Homeschool funding & ESAs in Ohio

Can I get paid to homeschool in Ohio?

No. Ohio has no ESA or voucher that independent homeschooling families can use. What Ohio does offer is the Home Education Expenses Credit, a state tax credit — eligibility and how to claim it are below. Nationwide grants are listed below, each with its own eligibility rules. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. Ohio's homeschool rules require no test or evaluation of their own, so there is nothing on that side to arrange.

Ohio scholarships, grants & tax credits

What does Ohio require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Ohio does not require a test or an evaluation, so there is no assessment to arrange. What Ohio asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. Ohio requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Superintendent of the resident school district. How: Written notice (paper or electronic; an official form exists but isn't required). When: Within 5 calendar days of starting (or moving/withdrawing); annually by August 30. The superintendent must acknowledge receipt in writing within 14 calendar days, and the exemption takes effect as soon as the notice is received. The notice itself is short: the parent's name and address, the child's name, and an assurance that the child will be educated in the required subjects (ORC 3321.042(C)).

Testing or evaluation

No. Ohio does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. HB 33 (eff. Oct 3, 2023) eliminated the prior annual academic-assessment requirement entirely — no testing, portfolio review, or progress report is required. Older sources describing an annual assessment are out of date.

Days and hours

None. Ohio does not set a minimum number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. No hours or days minimum under current ORC 3321.042. The separate nonchartered, non-tax-supported school route does set hours — 455 for part-time kindergarten, 910 for all-day kindergarten through grade 6, and 1,001 for grades 7-12 (ORC 3301.0732).

Records

Ohio does not require homeschooling families to keep specific records. No portfolio, curriculum submission, or academic records are required by statute on the notification route. A nonchartered, non-tax-supported school does report: it certifies each year to its parents that it meets the state's minimum standards and files a copy with the Department of Education and Workforce by September 30, and it reports its pupils to the school district treasurer in the first two weeks of the school year (ORC 3301.0732).

Full Ohio homeschool requirements →

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →