Key Program Statistics

Total Enrollment

N/A

Average Award

$1,000

per student/year

Program Budget

$N/A

N/A

Switcher Rate

N/A%

N/A

What is the Ohio ESA Program?

Legislative Framework

Statutory Citation:: N/A - Funded via federal ARPA
Administering Agency:: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Year Enacted / Launched:: 2021 / 2021
Financial Platform:: Merit

Eligibility & Access

Eligibility Scope:: Targeted (Income, District)
Who Can Apply:: Targeted to families with household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, or residing in districts with high rates of chronic absenteeism. Focused on supplemental enrichment, not school replacement.

How is the Ohio ESA Program Funded?

Funding Mechanism

Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds

Award Calculation

Flat credit per child.

Award Amounts by Category

Category	Annual Award
Per Child Credit	$1,000

What Can Ohio ESA Funds Be Used For?

✓Tutoring services

✓Day camps (academic, music, arts)

✓Music and arts lessons

✓Language classes

✓Field trips to museums and historical sites

✓Curriculum and materials for home education

Key Findings for Ohio's ESA Program

1
Unique ESA model focused exclusively on supplemental/enrichment activities, not private school tuition.
2
Represents a case study in the instability of programs reliant on temporary federal grants rather than permanent state appropriations.
3
The program's closure in 2025 was due to a federal policy change ending the extension for states to spend pandemic-era funds.

Data Sources for Ohio

📊 Official State Sources

Ohio Department of Education - ACE Program (Archived)(State Agency)

Last Updated: 2025-10-29 | Data Quality: Good

📚 Full Research Report: Ohio ESA Program

Comprehensive analysis with legislative history, enrollment dynamics, fiscal impact debates, demographic analysis, and policy recommendations

📖 Full Ohio ESA Research Report (Click to Collapse)▼

Report Table of Contents

• Legislative Architecture & Evolution
• Financial Framework & Funding
• Enrollment Trends & Growth Analysis
• Switcher Rate Analysis
• Participant Demographics

• Fiscal Impact Debate (Both Sides)
• Administrative Structure
• Accountability & Oversight
• Key Findings & Conclusions
• Policy Recommendations

About This Report: This comprehensive analysis was compiled from official state sources, legislative documents, and independent research organizations. All data points are verified and cited. Competing fiscal and demographic analyses are presented transparently with full source attribution.

Report available in our research reports directory:/research-reports/ohio

Research Summary: Ohio ESA Program

The Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Program in Ohio represents a significant development in education policy.As a targeted program, it serves a specific population based on targeted (income, district) criteria.

Current Scale: The program serves N/A students.

Key Research Findings

1

Unique ESA model focused exclusively on supplemental/enrichment activities, not private school tuition.

2

Represents a case study in the instability of programs reliant on temporary federal grants rather than permanent state appropriations.

3

The program's closure in 2025 was due to a federal policy change ending the extension for states to spend pandemic-era funds.