Ohio EdChoice and Homeschooling: Can Homeschoolers Use EdChoice Scholarships?

Ohio has one of the most expansive school choice ecosystems in the country. EdChoice provides up to $6,166 per year for K-8 students and $8,408 for high schoolers. If you're considering pulling your child out of public school to homeschool, it's a reasonable question: can you use EdChoice money to fund your homeschooling?

The short answer is no. But there are real financial programs available to Ohio homeschooling families — they just work differently than EdChoice, and most parents don't know they exist.

What EdChoice Is and Why It Doesn't Apply to Homeschoolers

The Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Program is Ohio's primary private school voucher. Following recent legislative expansions, it is available to nearly all Ohio families regardless of income, and the funding amounts are substantial: up to $6,166 for grades K-8 and $8,408 for high school students.

EdChoice funds are designed to cover tuition and fees at participating private schools. They are disbursed directly to the private school, not to the family. There is no provision in the EdChoice program for homeschooling families, and homeschoolers are explicitly not eligible to receive EdChoice vouchers. The program requires enrollment at an approved private school — home education does not qualify.

This is a common source of confusion because Ohio is frequently cited as a model for school choice, and the EdChoice program has been significantly expanded in recent years. But "school choice" in the EdChoice context means choosing between public schools and approved private schools, not choosing to educate at home.

What Financial Programs Are Available to Ohio Homeschoolers

Ohio does have financial mechanisms that apply to homeschooling families. They are less well-publicized than EdChoice, but they are real.

The Ohio K-12 Home Education Tax Credit

This is the most broadly accessible financial benefit for Ohio homeschooling families. Any family legally conducting home education under ORC §3321.042 can claim a nonrefundable state income tax credit of up to $250 per qualifying child per year.

You claim it on Line 14 of the Ohio IT 1040. Qualifying expenses include curriculum, textbooks, workbooks, educational software, and standardized testing fees. There is no income limit, no application process, and no deadline other than your normal state tax filing deadline. The only requirements are that you keep your receipts and that your child is lawfully home-educated.

For more detail on how to claim it and what qualifies, see the full post on the Ohio homeschool tax credit.

College Credit Plus (CCP) for High School Students

For students in grades 7–12, Ohio's College Credit Plus program is arguably more valuable than any voucher. CCP allows home-educated students to enroll in college courses at participating Ohio public universities, earning dual high school and college credit simultaneously — with the state covering tuition entirely. The family pays only for textbooks.

A student who starts CCP in 9th or 10th grade and takes two to four courses per semester can accumulate a substantial number of college credits before graduating, at no tuition cost. The critical deadline is April 1 for fall semester enrollment. Missing it means waiting a full year.

CCP also requires an OH|ID account (Ohio's state identity platform) and an Intent to Participate filed before the deadline. It is worth planning several months ahead.

For the full breakdown, see the post on College Credit Plus for Ohio homeschoolers.

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship (JPSN)

For families homeschooling a child with a current, finalized IEP from their local school district, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship provides $9,585 to $32,445 annually for private therapies, intervention services, and behavioral counseling.

This is the most significant scholarship available to Ohio homeschoolers, but it is restricted to students with active IEPs and requires working with an approved business provider to access the funds. It does not replace EdChoice — it is a separate, disability-specific program.

One important caveat as of July 1, 2025: JPSN and Autism Scholarship funding terminates at the end of the academic year in which a student turns 18. This is a recent policy change that affects families of older students with severe disabilities.

For a full explanation of the Jon Peterson Scholarship and the age-18 policy change, see the post on the Jon Peterson scholarship for Ohio homeschoolers.

The Ohio Autism Scholarship

Separate from the Jon Peterson program, Ohio's Autism Scholarship provides funding for students with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder. Like JPSN, it requires a current IEP and uses approved providers. Families with a student on the autism spectrum should review both programs to determine which applies to their situation.

What Is No Longer Available: The ACE Program

If your research has turned up references to the Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) program — which previously provided up to $1,000 for enrichment activities and was popular with homeschooling families — that program permanently closed on October 15, 2025. Any resource describing ACE as a current option is outdated. Do not rely on it.

The Bottom Line on Ohio Homeschool Scholarships

Standard EdChoice vouchers are not available to homeschoolers. They require enrollment at an approved private school. Ohio homeschooling families have three actual financial programs to work with:

• The $250 home education tax credit — broadly available, no application required, claimed on the state tax return
• College Credit Plus — free college tuition for high school students, major financial benefit if used strategically
• Jon Peterson and Autism Scholarships — significant annual funding for students with active IEPs, through approved providers

None of these require you to leave the homeschooling path. But all of them require your child to be lawfully home-educated under Ohio law. That starts with a properly filed Exemption Notification — the correct form, filed within five days of withdrawal, sent via certified mail to the district superintendent.

If you're in the process of pulling your child out of public school, the legal withdrawal step is not optional background paperwork. It is the foundation your eligibility for every one of these programs rests on. The Ohio Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the exact process — the notification requirements, certified mail documentation, and how to build the paper trail that protects your family's legal standing and access to state financial programs.

See more United States homeschool guides →