Ohio EdChoice is a state scholarship program providing up to $6,166 (K-8) or $8,408 (9-12) for eligible students to attend participating private schools, with universal eligibility for all Ohio K-12 students as of 2023-24.
What is Ohio EdChoice?
The Ohio EdChoice Scholarship Program provides state-funded vouchers enabling Ohio students to attend participating private schools. Following House Bill 33 in July 2023, eligibility expanded dramatically—all K-12 students in Ohio now qualify (except those in Cleveland Metropolitan School District, which has separate programs). The program operates through two tracks: Traditional EdChoice for students zoned to lower-performing public schools, and EdChoice Expansion for income-based support. Ohio families apply through the EdChoice portal, and scholarships go directly to participating private schools.
Key Takeaways
- Universal eligibility for all Ohio K-12 students (except Cleveland district) as of 2023-24
- Maximum scholarship: $6,166 for K-8, $8,408 for grades 9-12
- Full scholarship available for families earning up to 450% of Federal Poverty Level (~$140,000 for family of four)
- Cannot be used for homeschooling—only participating private schools
- Priority application window runs February 1 through May 1
Program Types
Traditional EdChoice serves students attending or assigned to public schools ranked in the lowest 20% for performance. Your child's resident school building must have a three-year average of at least 20% of students qualifying for Title I funds. EdChoice Expansion provides income-based support available to all students regardless of their assigned public school's performance. Families earning up to 450% of the Federal Poverty Level receive full scholarships, while higher earners receive prorated amounts on a sliding scale.
2025-2026 Scholarship Amounts
Can Homeschoolers Use EdChoice?
No—EdChoice scholarships cannot fund homeschooling expenses. The program only covers tuition at participating, chartered private schools. Homeschool families cannot apply voucher funds toward curriculum, tutoring, co-ops, or other educational costs. However, if your homeschooled student has never attended Ohio public schools and meets other criteria, they could potentially use EdChoice to transition into a private school. Ohio does offer a separate Home Education Tax Credit of up to $250 annually for homeschool expenses, with proposals to increase this to $2,000 under Senate Bill 11.
Application Process
The Bottom Line
Ohio EdChoice provides meaningful financial support for families choosing private school education, with universal eligibility making it accessible to most Ohio students. For homeschool families, however, this isn't the right program—EdChoice funds private school tuition only, not homeschool expenses. If you're homeschooling in Ohio, look into the Home Education Tax Credit instead, and watch for legislative proposals that may expand homeschool support in the future. Families considering a move from homeschool to private school should explore whether EdChoice could ease that transition.
