Ohio EdChoice Scholarship

A state-funded scholarship for students in kindergarten through 12th grade who meet its eligibility rules. The money must go toward tuition at a participating private school.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice fact sheet for 2026-27. Checked October 14, 2026.

$6,166 for grades K-8, $8,408 for grades 9-12. Families at or below 450% of the poverty level ($148,500 for a family of four) get the full amount. Above that it is scaled down.

Nearly every Ohio K-12 student outside the Cleveland district qualifies through EdChoice or EdChoice Expansion.

Not always. The award is a set amount and every school sets its own price. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then subtract the award. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.

Schools marked here are chartered nonpublic schools listed as EdChoice or Cleveland Scholarship providers for 2026-27 in the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Scholarship Provider Directory. We loaded the directory’s export on October 26, 2026: 680 schools. The mark also names the Jon Peterson Special Needs and Autism scholarships when the school takes them. We match by school name and city, or by phone or street where the names differ. A school without the mark may have joined since, so check the state directory too.

The 2026-27 EdChoice application period runs February 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Applications submitted after October 14, 2026 get a prorated award, so apply by October 14 for the full amount. The school submits the application.

Check which program fits: Traditional EdChoice if your child is assigned to a designated EdChoice public school building or meets another listed criterion, otherwise EdChoice Expansion, which is open to K-12 students who do not live in the Cleveland Municipal School District. The 6 steps are listed under “Apply for EdChoice” on this page, with the documents to have ready.

The 2026-27 application period opened February 1, 2026 and stays open through June 30, 2027. Any application submitted after October 14, 2026 is awarded a prorated amount based on how much of the school year remains after the student enrolls.

The scholarship pays tuition only, so schools may still charge registration, material and similar fees. If tuition is higher than the scholarship, you may owe the difference unless your verified income is at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines, in which case you do not pay the remaining tuition.

Yes. The EdChoice Expansion award is reduced on a sliding scale above 450% of the poverty level but never falls below 10% of the full amount, which is $616.60 for grades K-8 and $840.80 for grades 9-12 in 2026-27.

The school submits a renewal each year using the Scholarship Renewal Form and fresh proof of address. The scholarship renews through grade 12 if the student takes all required state tests and has no more than 20 unexcused absences; Traditional EdChoice students must also stay in their district unless the new assigned school is also on the EdChoice list.

No. Income verification is optional for Expansion renewals, but you may submit new income if your household income or size changed, and families who want low-income status must submit income every year.

Complete the admission process at the new private school, then give that school the Scholarship Renewal Form and proof of current address. The new school submits the renewal through the state system.

A K-12 student who would be assigned to, or now attends, a public school building on the EdChoice designated list. Other routes include a sibling who had a Traditional EdChoice scholarship last year, a student who no longer qualifies for an Autism or Jon Peterson scholarship because special education services ended, foster children, and children in kinship care or with a guardian or legal custodian.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Scholarship Program Fact Sheet for 2026-2027, PDF dated December 11, 2025.

Your child can still get an EdChoice Expansion scholarship if you do not live in the Cleveland Municipal School District and you submit your household income for verification.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Scholarship Program Fact Sheet for 2026-2027, PDF dated December 11, 2025.

A brother, sister, half brother or half sister by birth, marriage or adoption, and also a cousin, foster child, or child in kinship care or with a guardian who lives in the same household. Any other child under 18 who has lived in the household for at least 45 days in a row in the last calendar year also counts.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Scholarship Program Fact Sheet for 2026-2027, PDF dated December 11, 2025.

No. EdChoice pays the scholarship amount ($6,166 for grades K-8 or $8,408 for grades 9-12) or the school's actual tuition, whichever is less.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Scholarship Program Fact Sheet for 2026-2027, PDF dated December 11, 2025.

A copy of your child's birth certificate, proof of your current address dated within the last 90 days, and the Scholarship Request Form. The state may also ask for a notarized letter, custody papers or foster care records to confirm eligibility.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Scholarship Program Fact Sheet for 2026-2027, PDF dated December 11, 2025.

One of three options, each dated within 90 days: a utility bill in the parent's name showing the same service and mailing address; a mortgage statement or signed lease plus a piece of current business mail such as a pay stub or bank statement; or, if no utilities are in your name, a notarized statement from the person you live with, their utility bill, and business mail in your name. Cell phone bills and most post office boxes are not accepted.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Acceptable Proof of Address for Scholarship Programs, 2026-2027, PDF dated February 18, 2026.

No. Income verification is not required for a Traditional EdChoice scholarship. You only need it if you want the state to check whether you qualify for low-income status.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, How to Apply for an EdChoice Scholarship, page updated March 19, 2026.

Page 1 of your prior year federal Form 1040, page 1 of your prior year Ohio IT 1040 with the Ohio Schedule of Dependents page, or a prior year federal tax return transcript. A spouse's income must be included, and so must the income of a partner you live with and share a child with. Expansion families who do not have to file taxes, or who only want the minimum award, can file a notarized affidavit instead.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice and Cleveland Income Verification Helpful Tips, FY27, PDF dated January 30, 2026.

The state's checklist suggests asking about admission requirements, volunteering, discipline, religious expectations, class size, transportation, before and after care, special education, and every cost besides tuition, such as application, registration, books and uniforms. The scholarship only pays tuition, so those other costs fall to you.

Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Parent Visit Checklist, PDF dated December 11, 2025.