Last verified: October 2026
Which Greater Cleveland families use EdChoice Expansion instead of the Cleveland Scholarship?
Every family in Lakewood, Parma, Euclid, the Heights, Lake, Lorain, Geauga and Medina counties, and anywhere else outside the CMSD boundary. DEW's 2026-27 fact sheet makes Expansion available to K-12 students who do not qualify for the Cleveland Scholarship, so the city line is what splits the two programs.
New applicants also complete DEW's online income verification; renewing families only resubmit income if it changed or they want low-income status.
What would a Westlake or Mentor family of four receive from EdChoice Expansion?
Up to $148,500 of adjusted gross income, the full $6,166 for a K-8 child or $8,408 for a high schooler. At $165,000 (500% of poverty) the K-8 award is about $4,360; at $198,000 (600%) it is $2,180; and it bottoms out at $616.60 for K-8 or $840.80 for 9-12.
The income figure is line 11 of the household's federal or Ohio Form 1040. Our calculator runs the same formula DEW publishes in its award workbook.
Is there a tuition cap for lower-income Expansion families?
Yes. Once DEW confirms a household is at 200% of poverty or less, the school has to accept the award as full tuition in every grade, high school included. Families above that line can be billed the gap, and fees are separate for everyone.
Is it too late to apply for 2026-27?
No. The window stays open to June 30, 2027. The catch is timing: a request filed after October 14, 2026 is paid only for the months remaining after the child starts. A family that transfers in January still qualifies, for a smaller amount.
Renewal each year requires all state tests, no more than 20 unexcused absences and continued Ohio residency.
What does the appeals ruling mean for Expansion families?
Nothing changes this year. When the Tenth District Court of Appeals found EdChoice unconstitutional on October 15, 2026, it also put its own ruling on hold, and Ohio's attorney general said the program continues uninterrupted while the state takes the case to the Ohio Supreme Court.
| It is | It is not |
|---|---|
| The default voucher for suburban and exurban Northeast Ohio | Available to students who live inside the Cleveland district |
| Scaled by household income above 450% of poverty | Capped at a hard income limit |
| Paid to the school toward tuition | Money for fees, devices or tutoring |
| Usable at chartered nonpublic schools | Usable at non-chartered schools or for homeschooling |