Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship (JPSN)

Last verified: October 2026

How much is the Jon Peterson Scholarship for a Cincinnati student in 2026-27?

Anywhere from $10,045 to $34,000, set by the primary disability on the Evaluation Team Report. On DEW's FY2027 chart, category 1 (speech or language) is $10,045; category 2 (learning disability, intellectual disability, OHI-minor) is $13,069; category 3 (hearing impairment, emotional disturbance) is $20,069; category 4 (vision, OHI-major) is $24,080; category 5 (orthopedic, multi-handicapped) is $29,750; and category 6 (autism, TBI, deaf-blind) is $34,000.

Category 1 money pays for therapy and related services written into the IEP and cannot go toward tuition. Partial-year enrollment earns a partial amount.

Does a Cincinnati child already in private school need a CPS IEP for Jon Peterson?

Yes. The IEP comes from the public district where the family lives, even when the child already attends a parish or independent school, and it must be finalized with the parent's agreement. Ask the home district in writing for an evaluation; for a family in Westwood that is Cincinnati Public Schools, for one in Mason it is Mason City Schools.

Can a 3- or 4-year-old in Hamilton County use the Jon Peterson Scholarship?

Yes. Preschoolers became eligible on September 30, 2025, provided the evaluation and IEP are compliant and name one of the 13 federal disability categories. Ohio lets teams identify a developmental delay up to age 9, and each delay area is assigned to a funding category.

How do Greater Cincinnati families apply for Jon Peterson?

Start at the school or therapy provider you want. Families never file with DEW directly: a registered JPSN provider hands you the paperwork and submits it. Applications are taken year-round, though one filed in April, May or June is funded starting July 1.

Choosing a business provider instead of a school means you home-educate, and the scholarship covers only the IEP services that business delivers.

See if my child qualifies →