July 27, 2023

We have received and are in the process of submitting EdChoice Expansion Requests for over 50 students as of the sending of this email. We are honored to work with our families on this school choice opportunity and are prepared to process a scholarship request for every SMS student.

Included in this email are:

• Updates from the State of Ohio with info on the OH|ID Account (which is needed to complete the income verification piece.)
• Helpful tips on the application process based on submissions SMS has already received and answers to questions that we have been asked.
• Information provided by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Schools Office:
• Parent tutorial on completing the EdChoice application.
• Parent tutorial on completing the income verification.

At the bottom of this email, find the entire email from July 19 introducing and explaining the EdChoice Expansion application process. We are grateful to our families for following these application instructions.

State of Ohio Updates:

OH|ID Account Issues

If parents are experiencing issues accessing the EdChoice Income Verification System in OH|ID, they may use this link to access the application system. They will need to have an existing OH|ID account for the link to work. 

If parents do not have an existing OH|ID, they may create an account and log in using the Open My Apps button on the Portal Help page. After they log in, under Web Systems, click Application Request. Change the Application to Income Verification in the dropdown box. Click Submit. After a moment, their screen should reload with access to the Income Verification tile. 

NOTE: If an OH|ID account was created between Saturday 07/22/2023 and Tuesday 07/25/2023 and have been unable to log in, please click "FORGOT PASSWORD" to recover your account and get signed in to OH|ID.

Edchoice Request Forms Updated

The EdChoice scholarship applications (Request and Renewal) have been updated with the following changes:

• Removed YES and NO checkboxes in the income section;
• Added to the top of the Request form: This application is for a (select one): Traditional EdChoice Scholarship OR EdChoice Expansion Scholarship (income based)
• The updated EdChoice Request form is HERE.

If you have already submitted your application, YOU ARE FINE. PLEASE DO NOT RESUBMIT. The State of Ohio is fine-tuning this process as they receive feedback.

Helpful Tips from us and /?'s answered:

• Make sure you complete all the information fields on the application and email both the front and back of the form.
• Make sure your child's birthdate is correct and matches what is on their birth certificate. We have received applications with incorrect dates of birth.
• Proof of Address. It's easiest to send one document, such as a utility bill. Duke Energy or your GCWW (water bill) work best. The utility bill must indicate the SERVICE ADDRESS. Using a mortgage or rent statement requires additional proof of address documents; details can be found on the acceptable proof of address link in our initial email below.
• HB33 expanded (pardon the pun!) the EdChoice Expansion Scholarship to every student in the State of Ohio. EdChoice Expansion is income based and does require the completion of the Income Verification by the State of Ohio to determine your award. Read Income and Award Levels HERE.
• The Traditional EdChoice Scholarship is still offered and is based on whether you are assigned to a failing public school, along with other parameters. All the eligibility requirements for the Traditional EdChoice Scholarship can be found on ODE's site.

July 19, 2023

Hello St. Mary School Families,

St. Mary School is excited that ALL our school families can participate in the Edchoice Expansion program based on HB33, recently signed by Governor DeWine. All Ohio students are now eligible for a full or reduced EdChoice Scholarship! This opportunity requires families to do a small amount of paperwork and your St. Mary School Staff to kick it into gear. Please FOLLOW STEPS 1 and 2 exactly as described below. Thank you!

Scholarship amounts are income-based. READ the Ohio Department of Education's Income Eligibility Federal Poverty Level %'s and award amounts HERE.

For active parishioners, St. Mary School must report your tuition to the State at the IP tuition rate of $5400 that we contractually agreed upon at the time of your 2023-2024 re-registration.

The Ohio Department of Education has an application deadline of October 15 to receive full-year funding available for your household. The St. Mary School deadline to receive your EdChoice Request documents is October 1 to provide adequate processing time to meet the October 15 deadline. After the deadline, scholarships will be prorated and awarded according to the date of acceptance. You must continue paying tuition until the State of Ohio confirms your scholarship award.

Families currently participating in EdChoice, who have already submitted renewal paperwork, will not need to submit any additional forms. 

If you applied for Financial Aid through FACTS, you must also apply for the EdChoice Expansion Scholarship.

THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Please READ and follow these instructions.

PART 1:

Documents to submit to St. Mary School at edchoice@stmaryhp.org:

1. Request Form (for each student)
2. Proof of Residence. (one per family) A Duke Energy or water bill works best. A utility bill must show the SERVICE ADDRESS. Please submit only the front page that displays your name and service address. More information on acceptable proof of address can be found here.
3. A copy of your child's birth certificate (for each student)
4. Authorization to deposit payments (for each student)

EMAIL & DOCUMENT INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please send each document as a SEPARATE PDF file. Please do not send your documents as a photo file.
2. Send all documents for your family in ONE email.
3. Only send a complete request with all the documents noted above. The State cannot process an incomplete submission.
4. Please DO NOT SEND MULTIPLE EMAILS.  
5. The subject line of the email should read:

• LAST NAME,
• Student(s) first name(s):
• i.e., Subject: SMITH, Bobby, Susie EdChoice Request

Name your PDF files in the following manner: i.e.

• Smith, Bobby Application (one per student)
• Smith Proof of Address (one per family)
• Smith, Bobby BC (one per student)
• Smith, Bobby Authorization (one per student)

EMAIL all your family's documents in ONE email to: edchoice@stmaryhp.org.

A very gracious thank you for following these instructions to help our lean office staff efficiently process all our family's requests.

PART 2:

Income Verification to the State:

• Create an OH|ID here. 
• EdChoice Scholarship Program Income Verification Portal Quick Guide 
• Access the Ohio Department of Education Application
• Complete and Submit the Income Verification Online Form

The State will process the application (part one) once the Income Verification (part two) is complete. Once you are awarded the scholarship, you will receive an Acceptance Form that you must sign and return to St. Mary School for us to accept the scholarship for you.

Please continue to make your tuition payments. We will adjust your FACTS account once the Ohio Department of Education notifies us of your award. Any account that is paid in full or if any refund is warranted, you will receive that refund once the school has received the funds. When we are notified of your award, the $250 Administrative Fee charged to EdChoice recipients at re-registration time will be adjusted for in FACTS.

The above-linked forms and more information can be found on the Ohio EdChoice website.

You can download a copy of the EdChoice Expansion Request Instructions below...