All students in the State of Ohio are eligible for either a scholarship through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW). ODEW scholarship applications will be made available in February 2025.
What is an EdChoice Scholarship?
The EdChoice Program is a state-funded scholarship opportunity granted
to every K-12 student in the state of Ohio. There are two different scholarship types:
1. EdChoice "Traditional" – This scholarship is awarded to families who live in a qualifying school district. All qualifying school districts for the 2024-25 school year
can be found online here.
2. EdChoice "Expansion" – Any familiy that does not live in a qualifying school district is eligible for an EdChoice Expansion Scholarship. The Expansion EdChoice Scholarship amount is based on a family's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Note: All families are guaranteed to receive some level of award.
EdChoice income-based scholarship awards through the State will be based on each family’s size and related percentage of each family’s adjusted gross income (AGI) to the federal poverty level. Families whose AGI falls below 450% of the federal poverty level will be eligible to receive a full voucher award, and awards will gradually be decreased as AGI levels rise above that amount.
Please note that the State of Ohio, not Saint Ignatius High School, determines family size and verifies income. Therefore, Saint Ignatius High School cannot estimate or guarantee any award amount.
Please follow the instructions below to apply for a new EdChoice Expansion Scholarship.
2024-25 EdChoice Scholarship NEW APPLICATION
A. Forms To Be Returned to Saint Ignatius High School
1. EdChoice Scholarship
Application Request Form;
2. Proof of Address:
— a. Full page utility bill in your name less than 3 months old (must include both billing and service address –
click to see sample);
— b. If a utility bill is not available, please see the
Acceptable Forms of Address Proof document or contact the Finance Office for assistance;
3. Copy of Birth Certificate;
4. Custody Documents if Applicable:
— a. If biological parents are not living together and both parents are on the child's birth certificate, either the mother must be the primary parent on the application or custody documents must be provided showing shared or joint custody;
5. Limited Power of Attorney Document – requested by Saint Ignatius High School authorizing the school to endorse and negotiate checks issued by the EdChoice program to be applied against tuition for the duration of the student’s enrollment.
B. To Be Completed online in the ODE Income Verification Portal (by Parents)
NEW: Families that wish to only apply for the minimum scholarship ($616.60 for grades K-8 or $840.80 for grades 9-12), but do not wish to submit income information can now complete an affidavit, have it notarized and submit it via the income verification portal. This affidavit may only be used in lieu of income information for applicants that are applying for the minimum scholarship amount.
1. Income Verification Instructions – Use your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your 2023 1040 tax form.
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Click here to view Income Verification Helpful Tips.
2024-25 EdChoice Scholarship RENEWAL
A. Forms To Be Returned to Saint Ignatius High School
1. EdChoice Scholarship
Application Renewal Form;
2. Proof of Address:
— a. Full page utility bill in your name less than 3 months old (must include both billing and service address –
click to see sample);
— b. If a utility bill is not available, please see the
Acceptable Forms of Address Proof document or contact the Finance Office for assistance
B. (Optional) To Be Completed online in the ODE Income Verification Portal (by Parents)
1. Income Verification Instructions – Use your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your 2023 1040 tax form. Note: This step is only required in renewal if you would like to be considered low income by the state of Ohio (200% of FPL).
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Click here to view Income Verification Helpful Tips.
Additional Instructions/Potential Problems
- The ODE requires that the application be filled out completely. Please ensure all areas have been completed before submitting to Saint Ignatius;
- If your child has ever attended public school, please name the district, building and year(s) in the Student Information section;
- Dependents under the age of 18 may be entered in the Income Verification System as members of your household. If you have children up to 22 years old who are full time students, or disabled dependent adults living with you, you may list these individuals’ name and date of birth in the Comment Section next to parent name.
- The signature at the bottom of the page must not be typed. The ODE requires an electronic or handwritten signature;
- Utility bills are the preferred proof of address. The utility bill must show the billing and service address (click to see sample). Please note: If your bill is more than one page, please include both pages when you submit.
All documents must be submitted to Saint Ignatius High School. The Finance Office is able to process completed applications most efficiently if they are signed, scanned and emailed to financeoffice@ignatius.edu. Please include your son's name in the email subject line of all EdChoice correspondence. If unable to scan, you may also mail or bring documents to the Reception Desk of Saint Ignatius High School.
We are here to answer any questions about the process, so feel free to reach out anytime.