School voucher applications due in April

OHIO – The Ohio Department of Education is now accepting applications for scholarships for students assigned to underperforming public schools, students from lower income families or those with special needs for the 2017-2018 school year. The awarded scholarships help students attend participating private schools or providers.

The income-based EdChoice Scholarship expands to include students entering fourth grade for the first time in 2017-2018. Anyone who meets the income requirements regardless of where they live in Ohio is eligible for this scholarship. It is available to students entering kindergarten and grades 1-4 whose family income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

The EdChoice Scholarship Program provides up to 60,000 state-funded scholarships for students assigned to underperforming public schools to attend participating private schools. The maximum amount of the scholarship for kindergarten through grade 8 students is $4,650, while the maximum amount for high school students is $6,000.

The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who are eligible to attend kindergarten through grade 12 and have a current Evaluation Team Report identifying an educational disability. The disability identified on the student’s Evaluation Team Report is the basis of the amount of each scholarship, which will not exceed $27,000.

The Cleveland Scholarship Program provides educational choices for children whose families reside in the Cleveland Municipal School District, offering students in kindergarten through grade 12 the opportunity to attend approved private schools. The maximum amount of the scholarship for kindergarten through grade 8 is currently $4,250 and high school is $5,700.

Application deadlines are April 15 for Jon Peterson Special Needs and April 30 for EdChoice scholarships and Cleveland Scholarship programs.

About the Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education oversees the state’s public education system, which includes public school districts, joint vocational school districts and charter schools. The Department also monitors educational service centers, other regional education providers, early learning and child care programs, and private schools. The Department’s tasks include administering the school funding system, collecting school fiscal and performance data, developing academic standards and model curricula, administering the state achievement tests, issuing district and school report cards, administering Ohio’s voucher programs, providing professional development, and licensing teachers, administrators, treasurers, superintendents and other education personnel. The Department is governed by the State Board of Education with administration of the Department the responsibility of the superintendent of public instruction.