Autism Scholarship Program

The Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) gives the parents of children with autism who qualify for a scholarship the choice to send the child to a special education program other than the one operated by the school district of residence to receive their education and the services outlined in the child's individualized education program (IEP).

Any student who has been identified by their district as a child with autism and for whom the district has created an individualized education plan (IEP) qualifies for the Autism Scholarship program.

The scholarship is an educational choice program. If a student accepts the scholarship, the public district is no longer responsible for providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The student must use the scholarship to obtain their education AND supportive services.

CAN A CHILD ATTEND A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND USE THE SCHOLARSHIP? No. The scholarship is an educational choice program. If a student is approved for the scholarship, the public district is no longer responsible for providing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The student must use the scholarship to obtain their education AND the supportive services indicated on their IEP at an approved provider.

ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE AUTISM SCHOLARSHIP? Children who are at least three years old, but less than twenty two years old, have been identified by their school district of residence as a child with autism, and have a current, finalized IEP with that district are eligible for the autism scholarship.

The district of residence will conduct an initial evaluation. If the student is determined to be a child with a disability, the district of residence will also conduct reevaluations.

If the child is enrolled in a nonpublic school, then the district where the nonpublic school is located is responsible for conducting the initial evaluation and reevaluations.

The district of residence develops an initial IEP that offers a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and annually updates the IEP.

If the child has been identified as having a disability, but does not have an IEP because he/she is not currently enrolled in a public school, the district shall prepare an initial IEP within thirty calendar days of receiving a request for an IEP from an applicant. That request can be made directly to the district by the parent or by the submission of an application for the Autism scholarship through the online application system.

Required documents needed for the scholarship;

ODE application for the scholarship

Approved provider