Last verified: October 2026
Who qualifies for the Ohio Preschool Program in Franklin County?
A child qualifies if the family's income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline and the child is not yet age-eligible for kindergarten. For a family of four that line is $5,500 a month under the income standards Ohio's Department of Children and Youth adopted for October 1, 2026.
Franklin County JFS points families to the same program, which it describes as covering children ages 3 to 5.
What is Early Start Columbus?
Early Start Columbus is the city's pre-K initiative, with the stated goal of high-quality pre-kindergarten for every four-year-old in Columbus and free or low-cost tuition for qualifying families. The city's site has a search tool for participating programs; ask a preschool directly whether it takes part.
Does EdChoice pay for preschool in Ohio?
No. EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion start at kindergarten. The Jon Peterson Scholarship is the exception for children with an IEP: it is available from age 3.
| Program | Ages | Income line |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Preschool Program (OPP) | Before kindergarten eligibility | 200% of poverty |
| Publicly Funded Child Care | Under 13 (18 with a disability) | Below 145% of poverty at entry |
| Child Care Choice Voucher | Child care ages | 145%-200% of poverty |
| Jon Peterson Scholarship | From age 3 with an IEP | None |