Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program

Children with special needs must be between ages 5 and 21 and have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from their public school district. The state will not award vouchers if the IEP is still in development or any administrative or judicial mediation or proceeding concerning the initial IEP is pending. The child must be enrolled in or eligible to enroll in grades kindergarten through 12 in a school district in which the child is entitled to attend and comply with the compulsory attendance law. The student may not receive this scholarship and a scholarship under the educational choice scholarship pilot program, the autism scholarship program, or the pilot project scholarship program for the same year. To remain eligible, a student must take any required assessments, unless otherwise exempted. Parents’ applications must certify that they have received the methods of instruction to be used with the child and qualifications of the teachers and instructors who will provide services from the alternative or private school. The number of vouchers available is capped at 5% of the students with special needs statewide. Eligible students may apply year-round depending on whether funding is available. _(Last updated July 30, 2024)_

Funds are paid to parents of an eligible child and may be used to pay for all or part of the tuition and fees for the child to attend the special education program offered by an alternative public provider or private provider that implements the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Scholarships may also be used to pay for other services not included in the student’s IEP but associated with educating the child. Students may also be entitled to transportation to and from their program. _(Last updated July 30, 2024)_

The state calculates funding using a unique, program-specific formula set out in statute. The amount of each scholarship varies based on the child’s disability. Scholarships (vouchers) are worth the lesser of fees and tuition charged by the alternative public or private school, the amount of state aid otherwise provided to the public school district, or a maximum scholarship amount ranging from $9,585 to $32,445 depending on a student’s special needs category in 2024–2025. The amount is reduced proportionately if the child is not enrolled in the alternative or private school for the entire school year. The state sets maximum funding amounts for different types of special needs. Parents of students with a Category 1 disability (speech and language only) may use the scholarship only to pay for services included in their child’s IEP and cannot use the scholarship to pay for tuition at a private school. Any qualifying Ohio K–12 student that wishes to participate may receive funding. _(Last updated July 30, 2024)_

No legal challenges have been filed against the program. _(Last updated February 5, 2025)_