Progress:
Your Path to Launch
🚀
Your Goal: Enter your full name above to begin, then click each milestone title below to expand details. Click the understanding button to confirm you've reviewed each topic!
🔒
Please Enter Your Name to Begin
Enter your first and last name at the top of the page to unlock the training milestones.
1
💰

Understand Step-Up Funding ▼

Learn about scholarship types and key dates

You'll learn: All the different scholarship types, how families receive them, and key dates.
2
🌟

Communicate The Benefits ▼

Master your talking points

You'll learn: Simple talking points that win parents over. Answer the why you, why this and why now.
3
📢

Reach Out to Families ▼

Find and connect with ideal families

You'll learn: Where to find your first families. What to say first. How to continue the conversations.
4
🤝

Help Them Choose You ▼

Qualify and enroll the right families

You'll learn: Four key questions to make sure families are a good fit. Help them make the right choice.
Enter your name above, then confirm understanding of all 4 milestones to continue
Understand Different Scholarship Types
Name Description Annual Amount Students Homeschool OK?
PEP Not enrolled full-time at a school $8,000 ~64,000 ✓ YES
FES-UA Not enrolled full-time at a school (special needs) $10,000 ~112,000 ✓ YES
FTC/FES-EO Must be enrolled full-time at a school $8,000 ~249,000 ✗ NO

🎯 Interactive: Sort the Scholarships

Drag the scholarship circles that work for homeschool microschools to the green target zone

Total Florida Students With Scholarship

📚

FTC / FES-EO

$8,000/year
Traditional schools only
~249,000
⭐

FES-UA

$10,000/year
Special needs kids
~112,000
🎓

PEP

$8,000/year
Any FL family
~64,000

✅ Eligible For Homeschool Microschools

👇

Drop eligible scholarships here

Hint: Which ones work for homeschools?

Drop 2 correct scholarships to continue
Complete the sorting activity to continue
How Families Get & Use Their Money

🎯 Interactive: Build the Funding Process

Drag the steps into the correct order to show how families get their scholarship money

Available Steps (Scrambled)

🏛️ STEP-UP ACTION
💰 Step-Up deposits funds quarterly to parent's EMA
👤 PARENT ACTION
📝 Parent applies for PEP or FES-UA scholarship
👤 PARENT ACTION
🛒 Parent purchases from Step-Up Marketplace
🏛️ STEP-UP ACTION
✅ Step-Up approves application in June/July

✅ Correct Order

Step 1
Drop the first step here...
Step 2
Drop the second step here...
Step 3
Drop the third step here...
Step 4
Drop the final step here...
Place all 4 steps in the correct order to continue
Complete the sequence to continue
Parent Application Process & Key Dates
💡 Click each milestone to expand details
Milestone 1

Parent Chooses Scholarship

▼
PEP (FTC-PEP)
  • • Must be 5 years old by Sept 1st
  • • No learning difficulty diagnosis is required
  • • ESA covers homeschool curriculum, tutors, supplies
FES-UA (Unique Abilities)
  • • Must be 3 years old by Sept 1st
  • • IEP or Learning difficulty diagnosis is required
  • • ESA covers private school, therapies, tutors
📋 FES-UA Requirement: Parent must see an MD/DO, licensed psychologist, or Florida autonomous APRN; obtain a signed learning difficulty diagnosis for a UA-eligible condition; then upload it as a "Validated Diagnosis" in Step Up's EMA.
Milestone 2

Parent Submits Application

▼
⚠️ If switching from FTC/FES-EO:
• EMA → Dashboard → My Recent Applications → Decline Scholarship
PEP (FTC-PEP)
  • • Renewal: Feb 1–Apr 30 ⭐
  • • New: Feb 1–Apr 30 ⭐
  • • EMA → My Students → Add Student (new) or select child → Apply for FTC/PEP
  • • Verify info → Enter SSN/ITIN → Upload Florida residency docs (< 2 months old) → Submit
FES-UA (Unique Abilities)
  • • Renewal: Feb 1–Apr 30 ⭐
  • • New: Feb 1–Nov 15 ⭐⭐
  • • EMA → My Students → Add/select child → Apply for UA
  • • Verify info → Enter SSN/ITIN → Upload IEP/learning difficulty diagnosis + residency docs → Submit
⏰ Critical Deadlines:
• April 30th: ALL PEP families (new & renewal) + FES-UA renewals
• November 15th: NEW FES-UA families only (extended deadline)
⚠️ Miss your deadline = wait until next year's application window!
Milestone 3

Parent Accepts Award & Completes Enrollment

▼
Step 1: Accept Award
• EMA → My Recent Applications → Accept by:
- May 31 for PEP & FES-UA renewals
- Within 60 days of notification for FES-UA new
Step 2: Upload Withdrawal Form
  • • Download IEPC-SWF (code W04): Download Form
  • • You fill top section → District/charter fills bottom with W04
  • • EMA → Upload signed form
Step 3: Confirm Status
  • • EMA → My Students → Select child → Verify Enrollment Status shows "Not full-time public school"
✓ Zero Risk: No need to withdraw from public school before awarded/accepted the scholarship.
Milestone 4

Parent Receives & Uses Funds

▼
💰 Receive Funds Quarterly
Quarter 1 Dates:
  • • Renewals: August 1
  • • New/Switch: September 1
⏰ Must upload W04 by these dates!
🛒 Use Funds in Marketplace
• Go to the Step-Up Marketplace
  • • Browse approved providers
  • • Only see items for your scholarship
  • • Find and enroll in microschool
✓ Success: Funds arrive quarterly and they can purchase education services immediately!
📚 Have you reviewed all 4 milestones?
Click "I Understand" button in each milestone, then confirm your overall understanding below.
💡 Click on each milestone above to expand and review the details
Knowledge Check: Test Your Understanding
Real Parent Scenarios
Practice handling the most common parent questions with specific situations
Answer all 7 questions correctly to continue
Know Your Parent Personas

Key Insight

Different parents have different pain points.
Your message must speak to THEIR specific situation to resonate.

1

Friends and Family

"I trust you and want to support what you're doing"

2

The Frustrated Public School Parent

"The system is failing my child"
Pain Points: Overcrowded classrooms • One-size-fits-all • Bullying • Test-focused
Wants: Personalized attention • Safe environment • Real learning

3

The Special Needs Warrior

"My child learns differently"
Pain Points: IEP not followed • Falling through cracks • Constant battles
Wants: Understanding • Flexible approach • $10,000 FES-UA scholarship

4

The Homeschool Enthusiast

"I love teaching but need community"
Pain Points: Isolation • Burnout • Need breaks • Kids need peers
Wants: Flexible 2-3 days • Like-minded families • Keep control

5

The Private School Shopper

"Quality matters, but so does cost"
Pain Points: $15-20K tuition • 20+ students • Limited personalization
Wants: Premium experience • Small groups • Scholarship coverage

6

The Homeschool Curious

"I want to but I'm scared"
Pain Points: Fear of messing up • Don't know where to start • Work from home
Wants: Gentle transition • Professional guidance • Support system

Remember This

Listen first, diagnose second, prescribe third.
Understanding which persona you're talking to will completely change your messaging approach.

Review the 6 parent personas above
Annual Calendar

📅 Important Dates & Deadlines

Keep track of all the critical dates throughout the school year for Step-Up scholarships.

🎊 Congratulations!

You've completed the Sunny Microschools Interactive Guide. You're now ready to launch your microschool with confidence!

Course Complete!