds pay for, and what can they not?
For this category, the table sets allowed purchases next to excluded ones.
| Can pay for | Cannot pay for |
|---|---|
| Unique Abilities: Elective lessons, supplies and equipment, instruments, rentals, repairs and tuning. | Concert tickets (added to the prohibited list for 2026-27) |
| PEP: The same categories; musical equipment rentals became eligible for 2026-27 and drama costumes and accessories were added. | Costumes and fine jewelry |
| Private School Scholarship: Only from leftover money; a band or choir fee charged by the school counts as an eligible school fee. | General household supplies and improvements such as irrigation systems |
Related questions
Build my child's spending plan →
Sources: Step Up For Students purchasing guides for FES-UA, PEP and FTC/FES-EO (2025-26 editions) and its "Program Handbooks and Purchasing Guides: Summary of Changes" page (last modified October 22, 2026). These are summaries, not legal advice; your scholarship funding organization's current guide controls.