Last verified: October 2026
What does Ohio's EdChoice scholarship pay for?
A tuition bill at a participating chartered school, nothing more. The 2026-27 payment is the smaller of the school's tuition and $6,166 (K-8) or $8,408 (9-12), and families still pay registration, book and similar fees themselves.
Can a Cincinnati private school bill more than the EdChoice award?
It can for most families. The exception is a household that has proved income of 200% of poverty or less: DEW bars the school from charging that family any tuition beyond the award.
Can EdChoice pay for a laptop, homeschool curriculum or tutoring in Ohio?
No. EdChoice is a tuition payment to a school, not a spending account, and Ohio's ACE enrichment account has ended, so devices, curriculum and tutoring are not covered. The one exception for home-educated students is a Jon Peterson or Autism Scholarship paying an approved business provider for IEP services.
| Cost | EdChoice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition at a chartered school taking scholarship students | Covered | Sent to the school: up to $6,166 for K-8 or $8,408 for 9-12 in 2026-27, or the tuition itself if that is lower. |
| Tuition above the award, income verified at or under 200% of poverty | Family is not billed | DEW's fact sheet says low-income families do not owe tuition the scholarship leaves unpaid. |
| Tuition above the award, income above 200% of poverty | Family may owe it | The school can charge the difference; its own aid, an SGO grant or parish help usually fills the gap. |
| Registration, materials and activity fees | Not covered | The fact sheets warn families they may still pay registration, material and similar fees. |
| Uniforms, lunches and busing | Not covered | The scholarship is tuition-only. Busing for chartered-school students runs through the public district, separately from EdChoice. |
| Before- and after-school care | Not covered | Only a licensed program enrolled with the county can draw subsidy or Choice Voucher money. |
| Preschool | Not covered | EdChoice starts at kindergarten. Preschool Promise, the Ohio Preschool Program and, with an IEP, Jon Peterson from age 3 are the routes. |
| Laptops, tablets and other devices | Not covered | Ohio's vouchers pay tuition only and there is no Ohio spending account, so a device is the family's or the school's cost. |
| Homeschool curriculum or tutoring | Not covered | EdChoice cannot be used for home education, and Ohio's ACE enrichment account has ended. |
| A non-chartered (NCNP) school | Not covered | Scholarship students enroll at chartered schools only. |
| A private school in Northern Kentucky, or a Kentucky resident at an Ohio school | Not covered | EdChoice is for Ohio residents attending participating Ohio schools. |
| College Credit Plus courses | Funded separately | An approved request means Ohio covers public-college tuition on its own budget line; the voucher is unaffected. |