EDChoice Scholarship program
2025-2026 School Year
2025-2026 School Year
Our Shepherd Lutheran School participates in the EdChoice Scholarship program. The EdChoice program provides students with the opportunity to attend participating private schools. Families choosing to send their children to our school can be eligible for a scholarship up to $6,166. There are two types of EdChoice scholarships, Traditional and Expansion. Please note: The new Expansion scholarship helps benefit families of all income levels.
The EdChoice Scholarship Program is a state-funded scholarship available to students K-12 who meet the eligibility criteria. The traditional scholarship is awarded if your students designated school is a failing school. The scholarship amount can only be used towards tuition. The EdChoice Scholarship amount is currently $6,166 for grades K-8.
There are several factors which can make a student eligible for EdChoice traditional. The most common are:
· Students that are eligible to apply for the EdChoice Traditional Scholarship if their assigned to a failing school.
o Currently in Lake County the only failing elementary/middle school is Heritage Middle School.
· If a sibling has received traditional scholarship in 2024-2025
o Affidavit of Eligibility will need to be completed and notarized if a sibling has received the traditional scholarship in 2024-22025
· Students who are foster children
For a list for all eligibility factors please refer to: EdChoice Traditional Fact sheet
The EdChoice Scholarship Program is a state-funded scholarship available to students K-12. The Expansion Scholarship is an income based scholarship. This scholarship now benefits families of all income levels. The scholarship amount can only be used towards tuition. The EdChoice Scholarship amount is currently $6,166 for grades K-8.
Families of all income levels can benefit from EdChoice Expansion. The EdChoice Expansion program offers scholarships that are determined by the families’ adjusted gross income (AGI). To determine your eligibility fist identify how many members are in your household, and what percentage your AGI (adjusted gross income) is in reference to the federal poverty level.
The maximum scholarship for students in grades K-8 is currently $6,166 and minimum is $616.60. The amount received is based on household income. The specific estimated award amounts can be found in a spreadsheet on the department of education’s website.
EdChoice Scholarships only applies to tuition. ALL OSL families, are responsible for registration fees, extracurricular fees, and any other fee not included in tuition. Families whose adjusted gross incomes is above the federal poverty level of 450%, will have to pay whatever amount EdChoice Expansion does not cover.
Yes, your children’s scholarship can be renewed each year as long as the student:
• Takes all required assessments
• Does not exceed more than 20 unexcused absences for the school year ( see EdChoice scholarship program excused absence policy)
New and returning OSL families must complete their enrollment forms for the 2025-2026 school year before applying to the EdChoice Scholarship program. Registration can be completed on the Jupiter website. The links for new and returning families can be found on our website under the admission tab .
Step 1: Enroll to Our Shepherd Lutheran School.
Step 2: Complete the EdChoice Request form for new families and the EdChoice Renewal form for returning families.
Step 3: Gather required documents:
· a copy of a current utility bill in primary parent/guardians name
· a copy of student’s birth certificate
· If necessary a copy of custody agreement.
· If necessary affidavit of eligibility
Step 4: Submit all forms to Our Shepherd Lutheran School.
Step 5: Wait for scholarship to be awarded.
Step 6: Complete POA form once the scholarship has been awarded.
· The POA form will allow us to be able to deposit your EdChoice tuition check without you needing to come sign the checks every month. We do receive 10 tuition checks throughout the school year with the last check coming in July. You will be responsible to come in over summer break to sign your student(s) tuition payments. If you fail to sign any of the tuition check(s) and the check(s) are voided due to non-signature you will be responsible to pay that tuition amount to the school. This form will
need to be notarized and returned to the office.
Step 1: Enroll to Our Shepherd Lutheran School.
Step 2: Complete the EdChoice Request form for new families and the EdChoice Renewal form for returning families.
Step 3: Gather required documents:
· a copy of a current utility bill in primary parent/guardians name
· a copy of student’s birth certificate
· If necessary a copy of custody agreement.
Step 4: Submit all forms to Our Shepherd Lutheran School.
Step 5: Complete the Income Verification process
· Instructions to complete online- Income verification quick guide
· Paper Income verification form- The Income Verification form with supporting income documents may be mailed to the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Nonpublic Educational Options 25 S. Front Street, Mail Stop 309, Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183.
· If you have any questions please contact the Office of Nonpublic Educational Options at 614-728-2743, or by email at edchoice@education.ohio.gov
Step 6: Wait for scholarship to be awarded.
Step 7: Complete POA form once scholarship is awarded.
· The POA form will allow us to be able to deposit your EdChoice tuition check without you needing to come sign the checks every month. We do receive 10 tuition checks throughout the school year with the last check coming in July. You will be responsible to come in over summer break to sign your student(s) tuition payments. If you fail to sign any of the tuition check(s) and the check(s) are voided due to non-signature you will be responsible to pay that tuition amount to the school. This form will need to be notarized and returned to the office.
· Income Verification form- Form not available yet
· Income verification quick guide –to complete online
· Affidavit of Eligibility - for traditional
· Excused Absence policy
· Spanish Fact sheet Traditional- Form not available yet
· Spanish Fact sheet Expansion- Form not available yet
· Spanish EdChoice Request form- Form not available yet
· Spanish EdChoice Renewal form- Form not available yet
· Spanish Income Verification quick guide- to complete online
· Spanish Income Verification form- Form not available yet
If you have any questions regarding the EdChoice Scholarship, please reach out to Kayla Cook, OSL Business Manager at kcook@oslpainesville.org.