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🎓 Ohio School Choice, ESAs & Scholarships

Which Ohio education savings accounts, scholarships and tax credits a homeschool family can use, what they pay for, and where Ohio stands on school choice — from our Ohio guide.

Notice requiredSend a notice to the superintendent of your school district of residence within five calendar days after you start home education, move into a new district or withdraw your child from a public or nonpublic school, and by August 30 each year after (ORC 3321.042). It gives your name and address, your child's name and an assurance that you will teach the required subjects. The exemption from attendance takes effect when the notice is received, and the superintendent must acknowledge it in writing within 14 calendar days.
Testing and approvalNone. DEW says parents do not need approval to home educate, and districts may not ask for anything the law doesn't list. You choose the curriculum. If there is evidence a child isn't being taught the required subjects, the truancy law (ORC 3321.19) can apply. The home education section is not subject to DEW rules.
Compulsory school age6 to 18 (ORC 3321.01). A child under 6 who is enrolled in kindergarten is also of compulsory school age unless the parent formally withdraws the child from kindergarten.
State tax creditNonrefundable Ohio income tax credit equal to the lesser of 50 times the number of qualifying students, or what you spent on books, supplementary materials, supplies, computer software, apps or subscriptions used directly for home education (ORC 5747.72, as amended September 30, 2025). Computers and similar devices don't count. A qualifying student is excused for home education under ORC 3321.042 for the school year.
JPSN and Autism Scholarship statusHome-educated children can use either scholarship through an approved business provider; the parent stays responsible for home education. For 2026–27 (FY2027), the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship pays up to
0,045 to $34,000 depending on the disability category, and the Autism Scholarship up to $34,000. Both require an IEP (or, for autism, an education plan) from your resident district.
College Credit PlusStudents in grades 7–12 can take college classes for high school and college credit. Homeschool parents apply to DEW for funding: February 1 to April 1 at 5 p.m. for a full school year, or September 1 to November 1 at 5 p.m. for spring only. For spring 2027 the window closes November 1, 2026 at 5 p.m. If funding is awarded, tuition is free at public colleges; families buy textbooks.

What Ohio offers homeschool families, and what it doesn't

The money programs: EdChoice, EdChoice Expansion and the Cleveland Scholarship pay tuition at participating private schools. DEW says EdChoice does not fund home education or part-time enrollment in a private school for a home-educated student. A homeschooled child who enrolls full time in a chartered private school can apply. The two private school tax credits (the scholarship donation credit and the nonchartered school tuition credit) don't pay homeschool costs either.

Children with disabilities have more options. The Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) Scholarship and the Autism Scholarship pay approved providers for the special education services in the child's IEP. DEW's Home Education Fact Sheet says home-educated children with special needs are not eligible to receive IEP services from their district, but may be eligible for either scholarship. A family enrolling with a business provider keeps home educating; the provider delivers the IEP services.

The Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) accounts that once gave families money for enrichment have ended. DEW says the last day to submit claims was October 15, 2025.

Read the full section in our Ohio guide

The Jon Peterson and Autism Scholarships for children learning at home

Both scholarships pay for special education services from a provider the family chooses, in place of the services the district would give. DEW's pages for both programs say the parent must first enroll with a participating provider, and "if they are enrolling with a business provider the parent will be responsible for home educating their child." DEW's Home Education Fact Sheet says home-educated children may potentially be eligible for either scholarship and need to find an approved provider to apply.

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship (ORC 3310.51 to 3310.64): for children ages 3 through 21 whose public school district has identified them as a child with a disability and written an IEP. The IEP must be current and finalized, with all parties, including the parent, in agreement. Since September 30, 2025, children ages 3 and 4 qualify with a compliant evaluation team report (ETR) and IEP. The award depends on the primary disability on the ETR. FY2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) maximums:

0,045 for speech or language impairment (related services in the IEP only, no tuition);
3,069 for a specific learning disability, intellectual disability or minor other health impairment;
0,069 for hearing impairment or emotional disturbance;
4,080 for vision impairment or major other health impairment;
9,750 for orthopedic impairment or multiple disabilities; and $34,000 for autism, traumatic brain injury, or hearing and vision impairment. A child can't have JPSN in the same year as EdChoice or the Autism Scholarship, and the family must be in compliance with the compulsory attendance law, so file your home education notice first.

Autism Scholarship (ORC 3310.41): for children from age 3 whom the district has identified as autistic and who have an IEP with autism services, or who have a private autism diagnosis reflected in an IEP or an Autism Education Plan (AEP) the district writes. A private diagnosis should be dated and signed by the physician or psychologist, with their address and phone number, and should identify the child and parent and state the diagnosis. The FY2027 maximum is $34,000. Families may use more than one provider, and services may be delivered virtually by permitted aides, credentialed providers or licensed teachers.

Applying: use DEW's Scholarship Provider Directory to find a JPSN or Autism Scholarship provider, then complete the application with that provider, which submits it. You can track the application, progress reports and monthly invoices in DEW's parent portal. Ohio law bars DEW from setting fixed application deadlines for JPSN (ORC 3310.52), and JPSN renewal opens February 1 each year. The Autism Scholarship rule (OAC 3301-103-03) sets May 31 as the application deadline for children older than 3 and processes later applications for the next fiscal year, starting July 1. Check with your provider or DEW for current timing.

Renewing JPSN: the child must take the state achievement tests for the child's grade unless excused by the IEP or federal law (ORC 3310.522), stay identified as having a disability by the resident district, and have a current IEP. Parents submit the renewal form to the provider. Questions: peterson.scholarship@education.ohio.gov or autismscholarship@education.ohio.gov, 614-728-3480.

Read the full section in our Ohio guide

EdChoice, the Cleveland Scholarship and tax credits: private school programs

EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion: for 2026–27 the scholarship is $6,166 for grades K–8 and $8,408 for grades 9–12, or the school's tuition if lower. Traditional EdChoice is for students assigned to designated EdChoice public school buildings and some other groups. Students who don't qualify for traditional EdChoice and don't live in the Cleveland district can apply for EdChoice Expansion. Expansion pays the full amount at or below 450% of the federal poverty level and a prorated amount above that. The 2026–27 window runs February 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027; applications after October 14, 2026 get a prorated award. The private school submits the application. Students must take all required state tests to renew. These scholarships pay private school tuition only and can't be used to homeschool.

Cleveland Scholarship: for students living in the Cleveland Municipal School District, at participating private schools. Not for home education.

Scholarship donation credit (ORC 5747.73): donors get a nonrefundable Ohio credit for cash gifts to scholarship granting organizations certified by the Attorney General, up to $750 a year, or

,500 on a joint return. These organizations award scholarships to K–12 students, with priority for low-income students. The nonchartered nonpublic school tuition credit (ORC 5747.75) gives up to
,000 (federal AGI under $50,000) or
,500 (AGI $50,000 or more) for tuition at a nonchartered private school. Neither one pays for home education.

Federal Scholarship Tax Credit: Ohio is on the IRS list of states participating for 2027 (as of October 22, 2026). Starting January 1, 2027, individual taxpayers may claim a federal credit of up to

,700 ($3,400 if filing jointly) for cash gifts to participating scholarship granting organizations. We haven't found Ohio's list of participating organizations, and whether their scholarships will cover homeschool costs isn't settled. Ask the organization before counting on it.

Read the full section in our Ohio guide

Articles for Ohio families

Official sources

Summarized from our Ohio guide (as of October 2026) and articles. Rules change — confirm on the official pages before you act.

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