Section 3310.02. Educational choice scholarship pilot program established

(A) The educational choice scholarship pilot program is hereby established. Under the program, the department of education annually shall pay scholarships to attend chartered nonpublic schools in accordance with section 3310.08 of the Revised Code for up to the following number of eligible students:

(1) Thirty thousand in the 2011-2012 school year;

(2) Sixty thousand in the 2012-2013 school year and thereafter.

(B) If the number of students who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of scholarships available under division (A) of this section for the applicable school year, the department shall award scholarships in the following order of priority:

(1) First, to eligible students who received scholarships in the prior school year;

(2) Second, to eligible students with family incomes at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines, as defined in section 5101.46 of the Revised Code, who qualify under divisions (A) and (E) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code. If the number of students described in division (B)(2) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under division (B)(1) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (B)(2) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(3) Third, to other eligible students who qualify under divisions (A) and (E) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code. If the number of students described in division (B)(3) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (B)(3) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(4) Fourth, to eligible students with family incomes at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines who qualify under division (D) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code. If the number of students described in division (B)(4) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under divisions (B)(1) to (3) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (B)(4) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(5) Fifth, to other eligible students who qualify under division (D) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code. If the number of students described in division (B)(5) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (B)(5) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(6) Sixth, to eligible students with family incomes at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines who qualify under division (B) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code. If the number of students described in division (B)(6) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under divisions (B)(1) to (5) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (B)(6) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(7) Seventh, to other eligible students who qualify under division (B) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code. If the number of students described in division (B)(7) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under divisions (B)(1) to (6) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (B)(7) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 70, §1, eff. 10/15/2015.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 6/30/2011.

Effective Date: 06-30-2005; 03-30-2007