Ohio Autism Scholarship - Important Information!

Autism Scholarship
Fifth Third Center
21 East State Street, Suite 900
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 6142231555
Fax: 6142231565

Would your child with Autism be better served by a private school or a specialized private service provider?

For more information about the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program, which can provide scholarships up to $20,000, or to receive a list of the private schools and providers in your area, please contact School Choice Ohio:

6142231555
autisminfo@scohio.org
These forms are available online at www.ode.state.oh.us (search keyword “Autism”).

Expanding Options for Families of Autistic Students Across Ohio
If the needs of your child with Autism are not being met in his or her current
public school, the Ohio Autism Scholarship may be the answer.

The Ohio Autism Scholarship:
• Allows you to send your child to a private school or service provider
• Provides scholarship funding of up to $20,000 annually
• Pays for tuition to cover the services outlined in the child’s IEP
• Requires service providers to be approved by the Ohio Department of Education
• Empowers you, the parent, to guide your child’s education

Autism Scholarship Program
On the web at:
www.scohio.org

Preschool Children—Eligibility
Preschool students (ages 3‐4) are eligible for the Autism Scholarship if they have a medical diagnosis of Autism and identified deficits in communication and adaptive behavior. Inclusion of preschool students in the scholarship program is designed to
encourage early intervention. Many current Autism scholarship recipients are preschool students.

SchoolAged Students—
Eligibility
Students with Autism in grades K‐12 (or up to age 21) who have a current agreed‐upon Individual Education Program (IEP) from their resident public school district are eligible for the Autism Scholarship. A child with “pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS)” is also eligible for the scholarship.

A list of approved registered private providers is listed by county on the ODE website:
(www.ode.state.oh.us)

The provider list includes both nonpublic schools and private service providers who
meet the participation requirements. Parents may use more than one approved registered provider to provide the services listed on their child’s IEP. However, the scholarship may not be used for supplemental services if the child continues to
attend their public school of residence.

How To Apply:
• Your child must be enrolled in their public school district of residence and meet all eligibility criteria.

• Fill out the Scholarship Application and District Assurance forms.

• Find a private provider(s) like schools, therapists, or agencies to provide the services listed on your child’s IEP. A list of approved providers is available online
through ODE’s website.

There are no application deadlines for the Autism scholarship, so families can
begin using the private services at any point during the year. To get started, please either call School Choice Ohio or get in touch with one of the approved private service providers in your area who can assist you with the application process.

Interested in learning more? Need help with the application process? Contact School
Choice Ohio today for assistance. 16142231555