Guides · Funds & spending
EMA Funds & Spending, Explained
Once you're awarded, your scholarship money lives in your EMA account and moves on a set rhythm. Here's how it arrives and the three ways to put it to work.
When the money arrives
Funds are deposited into your student's EMA account four times a year, on a rolling basis — after each round it can take up to two weeks for every account to update. Each quarter you log in to EMA to review and approve (or deny) the payment, so keep an eye on your email and your account.
| Private School students enrolled in EMA by… | Funds reach Step Up by… |
|---|---|
| June 15, extended to June 26 this year (renewing students) | August 1 |
| July 15, extended to July 24 this year (new students) | September 1 |
| September 30 (one Step Up page says September 15 — see below) | November 1 |
| December 15 | February 1 |
| February 15 (transfer students) | April 1 |
The deposit dates apply to all three scholarships; the enrollment dates are for the Private School Scholarship only (Unique Abilities and PEP students do not need an EMA enrollment). Step Up’s own pages disagree on the Quarter 2 date: its FAQ on 2026–27 deadlines and 2026–27 Scholarship Schedule say September 30, 2026; its Private School Fund page says September 15 and does not show the Quarter 1 extensions. Dates re-checked October 19, 2026. They are set by Step Up For Students and can change — confirm the current schedule inside your EMA account. Every 2026–27 date →
The three ways to spend
- MyScholarShop — a pre-approved online store for curriculum, instructional materials and more. Vendors are paid directly from your account: no out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement paperwork.
- Find Providers — in your EMA dashboard, go to Marketplace → “Find Providers” to book approved tutors, schools and services that bill the scholarship directly.
- Reimbursement — pay out of pocket for an approved expense, upload your receipts in EMA, and get repaid by direct deposit (ACH), check, or PayPal. Allow up to 60 days once your documents are complete.
A tip that saves headaches
Commit funds to your must-haves (like private-school tuition, if that applies) first, then use what's left for materials, tutoring, and enrichment. And always spend through EMA — using outside/third-party software with your account isn't allowed and can put your info at risk.
New to the portal? Start with how to log in. Getting odd messages about your funds? Check our scam guide.
Sources: Step Up For Students Fund & Spend pages and MyScholarShop page (stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/private-school/fund/, /spend/, /myscholarshop/); PEP program page. Independent guide — amounts, dates and features change; confirm in your EMA account.