Last verified: October 2026
Who can get the EdChoice Expansion Scholarship in Columbus for 2026-27?
Any kindergarten-through-12th-grade student living in Franklin, Delaware, Licking or Fairfield County can apply, because the only geographic exclusion is the Cleveland school district. The family must be accepted at a participating private school first, and new applicants submit household income through the state's income verification system.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) runs the program. The private school files the application for the family once the child is enrolled; families supply a birth certificate, proof of address dated within 90 days and the signed Scholarship Request Form.
How much is EdChoice Expansion for a family of four in Columbus?
A family of four with adjusted gross income at or below $148,500 (450% of the 2026 poverty guideline) receives the full award: $6,166 for a K-8 student or $8,408 for a high schooler. Above that line the award shrinks on a curve published by DEW, and it never drops below $616.60 (K-8) or $840.80 (9-12).
Our calculator applies DEW's 2026-27 formula to your household size and income. Income is taken from line 11 of the federal or state Form 1040.
Does a low-income Columbus family pay anything beyond the scholarship?
Families at or below 200% of the poverty guideline ($66,000 for a household of four in 2026) who have their income verified cannot be charged tuition beyond the scholarship. Families above that line may owe the difference between tuition and the award.
The scholarship never covers registration, book, uniform or activity fees, so ask every school for its fee sheet.
When is the EdChoice Expansion deadline for 2026-27?
The 2026-27 window opened February 1, 2026 and stays open through June 30, 2027, but awards for applications submitted after October 14, 2026 are prorated by the share of the school year left. A family enrolling now still qualifies; the dollar amount is simply smaller.
The scholarship renews each year through grade 12 as long as the student takes the required state tests, has no more than 20 unexcused absences and stays an Ohio resident.
Is EdChoice still legal after the October 2026 appeals ruling?
Yes, for now. On October 15, 2026 the Tenth District Court of Appeals agreed with a Franklin County judge that EdChoice violates the Ohio Constitution, but it stayed its own ruling, and the state is appealing to the Ohio Supreme Court. The Attorney General's office says the program continues uninterrupted while that appeal is pending.
Families already enrolled keep receiving payments, and new 2026-27 applications are still being processed. We will update this page when the Supreme Court acts.
| It is | It is not |
|---|---|
| Open to any Ohio K-12 student outside the Cleveland district | Limited to students zoned to low-performing public schools (that is traditional EdChoice) |
| Scaled to household income above 450% of poverty | A flat amount for every family |
| Paid to the private school toward tuition | A spending account for fees, tutoring or supplies |
| Usable only at a participating chartered nonpublic school | Usable at non-chartered (NCNP) schools or for homeschooling |