For Parents

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Parents: Learn more about your school choice options.

School Choice Ohio believes that parents deserve to choose a learning environment that suits their child's unique educational needs. Fortunately, Ohio is one of the few states to offer such opportunities to its families. Ohioans have access to many quality school choice options, such as the EdChoice Scholarship Program.

As the momentum builds nationwide, Ohio residents are finding that school choice options revitalize communities, empower families, and enable students to reach their full potential. Discover how your child can benefit from school choice, and help ensure that all children are given the opportunities they deserve!

Do you have any questions? If so, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

EdChoice

The Educational Choice Scholarship Program (Ohio EdChoice) provides scholarships to students who attend consistently underperforming public schools. The scholarships may be used to attend nonpublic schools that meet the requirements for program participation.

This year, 15,403 EdChoice scholarships are being used throughout the state.

Eligibility

Eligibility is determined by attendance and/or assignment to a public school building that has been rated in “academic emergency” or placed on "academic watch" for two of the past three years. Hundreds of Ohio public schools currently fit into this category.

Is Your Child Eligible for EdChoice? See if your child’s school is on the state list.

The following students are eligible to apply for an EdChoice scholarship:

  • Students currently enrolled in and attending EdChoice-designated public schools rated  "academic emergency" or "academic watch" for two of the past three years in their resident district;
  • Students enrolled in a community school who would otherwise be assigned to one of the EdChoice designated public schools; or
  • Students currently enrolled in a regular public school or community school in their resident district who would be assigned to attend one of the EdChoice-designated public schools for the upcoming school year. This provision is for students moving from one level of school to the next. For example, public school students moving from elementary to middle school would be eligible to apply if the middle school that they would be assigned to in the fall is designated for EdChoice; and
  • Students eligible to enter kindergarten in the next school year who would be assigned to one of the EdChoice public school buildings.

Private Schools

More than 300 private schools participate in the EdChoice Scholarship Program (PDF).

Private schools are largely funded and operated independently of the state government. Private schools charge tuition and can set their own admissions criteria. There are nearly 900 schools that are "chartered" by the Ohio Department of Education, meaning they have met certain school operating standards set by the state. Private schools can be based on their own religious, philosophical, or educational beliefs. Scholarships for attending private schools are often available through the schools themselves, and thousands of students are eligible for the Ohio EdChoice Scholarship, a private school tuition voucher worth up to $4,250 for grades K-8 and up to $5,000 for grades 9-12 per year.

Find an EdChoice participating private school near you!

Northwest Ohio

View Northwest Ohio EdChoice Participating Private School in a larger map

Southeast and Southwest Ohio

View Southeast/Southwest EdChoice Participating Private Schools in a larger map

Central Ohio

View Central Ohio EdChoice Participating Private Schools in a larger map

Northeast Ohio

View Northeast Ohio EdChoice Participating Private Schools in a larger map

The Ohio Department of Education administers the EdChoice Scholarship Program. Click here for more information about the program available on the department's website.

Do you have any questions? If so, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

Autism Scholarship Program

The Ohio Autism Scholarship Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Education. Using the Autism Scholarship, parents can send their autistic child to a special education program other than the one operated by their child's public school district to receive the services outlined in the child's individualized education program (IEP).

The scholarships are worth up to $20,000 annually and can be used to pay for services at approved registered alternate providers. More than 2,000 Ohio students have used the Autism Scholarship since it became available in 2003. For more information, you can call ODE at 877-644-6338.

Eligibility

Children ages 3-22 diagnosed with Autism are eligible, which enables families to access critical early intervention and special education services.

The child must have an IEP.

Parents and guardians may complete the Scholarship Application and District Assurance forms, available at www.ode.state.oh.us (search keyword “autism”).

Parents or guardians will also need to find a private provider(s), such as a school, therapist, or agency, to fulfill the services listed on their child's IEP. A list of approved providers is available online through ODE's website.

There are no application deadlines for the Autism Scholarship, so families can begin using the private services at any point during the year. To get started, please either call School Choice Ohio or get in touch with one of the approved private service providers in your area who can assist you with the application process.

Scholarship Providers

The Ohio Department of Education approves new providers on an ongoing basis. A list of approved registered private providers is available at https://scholarship.ode.state.oh.us/. Additional program information is also available on the ODE website (ODE Website). The provider list includes both nonpublic schools and private service providers who meet the participation requirements. Parents may use more than one approved registered provider to obtain the services listed on their child's IEP. However, the scholarship may not be used for supplemental services if the child continues to attend his or her public school of residence.

Links

The Ohio Department of Education administers the Autism Scholarship Program. Click here for more information about the program available on the department's website.

Do you have any questions? If so, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program

The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program (CSTP) was enacted in 1995 and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2002 in the Zelman v. Simmons-Harris case. It serves families within the boundaries of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and gives preference to low-income students.

Scholarships are worth $4,250 for students in grades K-8 and $5,000 for high school students.

Click here for a list of participating private schools

Eligibility

Any K-12 student who lives in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is eligible to apply for the program.

CSTP's scholarship application period for 2013 will open on February 1. All applications must be submitted by April 19, 2013. The CSTP office will accept paperwork for new applicants during that time only.

Links

The Ohio Department of Education administers the Cleveland Scholarship & Tutoring Program. Click here for more information about the program available on the department's website.

Do you have any questions? If so, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

Find a private school near you!


View CSTP in a larger map

College Jumpstart Options

Parents - did you know that your child can work on a college degree and career certificate while they are still in high school? These programs are free, and they are open to all students.

  • Early College High Schools
         High Schools where students earn associates degrees
  • College Tech Prep
         Programs for career certificates & college credit
  • Post Secondary Enrollment Options
         Free classes at a local college during high school
  • Advanced Placement Classes
         High school classes that can count for college credit

  • Click here to learn more about each of these college jumpstart options. Click here for the information in Spanish.

    Charter Schools in Ohio

    Charter schools are public schools that receive some funding from state taxes and are required to accept any student. However, these community schools operate with fewer government regulations. They can be virtual e-schools, or they can be housed in regular school buildings. Charter schools in Ohio are only allowed to start in areas where the neighborhood schools have low test scores.

    www.oapcs.org

    Do you have any questions? If so, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

    Home Schooling

    Parents can choose to remove their children from a formal school setting and educate them at home instead. The curriculum and educational plans that the parent arranges for each child must be submitted to their local public school district in order for the child to be excused from attending school. There are more than 50 groups of homeschoolers around the state that meet for academic, social, and extracurricular events in support of their at-home learning.

    www.h-i-o.org

    Do you have any questions? If so, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.