School Choice > Ohio
Ohio School Choice Programs
If you’re interested in sending your child to private school but could use help offsetting the cost of this significant investment, Ohio’s School Choice programs can help. Use this handy starter guide to explore Ohio’s School Choice options.
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What are my options for School Choice in Ohio?
There are several School Choice tax credits, scholarships, and vouchers for Ohio residents. Key options include the Cleveland Scholarship Program (for Cleveland residents) and the Education Choice Scholarship Program (for those outside Cleveland). Other income-based and special needs vouchers are also available.
Option #1
Education Choice Scholarship Program
Ohio’s state-level Education Choice Scholarship Program is a voucher-based program available to students living outside of Cleveland. Depending upon the family’s income level, ECSP could potentially pay for a child’s tuition and travel expenses in full.
Option #2
Cleveland Scholarship Program
Families that reside within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District should apply for the Cleveland Scholarship Program. It has the same funding potential as the state-wide ECSP but is catered specifically to Cleveland. Preference is granted to households whose annual income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Comparing all Ohio School Choice offerings
Program Name | Type | Maximum Award | Eligible Expenses | Average Yearly Tuition |
---|---|---|---|---|
K–12 Nonchartered Private School Tax Credit | Tax Credit/Deduction | $1,500 | Tuition | $7,892 |
K–12 Home Education Tax Credit | Tax Credit/Deduction | $250 | Home education expenses including supplies, books, software, subscriptions, applications, etc. | $7,892 |
Ohio Tax-Credit Scholarship Program | Tax-Credit Scholarship | $750 | Donations to SGOs | $7,892 |
Income-Based Scholarship Program | Voucher | $5,512 | Tuition | $7,892 |
Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program | Voucher | $10,801 | Tuition, therapies, and IEP services for children with special needs | $7,892 |
Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Voucher | $6,036 | Tuition | $7,892 |
Autism Scholarship Program | Voucher | $26,639 | Private provider education services, including private school tuition | $7,892 |
Cleveland Scholarship Program | Voucher | $6,092 | Tuition | $7,892 |
Education Choice Scholarship Program
Applying for Ohio’s Education Choice Scholarship program is relatively easy. First, you and your child need to find a private institution that’s right for you. Once your child applies and is accepted, you’ll work in partnership with that Choice school to fill out the ECSP application. The school will then submit your application on your behalf.
The application window for the 2024-2025 school year starts February 1st, 2024 and ends June 30th, 2025.
In order to qualify, your child must
- Have proof of enrollment in Ohio
- Have proof of residency in Ohio
Families whose annual income does not exceed 450% of the Federal Poverty Level may be granted up to $6,166/annually for K-8th grades, and $8,408/annually for high school. Families with income above 450% of the FPL may be granted aid on a prorated scale.
It’s important to note that ECSP scholarships are chiefly dedicated to covering tuition costs, and the amount of funds granted won’t exceed the total cost of a child’s tuition. In addition, children granted ECSP scholarships are entitled to transportation to and from their private institution, provided by the resident district.
Cleveland Scholarship Program
The Cleveland Scholarship Program is a region-specific version of Ohio’s School Choice voucher system. It’s largely similar to ECSP, with a few changes.
Interested Cleveland residents can read more about the program on the Ohio Department of Education’s website, or browse more information here.
Save more on your child’s education with RaiseRight
Families that fundraise with RaiseRight know that it’s the easiest, most effective way to offset private school educational costs. Ohio vouchers are limited in covering expenses beyond tuition, so utilize RaiseRight to cover other school-related costs and relieve financial pressure.
*Based on average spend for a household family of 4