EdChoice Scholarship Program

The EdChoice Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who attend or would attend public schools designated by the Ohio Department of Education as low-performing. Families use scholarships at the participating private school of their choice. Scholarships are renewable through high school graduation.

Who is eligible?

The Ohio Department of Education releases the list of eligible public schools every year. The current list of EdChoice Designated schools is available here. 

Your child is eligible to apply for an EdChoice Scholarship if one of the bullet points below is true: 

• Your child attends and is assigned to one of the schools on the list, in their designated school district
• Your child is currently enrolled in a public school in their designated school district and is assigned to attend one of the schools on the list for the upcoming school year
• Your child attends a charter school but is assigned to attend a school on the list, in their designated school district
• Your child is homeschooled, has never attended an Ohio school, and is assigned to attend a school on the list, in their designated school district
• Your child is in grades K-6 or 9-12, is currently attending a private school and not receiving a state scholarship, but would be assigned to attend a school building that is on the list, in their designated school district
• Your child is the sibling of a current EdChoice scholarship recipient
• Your child currently receives an Autism or Jon Peterson scholarship, but has lost their IEP and will be unable to renew their current scholarship
• Your child is a foster child, or they reside in a certified foster home
• Child placed with a guardian, legal custodian, or kinship care, or they reside in the same household as a student who fits this criteria for at least 45 consecutive days
• Child who is homeless, or they reside in the same household as a student who fits this criteria for at least 45 consecutive days

A student must be eligible at both the time in which they apply and are awarded a scholarship.

How much is the scholarship worth?

EdChoice Scholarships are worth $6,165 for students in grades K-8 and $8,407 for high school.

What private school can my child attend?

EdChoice Scholarships are only accepted at participating, chartered private schools. Follow these steps to see a list of the private schools that accept EdChoice Scholarships: 

Click here to access the dashboard

Click on “Select Program” in the top left-hand corner

Click on “Educational Choice Scholarship”

How do we apply?

Check out the participating private schools – We highly recommend visiting the school of your choice before making a decision. Choose the school that is the best fit for your child.

Apply for admission at a private school – Apply to the participating school(s) of your choice. Your child will go through the normal admission process.

Have the private school submit a Scholarship application – Once the school accepts your child, the school can submit a scholarship application on your child’s behalf. 

Remember, your child must be accepted at a private school, and you must return the scholarship request form to that school before the deadline so that the school can apply on their behalf. 

When do we apply?

The EdChoice program has a year-round application window, HOWEVER, the priority application window opens on February 1 and closes on May 1.

Applications submitted after the priority application period closes will be processed after priority window applicants are awarded and will continue to be processed until all funds have been spent. The scholarship amount awarded after the priority window will be prorated if the student receives a scholarship after the school year begins.

Remember, only the private school can submit a scholarship application, so be sure your student is accepted at a private school. Submit the scholarship request form to the school before the deadline so that they can apply for the scholarship on your behalf.

How many scholarships are available?

The program is limited to 60,000 EdChoice Scholarships.

Will I have to pay for any costs?

The scholarship is used to pay tuition. 

Per the Ohio Department of Education, “If a student’s family income is above 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines,the family may have to pay the difference in tuition or participate in volunteer service activities instead of a cash payment. Parents and guardians are also responsible for registration fees, materials fees, and other similar types of fees.”  

Parents should check with the private school of their choice to see if they offer volunteer opportunities to offset tuition costs.

How is this scholarship funded?

The EdChoice Scholarship is funded through monies provided by the State of Ohio.