TL;DR: The Cleveland Scholarship and EdChoice Expansion pay the same 2026-27 maximum, $6,166 for K-8 and $8,408 for high school, but they follow different rules. The Cleveland Scholarship ignores income; Expansion shrinks above 450% of poverty. And only EdChoice protects low-income high school families from being billed the tuition gap.
How does a family know which program it uses?
By the school district boundary. A child who lives inside the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) boundary uses the Cleveland Scholarship. A child anywhere else in Ohio uses EdChoice, either Expansion or, for children zoned to a designated building, traditional EdChoice. DEW's 2026-27 Expansion fact sheet puts it plainly: Expansion is for K-12 students who do not qualify for the Cleveland Scholarship.
A Cleveland mailing address does not settle the question on its own; school district lines and postal addresses are drawn separately. When a home sits near the edge of the city, confirm with CMSD before a school files anything. Our city-or-suburb guide sets out each case, including moves.
Cleveland Scholarship vs EdChoice Expansion: what differs besides the address?
Four rules separate them, and they matter more than the identical maximums suggest.
| Rule | Cleveland Scholarship | EdChoice Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| Income test | None; income verification optional | Required for new applicants; award tapers above 450% of poverty |
| Low-income protection from extra tuition | Grades K-8 only | All grades |
| Late-application proration | Not stated in DEW's 2026-27 fact sheet | Requests after October 14, 2026 are prorated |
| What ends renewal | Moving out of CMSD, missing state tests, skipping the renewal form | Missing state tests, more than 20 unexcused absences, leaving Ohio |
| Part of the 2026 EdChoice appeal? | No | Yes, ruling stayed |
Both programs pay tuition only, send the check to the school for the parent to endorse, and require a chartered, registered private school. Both windows for 2026-27 opened February 1, 2026 and close June 30, 2027.
How much does income change the award on each side of the line?
On the city side, not at all. A family of four in Kamm's Corners with $250,000 of income receives the full $6,166 for a third grader, the same as a family earning $40,000.
On the suburban side, the Expansion formula in DEW's FY27 workbook keeps the full award up to 450% of poverty, $148,500 for a family of four, then halves it for every 100 percentage points above that, with a floor of 10%. Using that formula, a Lakewood family of four with $180,000 of income (545% of poverty) would receive about $3,190 for a K-8 child and $4,350 for a high schooler. At $250,000 (757%), the K-8 award falls to about $734. Families under $148,500 receive the full amount on either side of the line. Our Expansion calculator runs the formula for any household size.
Why does the high school balance rule matter so much?
Because high school tuition is where the gap usually opens. Under both programs, a K-8 family at or below 200% of poverty ($66,000 for four people) whose income DEW has verified cannot be charged tuition above the award. EdChoice carries that protection into grades 9-12. The Cleveland Scholarship does not: DEW's fact sheet and request form say Cleveland Scholarship families with high school students are responsible for tuition the scholarship does not cover.
So a low-income city family choosing a Catholic or independent high school should budget for the difference between the $8,408 award and the school's tuition, then go after the layers that close it: the school's need-based aid, Diocesan Tuition Assistance at diocesan schools, and the school's own tax-credit fund if it has one. Several Cleveland high schools, including St. Ignatius, Saint Joseph Academy, Benedictine and Saint Martin de Porres, run certified scholarship granting organizations.
What paperwork does each program ask for?
The core packet is similar. After a school accepts the child, the parent gives the school a signed request form, a certified birth certificate and proof of address less than 90 days old. For the Cleveland Scholarship, DEW wants a utility bill whose service and mailing addresses match, or a current mortgage statement or signed lease plus a piece of recent business mail. The school then files the application online.
Expansion adds one step: new applicants complete DEW's online income verification, using federal or Ohio Form 1040 figures, unless the family already has income on file. City families only verify income if they want K-8 low-income status. City families should also ask CMSD's transportation office about busing to a private school, which DEW says may be available depending on where the family lives and where the school is.
Frequently asked questions
How does a family know which program it uses?
By whether the child lives inside the Cleveland Metropolitan School District boundary: inside means the Cleveland Scholarship, outside means EdChoice Expansion or traditional EdChoice.
Cleveland Scholarship vs EdChoice Expansion: what differs besides the address?
The income test, the high school low-income protection, late-application proration, renewal conditions and whether the program is part of the 2026 EdChoice appeal.
How much does income change the award on each side of the line?
Not at all inside the city; outside it, Expansion pays the full award up to 450% of poverty and then tapers, to about $3,190 per K-8 child for a family of four at $180,000.
Why does the high school balance rule matter so much?
Because only EdChoice protects verified low-income families from being billed tuition above the award in grades 9-12; Cleveland Scholarship high school families can owe the difference.
What paperwork does each program ask for?
A signed request form, a certified birth certificate and recent proof of address for both, plus online income verification for new Expansion applicants.
Related questions
- Which program does our address unlock?
- What does a voucher leave the family to pay?
- Expansion amounts at every income step
- How Catholic high school families close the gap
Sources
- Ohio DEW: Cleveland Scholarship fact sheet, 2026-2027
- Ohio DEW: How to apply for a Cleveland Scholarship
- Ohio DEW: EdChoice Expansion fact sheet and FY27 award workbook
- Ohio DEW: 2026-2027 Federal Poverty Guidelines for the Cleveland and EdChoice programs
- Ohio Attorney General: Certified Scholarship Granting Organizations, 2026