1. (A) The Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program is hereby established. Under the program, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, subject to division (B) of this section, the department of education and workforce annually shall pay a scholarship under section 3317.022 of the Revised Code to an eligible applicant for services provided by an alternative public provider or a registered private provider for a qualified special education child. The scholarship shall be used only to pay all or part of the fees for the child to attend the special education program or programs operated by the alternative public provider or registered private provider to implement the child's individualized education program or programs, in lieu of the child's attending the special education program operated by the school district in which the child is entitled to attend school, and other services agreed to by the provider and eligible applicant that are not included in the individualized education program but are associated with educating the child. At the discretion of an eligible applicant, multiple alternative public providers or registered private providers may be contracted to provide services to implement the individualized education program as the eligible applicant and providers determine are necessary and associated with educating the qualified special education child. A qualified special education child is not limited to receiving services from a single provider for any services as identified in the individualized education program, including a single type of service. Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, if the child is receiving special education services for a disability specified in division (A) of section 3317.013 of the Revised Code, the scholarship shall be used only to pay for related services that are included in the child's individualized education program. Upon agreement with the eligible applicant, the alternative public provider or registered private provider may modify the services provided to the child. Services, including intervention services, educational services, academic services, tutoring services, aide services, and other related special education services, provided through the program established under this section may be provided virtually by any of the following:

   1. (1) An educational aide or assistant who holds a valid permit issued under section 3319.088 of the Revised Code;
   2. (2) An instructional assistant who holds a valid permit issued under section 3310.43 of the Revised Code;
   3. (3) A qualified, credentialed provider in accordance with standards established by the department;
   4. (4) A teacher or substitute teacher licensed by the state board of education.
2. (B) The number of scholarships awarded under the program in any fiscal year shall not exceed five per cent of the total number of students residing in the state identified as children with disabilities during the previous fiscal year.
3. (C) The department shall pay a scholarship under section 3317.022 of the Revised Code to the eligible applicant, unless the eligible applicant authorizes a direct payment to the child's provider, upon application in the manner prescribed by the department. However, the department shall not adopt specific dates for application deadlines for scholarships under the program.
4. (D) The department shall not require an eligible applicant who applies for or receives a scholarship under this section to complete any kind of income verification regarding the student's family income.

Last updated July 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM