Student Funding

Use of Funds

Students may use scholarships for tuition at participating public or private schools. Families of students in grades K–8 with incomes less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($62,400 for a family of four in 2024–2025), the family will not have to pay tuition that is not covered by the scholarship. Parents/guardians are responsible for registration fees, materials fees, and other related expenses. The scholarship award can only be used towards school tuition. Depending on the amount of the school’s tuition, the scholarship will pay up to the designated amount. If the tuition is more than the scholarship amounts, the parent may be responsible for the difference.

Funding Amount and Source

Scholarships under this program are capped at either the applicable tuition amount or a statutory maximum, whichever is less. For 2024–2025, the maximum scholarship is $6,166 for grades K–8 or $8,408 for grades 9–12. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce awards scholarships from appropriations that fund all school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and scholarships based on their respective formulas or caps. Schools must accept vouchers from K–8 recipients with a household income no greater than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level as full tuition payment. Parents whose household income is more than the 200% threshold or whose student is in high school may pay the remaining tuition or provide in-kind services for the remaining tuition. Any qualifying Cleveland K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding.

(Last updated July 17, 2024)

Student Eligibility

All K–12 who reside in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are eligible. Children in grades K–12 who reside in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are eligible, and students must take the regional scholarship if eligible rather than Ohio’s statewide Educational Choice Scholarship.

(Last updated October 15, 2024)

EdChoice Expert Feedback

Ohio’s Cleveland Scholarship Program helps thousands of students access to schools that are the right fit for them, but policymakers could do much more to expand educational opportunity. All K–12 who reside in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are eligible, but just under five percent of students statewide actually use one of Ohio’s five educational choice programs (including the Autism Scholarship Program, the Educational Choice Scholarship Program, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, and the Income-Based Scholarship Program). The average voucher value is about $5,800, which is about 42 percent of the average expenditure per student at Ohio’s district schools. In 2023, Ohio policymakers took bold action to expand the statewide voucher program (Educational Choice Scholarship Program) to all students. They could do even more for Ohio families by funding the vouchers on par with the per-pupil funding at district schools. The program could also be converted into an education savings account to ensure that all students have access to the education that’s the right fit for them, whether private school or a customized course of education. Ohio’s voucher program generally avoids unnecessary and counterproductive regulations. Participants are required to take a nationally norm-referenced assessment. (Last updated December 18, 2023)

Rules and Regulations

Program Guidelines

• Income Limit: None (Priority for Families Up to 200% x FPL)
• Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
• Enrollment Cap: None
• Voucher Cap: $6,166 (K–8) / $8,408 (9–12)
• Testing Mandates: Nationally norm-referenced tests
• Special Needs Pathway: None

Participant and Family Guidelines

• Click Here for the Program Administrator’s Parent Handbook
• Education Requirements: N/A
• Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
• Miscellaneous: N/A

Education Provider Guidelines

• Accreditation/Approval: Be licensed, registered, and chartered by the state
• Employment Standards: Teachers and staff working with children must undergo background checks
• Nondiscrimination: State (school does not discriminate on basis of race, religion, or ethnic background) and federal
• Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: Must enroll a minimum of 10 students per class or a sum of 25 in all classes offered
• Financial: Miscellaneous:
  • Meet state standards for chartered nonpublic schools
  • Comply with state laws regarding nondiscrimination and health and safety codes
  • Administer to voucher students a nationally norm-referenced test approved by the state department of education

(Last updated October 11, 2024)

Governing Statutes

Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3313.974 through 979

(Last updated February 15, 2023)

Legal History

On June 27, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris ruled that the Cleveland school voucher program does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; vouchers are constitutional when parents have independent, private choice of schools without favoring or disfavoring religion. By design, the voucher program is “school neutral.” The Ohio Supreme Court had previously struck down the Cleveland voucher program, Simmons-Harris v. Goff, 711 N.E.2d 203 (Ohio 1999), ruling it was unconstitutional because the legislation adopting the voucher program violated the single subject rule. However, the Ohio court also held that the voucher program did not violate the state constitution’s compelled support or education clauses and did not violate the Federal constitution’s Establishment Clause. In Zelman, the U.S. Supreme Court opined, “We believe that the program challenged here is a program of true private choice . . . and thus constitutional.” The Court held that the program is “entirely neutral with respect to religion,” that parents may “exercise genuine choice among options public and private, secular and religious,” and that this program of true private choice “does not offend the Establishment Clause.” Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639 (2002).

(Last updated December 18, 2023)