(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.

For any school year for which the number of applications for scholarships timely submitted for the program exceeds ninety per cent of the maximum number of scholarships permitted under division (A) of this section, the department shall increase the maximum number of scholarships permitted for the following school year by five per cent. The department shall make the increased number of scholarships available for each subsequent school year until the department is again required to increase the number of scholarships under division (A) of this section.

If the number of students who apply for a scholarship exceeds the maximum number of scholarships permitted under division (A) of this section, priority shall be given to those students applying for a scholarship under section 3310.03 of the Revised Code in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(B) The department shall award scholarships under section 3310.03 of the Revised Code 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

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