(A) A student is an "eligible student" for purposes of the expansion of the educational choice scholarship pilot program under this section if the student's resident district is not a school district in which the pilot project scholarship program is operating under sections 3313.974 to 3313.979 of the Revised Code, the student is not eligible for an educational choice scholarship under section 3310.03 of the Revised Code, and the student's family income is at or below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty guidelines, as defined in section 5101.46 of the Revised Code.

(B) In each fiscal year for which the general assembly appropriates funds for purposes of this section, the department of education shall pay scholarships to attend chartered nonpublic schools in accordance with section 3310.08 of the Revised Code. The number of scholarships awarded under this section shall not exceed the number that can be funded with appropriations made by the general assembly for this purpose.

(C) Scholarships under this section shall be awarded as follows:

(1) For the 2013-2014 school year, to eligible students who are entering kindergarten in that school year for the first time;

(2) For each subsequent school year through the 2019-2020 school year, scholarships shall be awarded to eligible students in the next grade level above the highest grade level awarded in the preceding school year, in addition to the grade levels for which students received scholarships in the preceding school year;

(3) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, to eligible students who are entering any of grades kindergarten through twelve in that school year for the first time.

(D) If the number of eligible students who apply for a scholarship under this section exceeds the scholarships available based on the appropriation for this section, the department shall award scholarships in the following order of priority:

(1) First, to eligible students who received scholarships under this section in the prior school year;

(2) Second, to eligible students with family incomes at or below one hundred per cent of the federal poverty guidelines. If the number of students described in division (D)(2) of this section who apply for a scholarship exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under division (D)(1) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (D)(2) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(3) Third, to other eligible students who qualify under this section. If the number of students described in division (D)(3) of this section exceeds the number of available scholarships after awards are made under divisions (D)(1) and (2) of this section, the department shall select students described in division (D)(3) of this section by lot to receive any remaining scholarships.

(E) Subject to divisions (E)(1) to (3) of this section, a student who receives a scholarship under this section remains an eligible student and may continue to receive scholarships under this section in subsequent school years until the student completes grade twelve, so long as the student satisfies the conditions specified in divisions (F)(2) and (3) of section 3310.03 of the Revised Code.

Once a scholarship is awarded under this section, the student shall remain eligible for that scholarship for the current school year and subsequent school years even if the student's family income rises above the amount specified in division (A) of this section, provided the student remains enrolled in a chartered nonpublic school, however:

(1) If the student's family income is above two hundred per cent but at or below three hundred per cent of the federal poverty guidelines, the student shall receive a scholarship in the amount of seventy-five per cent of the full scholarship amount.

(2) If the student's family income is above three hundred per cent but at or below four hundred per cent of the federal poverty guidelines, the student shall receive a scholarship in the amount of fifty per cent of the full scholarship amount.

(3) If the student's family income is above four hundred per cent of the federal poverty guidelines, the student is no longer eligible to receive an educational choice scholarship.

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.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.