Financial Aid

The EdChoice Scholarship Program

The EdChoice Expansion Program is an income-based program. It offers private school scholarships to students whose families have a lower income.

The application period opens February 1st.

If your child meets the eligibility requirements for the scholarship and you have chosen a provider school, please follow the steps below to apply for the scholarship:

• Once your child has been accepted by the private school, the school will have you complete a Scholarship Request Form, along with your proof of current address and your child's birth certificate.
• The private school will submit an EdChoice application for your child through the online secure application system, ONLY available to the private school.
• All NEW expansion scholarship applicants MUST complete income verification: this is NOT optional.
• Complete the Income Verification Form through OHID Portal https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal. Click here for the Income Verification Quick Guide and requirements.  
• All NEW applicants MUST complete income verification. 
   

Renewing the EdChoice Scholarship

Students who are currently receiving an EdChoice scholarship can renew the scholarship for the upcoming school year as long as they meet the following requirements:

• They take all required state achievement tests for their grade level
• They do not have more than 20 unexcused absences for the school year
• They do not move out of the school district in which they became eligible (EdChoice Traditional)
   

Parents of renewal students who meet these requirements must complete the EdChoice Scholarship Renewal Form and submit it, along with a copy of a current utility bill, to the private school that their child will attend for the upcoming school year. INCOME VERIFICATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR RENEWAL APPLICANTS. Unless you are under the 200% poverty level. In order to keep “Low Income Status” you must resubmit income verification each year. 

• If your child will attend a different private school next year, complete the admissions process at the NEW private school. Once the child is accepted, provide the new school with the Scholarship Renewal Form and proof of current address.
• The private school will submit a renewal for your child through the online EdChoice Scholarship application system.
• Check the Federal Poverty Guidelines chart. If you meet the income requirements for your household size and you want to have your income verified to determine if you qualify for low income status, you may complete the Income Verification Form through OHID Portal https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal. When verifying your income you MUST include supporting income documents. Click here for the Income Verification Quick Guide and requirements.
• The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) will notify by mail those parents who applied letting them know whether or not their child has been awarded a scholarship.