How to Use Step Up Scholarship Funds for Tutoring at Score At The Top
Many families assume that reserving funds in the EMA portal means their tutoring sessions are scheduled. They're not. EMA (Education Market Assistant) is the online account that Step Up for Students provides for families to browse approved providers, reserve scholarship dollars, and track payments. It handles funding, not scheduling. That's why the first step is always to call Score At The Top directly to confirm your tutoring plan before reserving anything in the portal.
We also found a video walkthrough of this process on YouTube if you'd prefer to follow along visually.
Step 1: Contact Score At The Top to Schedule
Before you log into EMA, pick up the phone. Call Score At The Top to discuss your child's needs, select the right tutoring service, and schedule sessions with an advisor. This conversation ensures you know the exact service type, quantity, and location to select when you get to the portal, eliminating guesswork and preventing mismatched reservations.
All Score At The Top locations across South Florida are approved Step Up providers. Contact the campus closest to you to get started. If you're unsure which location to choose, our team can help you find the best fit based on your schedule and your child's academic goals.
Step 2: Log In and Navigate to Providers
Once your tutoring plan is confirmed, log into your EMA account at the Step Up for Students portal. From your account summary page, open Marketplace, then select "Find Providers." This is the search tool Step Up provides for locating approved service providers who can bill scholarships and financial aid resources directly through the platform.
Step 3: Select Student and Category
Choose your student from the dropdown menu in the top right-hand corner of the page. Then complete the four filters in order:
Service Category – Select "Part-Time Tutoring"
Service Type – Select "Part-Time Tutoring" again (Step Up uses the same label for both)
Class Type – Select the appropriate option
Provider – Search for your tutoring provider (covered in Step 4)
"Part-Time Tutoring" is Step Up's label for all tutoring services, regardless of how many sessions per week your child attends. Filtering by this category narrows the list to only those providers approved to deliver tutoring services under your scholarship.
Step 4: Locate Score At The Top
Type "Score At The Top" into the provider search bar and select the location that matches the campus you scheduled with in Step 1. If multiple locations appear, confirm that the address matches before proceeding. The provider name may appear slightly differently in the portal, so look for Score At The Top or Score Academy followed by the campus city.
For example, families who scheduled with the Boca Raton campus should look for:
Score At The Top – Boca Raton
900 Broken Sound Pkwy, Suite 100, Boca Raton, FL 33487
Choosing the correct location matters because your tutoring sessions, invoicing, and fund allocation are all tied to that specific campus.
Step 5: Add Services to Cart
Your Step Up scholarship covers tuition and required fees first. Whatever remains is available for supplemental services like tutoring. If your balance looks lower than expected, that's likely why.
Select the tutoring service price and quantity that your Score At The Top advisor recommended during your scheduling call, then click "Add to Cart." If your remaining balance doesn't fully cover the tutoring package you need, call us. We can help you adjust the plan or explore other funding options, including 529 plans that can also be used for tutoring.
Understanding the cost of private tutoring in Florida can help you plan how to allocate your scholarship dollars effectively.
Step 6: Reserve Funds in EMA
Open your cart, review the service selection and total, and click "Reserve Funds." If the system prompts you to share your contact information with the provider, select "Yes" and confirm. This allows Score At The Top to coordinate with you directly on scheduling and invoicing.
Once you click "Reserve Funds," the money is set aside for your tutoring sessions. It has not been spent yet. Funds are only drawn down after services are delivered and invoiced.
What to expect after reserving
After your tutoring sessions take place, Score At The Top handles the invoicing through EMA on your behalf. Families do not need to make separate payments or submit receipts. Billing runs entirely through EMA's provider invoicing process. Here's how to track the status in your account:
Pending – Funds are reserved and sessions are scheduled or in progress
Paid – Step Up has processed the invoice and issued payment to the provider
You can monitor these statuses at any time by logging into your EMA account. If an invoice appears stuck in "Pending" for an extended period, contact Score At The Top and we'll follow up with Step Up directly.
Tips for Using the EMA Portal
"Find Providers" not showing up? This option may not appear in your Marketplace until remaining funds are available. Tuition and fees are covered first, so supplemental services like tutoring become accessible once those obligations are met.
Multiple locations appearing? Match the street address to the campus you scheduled with in Step 1. Selecting the wrong location can create invoicing complications.
Eligibility Notes by Scholarship Program
New Worlds Scholarship Account (NWSA) families: Tutoring funds under this program are limited to literacy, reading, and math services. Not all tutoring subjects may be eligible. Families exploring Florida scholarships for private school options should review each program's approved service list carefully.
Not sure which program you have? Call Score At The Top. We can help you figure out what's covered and how to use your available funds effectively.
Your Step Up Funds, Working Harder
Score At The Top Learning Centers & Schools has helped Florida families get full value from their education funding for over 40 years. With 140+ educators across multiple South Florida locations, we offer tutoring, test prep, and academic support matched to each student's grade level, learning style, and goals. If you have questions about using your Step Up scholarship for tutoring, call us or visit JRA Consulting or Score At The Top.
