School Choice in Ohio
Ohio runs 8 private school choice programs, together serving about 167,868 students. Its strongest program reaches EdChoice's universal eligibility tier.
Educational Choice Expansion Scholarship (EdChoice) Program
Voucher- Students
- 100,922
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- $4,958
- Launched
- 2013
The average award is 30% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Traditional Educational Choice Scholarship Program
Voucher- Students
- 42,600
- Eligible
- 96%
- Average award
- $6,808
- Launched
- 2006
The average award is 42% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program
Voucher- Students
- 8,680
- Eligible
- 14%
- Average award
- $12,797
- Launched
- 2012
The average award is 78% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Cleveland Scholarship Program
Voucher- Students
- 8,345
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- $6,835
- Launched
- 1996
The average award is 42% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Autism Scholarship Program
Voucher- Students
- 6,016
- Eligible
- 2%
- Average award
- $29,107
- Launched
- 2004
The average award is 178% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
K–12 Nonchartered Private School Tax Credit
Individual Tax Credit/Deduction- Students
- 1,305
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- $549
- Launched
- 2021
The average award is 7% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
K–12 Home Education Tax Credit
Individual Tax Credit/Deduction- Students
- —
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- $250
- Launched
- 2021
The average award is 2% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Ohio Tax-Credit Scholarship Program
Tax-Credit Scholarship- Students
- —
- Eligible
- 100%
- Average award
- —
- Launched
- 2021
Homeschooling in Ohio
Homeschooling is legal in every state. Ohio recognises two legal routes to it, compulsory attendance runs from age 6–18, and notice to the state is required. The Ohio homeschool requirements are set out in full on their own page.
How Ohio compares
Nationally, 36 jurisdictions run 82 private-choice programs serving roughly 2,279,109 students, and 18 have at least one program any student may apply to. The state-by-state guide sets out how the programs differ.
Where this comes from
Program data from EdChoice's School Choice in America dashboard, retrieved 2026-09-16; homeschool requirements from HSLDA. Participation and award figures are the most recent EdChoice publishes and lag the current school year. Educational information, not legal or financial advice — confirm eligibility with the program before you rely on it.
More on Ohio: its freedom score and rank