Step Up For Students — funding your child's French

Florida's Step Up for Students programs help families pay for learning beyond the traditional classroom. Many families may qualify for a scholarship toward their child's education. Here's how the programs work — and how they apply to The French Academy.

Our services

Purchased through the Step Up for Students Marketplace (EMA) with your scholarship funds — not paid by card here. Once enrolled, scheduling is arranged directly with us.

Individual French Instruction— All Ages

$85.00 per hour

One-on-one French instruction for homeschool students, delivered by a Québec-trained educator with 25 years of classroom experience. Each session is built around the student's level, pace and family curriculum goals, and serves as primary French language instruction within a home education program. Reading, writing, grammar, pronunciation and oral expression are developed together.

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French Cotillion & Character™ (Hourly)

$85.00 per hour

The hourly-rate version of our signature program — the same French, character-formation and performing-arts curriculum as French Cotillion & Character™, offered by the hour rather than as a full annual enrolment. Ideal for families who want to draw on Step Up funds session by session, or to join partway through the year.

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French Elective Course— CEFR A1–B2

$90.00 per hour

A structured French elective course for homeschool students, combining language instruction, conversation practice, francophone culture and CEFR-based learning. Students progress through recognized international levels, from A1 through B2, with clear benchmarks at each stage and a strong emphasis on speaking from the very first session.

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Part-Time French Tutoring

$95.00 per hour

Targeted one-on-one tutoring for students already enrolled in a French course at school. Sessions focus on where the student actually needs support: homework and assignment help, grammar remediation, pronunciation work, oral exam rehearsal, and preparation for AP French or DELF certification. Families receive a short written summary of progress and next steps.

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Voice & Singing Lessons

$80.00 per hour

Voice training for homeschool students: breathing, vocal technique, interpretation and stage performance. Students work through a francophone repertoire that strengthens diction and musical ear at the same time, and every student performs before an audience by the end of the term.

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Drama & Public Speaking

$90.00 per hour

Dramatic arts, public speaking, character development and stage performance for homeschool students. The course builds confidence, eloquence, leadership, creativity and communication skills through improvisation, scene work, recitation and performance before a live audience.

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Signature program

French Cotillion & Character™— Signature Annual Program

$1,799.00 for the full program

A French language, character formation, and performing arts program for young people ages 10 to 17. French Cotillion & Character™ is the signature youth program of The French Academy. It is not a language class, and it is not an etiquette course. It is a complete formation: over nine modules, students learn to speak French by living it, build genuine character through guided ethical reflection, and step onto the stage with poise and eloquence.

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Taught by Héloïse Landry, B.Ed. (UQAM), a Québec-trained educator with 25 years of secondary teaching experience in French Language Arts, Drama and Ethics. Holder of a Florida Statement of Eligibility, World Language French K-12. Registered Step Up for Students service provider.

admin@thefrench.academy · Sarasota, Florida

Questions, answered

Is The French Academy an approved Step Up provider?

Yes — we're registered on the Step Up for Students (EMA) marketplace for elective courses and part-time tutoring.

How much is a scholarship worth?

Amounts vary by program and are set by Step Up, not by us. Find current figures at StepUpForStudents.org.

Can I use my scholarship for the French Cotillion & Character™ or tutoring?

Eligible families can apply PEP or FES-UA funds toward our elective French courses and part-time tutoring. Ask us and we'll walk you through it.

We're a new family and applications are closed — what now?

You may be directed to the AAA Scholarship Foundation, or you can plan for the next window (2027–28). Direct-pay options are also available so you don't have to wait.

Is the teacher qualified and certified?

Yes. Héloïse Landry holds a Bachelor of Education from UQAM (WES-evaluated as a U.S. equivalent) and Québec teaching certification, with 25 years of classroom experience. She holds a Florida DOE Statement of Eligibility for World Language French K-12 and is completing the certification exam in 2026. See About the Founder for full credentials.

We can't promise eligibility or a specific amount — that's set by the scholarship program. We never say “free” or “guaranteed.” We're glad to help you understand your options.