Educational Choice Scholarship Program

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)_

Scholarships awarded under this program may be used to pay tuition to any chartered nonpublic school. _(Last updated July 30, 2024)_

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)_

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 30, 2024)_