July 10, 2023
Dear SMS Families,
Hopefully most of you know by now, the state budget finally passed and Edchoice has changed drastically, which will be a huge benefit for our families, and our school.
Beginning this coming school year (2023-2024), all Ohio families with children in grades K-8 will be eligible for at least part of the Edchoice Scholarship. (A chart explaining the income percentages is attached.)
- Any families whose adjusted gross income is at 450% or below will receive a full scholarship.
- Families between 451-500% will receive 85% of the scholarship.
- Families between 501-550% will receive 60% of the scholarship.
- Families between 551-600% will receive 42% of the scholarship.
- Families between 601-650% will receive 30% of the scholarship.
- Families between 651-700% will receive 21% of the scholarship.
- Families between 701-750% will receive 15% of the scholarship.
- Families over 750% will still receive 10% of the scholarship.
Due to these changes, effective for the 2023-24 school year, tuition for grades K-8 will be increased from $5,500 to $6,165 per student. We realize that we will still have families who need assistance and will help in any way we can, once your state scholarship has been determined. If you are an Ohio resident and do not apply for Edchoice, you will be responsible for the entire portion of tuition ($6,165).
Once we have uploaded your application, utility bill, and child’s birth certificate, and you complete the income verification online, you will receive an award letter from the ODE informing you of your award. After you are awarded, you will turn the award letter in to the school office, and we will determine the balance owed (if any) on your child’s tuition. If you believe your adjusted income is higher than 450% of the poverty level, and you would like to discuss what your tuition balance will be, please call the school office.
So far, we have uploaded 82 applications to ODE. We still have around 30 of our registered, eligible students who need to turn in applications, birth certificates and utility bills. The Scholarship office at ODE is currently working on making these changes in the portal, so you should wait until August first to complete your income verification if you have not yet completed it.
I know there are a lot of factors involved here, but this is great news for SMS. Our families will be able to use their tax dollars to help with their child’s SMS education, and it will allow SMS to move further away from our yearly deficits, and think about the real possibility of expansion. Exciting news for sure! If you have any questions about all of this or would like to talk about it, feel free to call me at the school!
