How to Apply for an EdChoice Scholarship

There are several steps families will need to take to apply for an EdChoice scholarship. Find more details about each step and how to apply below. To view your student's scholarship information, access the online parent portal. 

Step 1: Review Eligibility Criteria

Families that are interested in the EdChoice Scholarship program can review eligibility criteria on the EdChoice Fact Sheet. If any eligibility criteria apply to your student, the next step would be to find a school or provider.

Step 2: Find a School/Provider

Once you know that your child is eligible for the EdChoice Scholarship Program, the next step is to find a participating private school and apply for enrollment.  Students must first be accepted for enrollment at the participating private school and then they can apply for the scholarship. The private school will submit the scholarship application for your child through the secure online scholarship application system.

  • Click on participating private school, also known as a "provider," to find a school in your area.
  • Follow the instructions on the Dashboard to select the EdChoice Scholarship.
  • Once you are on the Provider Search Page, select your county from the drop-down menu and then click the Search Button.
  • All of the participating private schools that are registered to participate in EdChoice should now be showing.
  • To get the phone number and address of a specific private school, click the magnifying glass icon located at the end of the record with the private school's name.
  • An interactive list of providers is also available.

Step 3: Apply for Scholarship

  1. Once your child has been accepted by the private school, the private school will have you complete a Scholarship Request Form, along with your proof of current address and your child's birth certificate, to the private school.
  2. The private school will submit an EdChoice application for your child through the online secure application system, ONLY available to the private school.
  3. Check the Federal Poverty Guidelines to determine if you meet the income requirements for your household size and you want your income verified to determine if you qualify for low income status.  [Note: In addition to applying with the school, new EdChoice Expansion applicants will need to complete the income verification process. Renewing EdChoice Expansion families will not need to complete the income verification process each year, unless they would like to have their household income recalculated for their award amount. Income verification is not required to apply for a Traditional EdChoice scholarship.]
  4.  The Department will mail notifications regarding all scholarship decisions.

Step 4: Income Verification

The Department uses an online Scholarship Income Verification System. The system is available for families to enter and submit their income information electronically to the Scholarship office for verification. Parents are able to enter household member information, income information and upload supporting income documents directly into the online system.

Parent Portal

How to Renew

Students who are currently receiving a Traditional EdChoice scholarship can renew the scholarship for the following school year as long as they meet the following requirements:

  1. They take all required assessments for their grade level;
  2. They do not have more than 20 unexcused absences for the school year; and
  3. They do not move out of the school district in which they became eligible unless the student would be assigned to an EdChoice designated public school in the student's new district (applicable only to students who were initially awarded a scholarship based on an EdChoice designated building).

Parents of renewal students who meet these requirements must complete the EdChoice Scholarship Renewal Form and be attending for the following school year.

  1. If your child will attend a different private school next year, complete the admissions process at the NEW private school. Once the child is accepted, provide the new school with the Scholarship Renewal Form and proof of current address.
  2. The private school will submit a renewal for your child through the online EdChoice Scholarship application system.
  3. Check the Federal Poverty Guidelines to determine if you meet the income requirements for your household size and you want your income verified to determine if you qualify for low income status.  [Note: Renewing EdChoice Expansion families will not need to complete the income verification process each year, unless they would like to have their household income recalculated for their award amount. Income verification is not required to apply for a Traditional EdChoice. scholarship.] 
  4.  The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) will mail notifications regarding all scholarship decisions.

Last Modified: 2/1/2024 9:28:57 AM