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

Each year the state legislature appropriates funds for this program. 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 $6,166 for students in K–8 and $8,408 for high school students, not to exceed the private school’s actual tuition and fees.

For students in higher income brackets, scholarship funding amounts gradually decrease as the family’s income level increases. Any qualifying Ohio K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding. 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 as payment in full for students at or below 200% Federal Poverty Level ($62,400 for a family of four in 2024–2025).

(Last updated July 19, 2024)

Student Eligibility

Any student who is entering kindergarten through 12th grade is eligible. Students who receive a scholarship under this program remain eligible and may continue to receive this scholarship so long as the student: (1) 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 (2) is not absent more than 20 days, excluding excused absences.

(Last updated July 30, 2024)

EdChoice Expert Feedback

Ohio’s Income-Based Scholarship Program helps thousands of students access schools that are the right fit for them, and Ohio policymakers took the bold step of going universal in 2023. Ninety-six percent of Ohio’s students are eligible for a scholarship and just under five percent of students statewide actually use one of Ohio’s five educational choice programs (including the Cleveland Scholarship Program, the Autism Scholarship Program, the Educational Choice Scholarship Program and the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program). The average voucher value is about $5,500, which is about 36 percent of the average expenditure per student at Ohio’s district schools, but the cap on voucher values is somewhat higher ($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. That step would 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

Program Guidelines

• Income Limit: None
• Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
• Enrollment Cap: May Not Exceed Legislative Appropriation
• Scholarship (Voucher) Cap: $6,166 (K⁠–⁠8) / $8,408 (9⁠–⁠12)
• Testing Mandates: Statewide achievement assessment with limited exceptions
• Special Needs Pathway: N/A

Participant and Family Guidelines

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

Education Provider Guidelines

• Accreditation/Approval: Be chartered by the state
• Employment Standards: Administer background checks on teachers and staff that work with children
• Nondiscrimination: State (comply with state laws regarding nondiscrimination) and federal
• Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: N/A
• Financial: N/A
• Miscellaneous:
  • Comply with state standards and rules.
  • Comply with health and safety codes

(Last updated October 15, 2024)

Governing Statutes

Ohio Rev. Code § 3310.032 and other provisions cited within. 

(Last updated July 19, 2024)   

Legal History

On January 5, 2022, the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding plus 74 public school districts filed litigation against Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program, calling the program an “existential threat” and alleging it depletes Ohio foundation funding that supports public schools and uses that money to subsidize private school tuitions at higher per-pupil rate than public schools. The complaint also alleges the program leads to more segregated schools, fails to support a uniform system of common schools, and gives sectarian institutions control over public funds. Defendants say the state’s 2023 appropriations bill cured any statutory defects and filed a motion to dismiss. The case was not dismissed and proceeded to discovery. Plaintiffs and Defendants filed cross-motions for summary judgment. If the case is not decided on summary judgement, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas plans to begin trial on November 4, 2024. Columbus City School District v. State of Ohio, Case Number: 22CV000067. Pending. 

(Last updated July 19, 2024)