Ohio

Educational Choice Scholarship Program

  • Voucher
  • Enacted 2005
  • Launched 2006

Ohio’s “EdChoice” scholarship program allows all Ohio students to receive vouchers to attend private schools. Students from families at or below 450% of the federal poverty level receive a full voucher, while students in higher income brackets receive progressively reduced voucher amounts. Participating private schools are required to accept the voucher as full tuition for students whose families are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Learn more about this program’s funding, eligibility and regulations on this page.

We do not administer this program.

Eligibility Test Apply State Groups

Jump Links

  • 36,712

    Participating Students (2021–22)

  • 100%

    of Students Eligible Statewide

  • 459

    Participating Schools (2021–22)

  • $5,789

    Average Voucher Value (2020–21)

  • 40%

    Value as a Percentage of Public School Per-student Spending

Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program Participation

Students Participating
School Year Ending
Download Chart

Student Funding

For students from households with family income at or below 450% FPL ($135,000 for a family of four), vouchers are worth up to $5,500 in grades K–8 and $7,500 in grades 9–12, not to exceed the private school’s actual tuition.

For students in higher income brackets, voucher funding amounts are as follows:

Household IncomeGrade LevelVoucher Amount
450% FPL to 500% FPLK – 8$5,200
9 – 12$7,050
500% FPL to 550% FPLK – 8$3,650
9 – 12$5,000
550% FPL to 600% FPLK – 8$2,600
9 – 12$3,550
600% FPL to 650% FPLK – 8$1,850
9 – 12$2,500
650% FPL to 700% FPLK – 8$1,300
9 – 12$1,750
700% FPL to 750% FPLK – 8$900
9 – 12$1,250
750% FPL and upK – 8$650
9 – 12$950

Participating schools may charge remaining tuition or require in-kind services for the portion of tuition not covered by the voucher for students whose household incomes exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) but must accept the voucher as payment in full for students at or below 200 percent FPL ($60,000 for a family of four in 2023–24).

(Last updated July 11, 2023)

Student Eligibility

All K-12 students are eligible for the program, with students from households with family income at or below 450% FPL receiving the full scholarship amount, and students in higher income brackets receiving a reduced amount.

Vouchers are prioritized for prior recipients and students whose family income is less than 200 percent of FPL ($60,00 for a family of four in 2023–24).

(Last updated July 11, 2023)

EdChoice Expert Feedback

Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program helps tens of thousands of students access schools that are the right fit for them. In 2023, policymakers expanded the program to be available to all K-12 Ohio students! The average voucher value is about $5,800, which is about 40 percent of the average expenditure per student at Ohio’s district schools, and the cap on voucher values is $5,500 in grades K–8 and $7,500 in grades 9–12.

In order to expand access to educational choice, Ohio policymakers should convert the program into an education savings account to ensure that all students have access to the education that’s the right fit for them, whether private school or a customized course of education.

Ohio’s voucher program generally avoids unnecessary and counterproductive regulations.

(Last updated July 11, 2023)

Rules and Regulations

  • Income Limit: None
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
  • Geographic Limit: Statewide
  • Enrollment Cap: None
  • Voucher Cap:
Household IncomeGrade LevelVoucher Amount
Up to 450% FPLK – 8$5,500
9 – 12$7,500
450% FPL to 500% FPLK – 8$5,200
9 – 12$7,050
500% FPL to 550% FPLK – 8$3,650
9 – 12$5,000
550% FPL to 600% FPLK – 8$2,600
9 – 12$3,550
600% FPL to 650% FPLK – 8$1,850
9 – 12$2,500
650% FPL to 700% FPLK – 8$1,300
9 – 12$1,750
700% FPL to 750% FPLK – 8$900
9 – 12$1,250
750% FPL and upK – 8$650
9 – 12$950
  • Testing Mandates:  Nationally norm-referenced tests
  • *Limited to students assigned to low-performing district schools

School Requirements:

  • Be chartered by the state
  • Meet state standards for chartered nonpublic schools
  • Comply with state laws regarding nondiscrimination and health and safety codes
  • Teachers and staff working with children must undergo background checks
  • Accept voucher as full amount for students from households earning 200 x poverty or less

(Last updated July 11, 2023)

Governing Statutes

Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3310.01 through 17

(Last updated February 15, 2023)