Last verified: October 2026
Can any Cincinnati-area child apply for EdChoice Expansion in 2026-27?
Yes, as long as the child lives in Ohio. Expansion has no zoning test and no income ceiling, and the only Ohio district excluded is Cleveland's, so a kindergartner in Mason and a junior in Price Hill are both eligible once a participating school accepts them.
The private school files the application through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) system after admission. Parents hand the school a birth certificate, proof of address no more than 90 days old and the signed Scholarship Request Form, and first-time Expansion families submit household income for verification.
What does EdChoice Expansion pay a Cincinnati family of four?
A household of four with adjusted gross income up to $148,500 receives the full award: $6,166 per K-8 student and $8,408 per high schooler. That line is 450% of the 2026 poverty guideline. Each 100 points above it halves the award, and the bottom is $616.60 for K-8 or $840.80 for 9-12.
Income comes from line 11 of the household's Form 1040. Our calculator runs the formula from DEW's FY27 award workbook if you want to see your own number.
Will a lower-income Hamilton County family owe tuition beyond EdChoice?
Not if its income is verified at or below 200% of poverty, which is $66,000 for four people. The fact sheet is explicit that low-income families do not owe tuition the scholarship leaves uncovered. Above that line a school may bill the difference.
Fees are a different matter: registration, materials and similar charges can still be billed to every family, so request the fee schedule in writing.
Is it too late to use EdChoice Expansion this school year?
No. The 2026-27 window runs until June 30, 2027. Because the application is landing after October 14, 2026, the award is prorated to the portion of the year that remains after enrollment, so a January transfer still brings money, only less of it.
After the first year the scholarship renews through grade 12 if the student sits for required state tests, keeps unexcused absences at 20 or fewer and remains an Ohio resident.
Does the October 15, 2026 court ruling stop EdChoice for Cincinnati students?
Not at this point. A three-judge Tenth District Court of Appeals panel agreed with the June 2025 Franklin County trial ruling that the voucher program violates the Ohio Constitution's common-schools clause, but it kept the program running pending a decision by the Ohio Supreme Court. The state and five parent families say they are taking the case there.
Attorney General Andy Wilson has said the ruling has no immediate impact. Current scholarships keep paying and 2026-27 applications are still processed while the appeal is pending.
| What it is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| A K-12 voucher open to Ohio residents outside Cleveland | Tied to a struggling public building (that is traditional EdChoice) |
| Full value up to 450% of poverty, smaller above it | One flat amount for every household |
| Sent to the school and applied to tuition | An account for fees, uniforms, tutoring or devices |
| Usable at chartered schools taking scholarship students | Usable at non-chartered schools, in Kentucky or for homeschooling |