How does Ohio's EdChoice scholarship work?
Programmes, amounts and rules change. Before acting on anything here, check the current details with the official source named in the answer.
EdChoice is Ohio's voucher programme: the state pays a scholarship toward tuition at a participating chartered nonpublic school, including Christian schools that take part. It runs in two forms. Traditional EdChoice serves students who meet one of its eligibility criteria, which are tied in part to their assigned public school. EdChoice Expansion is the income-based form, and it is open to Ohio K-12 students generally, apart from students who use the separate Cleveland Scholarship. In both forms the family first completes enrolment at the participating private school, and the school then submits the scholarship application through the state's secure system.
For 2026-27 the maximum scholarship is $6,166 for a student in kindergarten through grade 8 and $8,408 for a student in grades 9 to 12, and the state pays the scholarship amount or the school's actual tuition, whichever is less. Under EdChoice Expansion, a family at or below 450 percent of the federal poverty level receives the full amount for their child's grade band, and above that level the award is reduced on the state's income schedule, so higher income lowers the award rather than removing eligibility. Participating schools must accept the scholarship as full payment of tuition and fees for a student from a household at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Poverty level figures are updated each year, so work from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's current fact sheet and income chart for the year you are applying, not from figures in an older article.
One legal point belongs in the open. In October 2026 an Ohio appeals court ruled the EdChoice programme unconstitutional, but that ruling is stayed while the case goes to the Ohio Supreme Court, and scholarships continue for 2026-27. Families should therefore apply on the programme's normal terms for this school year, while understanding that the programme's longer term shape depends on a court decision that has not yet been made. The Department's EdChoice page and fact sheet remain the source to watch for any change that affects an application.
Sources: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Scholarship Program page and FY27 EdChoice Fact Sheet (scholarship $6,166 K-8 and $8,408 grades 9-12; state pays the lesser of the scholarship or actual tuition; application through the participating school); Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice Expansion income eligibility requirements (full award at or below 450 percent of the federal poverty level, reduced amounts above; scholarship accepted as full payment at or below 200 percent); Find Christian Schools verified state file, shared/schoolChoice.ts, Ohio entry (last verified 2026-10-19: October 15, 2026 appeals court ruling stayed during appeal, scholarships continue for 2026-27). Checked October 2026.