Student Funding

Use of Funds

Scholarships awarded under this program may be used to pay tuition to any chartered nonpublic school.

Funding Amount and Source

The state calculates funding using a unique, program-specific formula set out in statute. For students from households with family income at or below 450% Federal Poverty Level ($140,400 for a family of four), scholarships are worth up to $6,1656 in grades K–8 and $8,409 in grades 9–12, not to exceed the private school’s actual tuition. For students in higher income brackets, scholarship funding amounts gradually decrease as the family’s income level increases. Participating schools may charge remaining tuition or require in-kind services for the portion of tuition not covered by the scholarship for students whose household incomes exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level but must accept the scholarship (voucher) as payment in full for students at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($62,400 for a family of four in 2024–2025). Any qualifying Ohio K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding.

(Last updated July 30, 2024)

Student Eligibility

Any student who received a scholarship for the 2020–2021 school year may continue to receive that scholarship until the student completes the 12th grade. A student who receives a scholarship under the this program remains eligible so long as the student: (1) remains in the same resident district or the student’s new district is low performing; (2) takes each standardized assessment assigned for the student’s grade level, unless the student is excused, takes an alternative standardized assessment, or the nonpublic charter has an approved waiver or meets other specified conditions, and (3) is not absent more than 20 days, excluding excused absences. For the 2024–2025 school year, eligible students include students enrolled in or assigned to a school building ranked in the lowest 20% of all buildings operated by the district for the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 school years. For the 2025–2026 school year and subsequent school years, eligible students include students enrolled in a building ranked in the lowest 20% of buildings for at least two of the three most recent consecutive rankings. In addition, to be eligible, the student’s resident district school building must have a three-year average of at least 20% of its students who qualified for Title I funds. The Department of Education and Workforce publishes a list of schools that meet these criteria. Students entering kindergarten through eighth grade in the school year 2024–2025 and students entering kindergarten through 12th grade in the school year 2025–2026 will not be required to have been previously enrolled in a school building operated by the student’s resident district.

Any student who received a scholarship for the 2020–2021 school year may continue to receive that scholarship until the student completes the 12th grade. A student who receives a scholarship under the this program remains eligible so long as the student: (1) remains in the same resident district or the student’s new district is low performing; (2) takes each standardized assessment assigned for the student’s grade level, unless the student is excused, takes an alternative standardized assessment, or the nonpublic charter has an approved waiver or meets other specified conditions, and (3) is not absent more than 20 days, excluding excused absences. For the 2024–2025 school year, eligible students include students enrolled in or assigned to a school building ranked in the lowest 20% of all buildings operated by the district for the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 school years. For the 2025–2026 school year and subsequent school years, eligible students include students enrolled in a building ranked in the lowest 20% of buildings for at least two of the three most recent consecutive rankings. In addition, to be eligible, the student’s resident district school building must have a three-year average of at least 20% of its students who qualified for Title I funds. The Department of Education and Workforce publishes a list of schools that meet these criteria. Students entering kindergarten through eighth grade in the school year 2024–2025 and students entering kindergarten through 12th grade in the school year 2025–2026 will not be required to have been previously enrolled in a school building operated by the student’s resident district.

(Last updated July 19, 2024)

EdChoice Expert Feedback

Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program helps tens of thousands of students access schools that are the right fit for them. In 2023, policymakers expanded the program to be available to all K-12 Ohio students. The average voucher value is about $6,036, which is about 40 percent of the average expenditure per student at Ohio’s district schools, and the cap on voucher values is $6,165 in grades K–8 and $8,407 in grades 9–12. In order to expand access to educational choice, Ohio policymakers should convert the program 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. (Last updated December 18, 2023)

Rules and Regulations

Provider Guidelines

• Income Limit: None
• Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
• Enrollment Cap: None
• Scholarship (Voucher) Cap: FY 2025

Household Income	Grade Level	Voucher Amount
Up to 450% FPL	K – 8	$6,166
	9 – 12	$8,408
450% FPL to 500% FPL	K – 8	$4,360.02 – $6,123.41
	9 – 12	$5,945.35 – $8,349.92
500% FPL to 550% FPL	K – 8	$3,083 – $4,329.90
	9 – 12	$4204 – $5,904.29
550% FPL to 600% FPL	K – 8	$2,180.01 – $3,061.70
	9 – 12	$2,972.68 – $4,174.96
600% FPL to 650% FPL	K – 8	$1,541.5 – $2,164.95
	9 – 12	$2,102 – $2,952.14
650% FPL to 700% FPL	K – 8	$1,090.01 – $1,541.5
	9 – 12	$1,486.34 – $2,087.48
700% FPL to 750% FPL	K – 8	$770.75 – $1,082.48
	9 – 12	$1,051 – $1,476.07
750% FPL and up	K – 8	$616.60 – $765.43
	9 – 12	$840.80 – $1,043.74

• Testing Mandates: Participating students must take all state tests required for their grade level by law. Some limited exceptions apply.
• 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: Conditional

Education Provider Guidelines

• Accreditation/Approval: Be chartered by the state
• Employment Standards: Teachers and staff working with children must undergo background checks
• Nondiscrimination: State (comply with state laws regarding nondiscrimination) and federal
• Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: N/A
• Financial: Accept scholarship as full amount for students from households earning 200% X FPL or less
• Miscellaneous:
  • Comply with state standards and rules
  • Comply with health and safety codes

(Last updated October 15, 2024)

Governing Statutes

Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3310.01 through .17 and other provisions cited within. 

(Last updated July 30, 2024) 

Legal History