Financial Assistance Newsletter
EdChoice, FACTS, and Special Scholarships Available
Contents of this Newsletter
In each section of the newsletter, additional information and forms are provided to families regarding various financial assistance options available. Since there are various options, please pay close attention to the deadlines as they may vary with each section.
- EdChoice Scholarships
- FACTS, Diocese Tuition Assistance
- Special Scholarships
EDCHOICE SCHOLARSHIPS
Overview
The EdChoice Scholarship is a publicly funded scholarship opportunity for students entering kindergarten through 12th grade to attend participating private schools. The EdChoice Program consists of two different types of scholarships, EdChoice Traditional and EdChoice Expansion. If qualified, the annual K-8 scholarship can be worth up to $5,500 per year.
EdChoice Traditional is based on your residence and the performance of your local, designated school. Currently, there are no public schools in Parma that meet the performance standard to designate them as low performing and being eligible for the EdChoice Traditional Scholarship. However, if you have a sibling already receiving the EdChoice Traditional Scholarship, your other children are eligible for this scholarship. Also, students from other cities with designated low-performing school may also be eligible. To learn more about this scholarship, I would encourage families to visit the Ohio Department of Education website.
EdChoice Expansion is a scholarship that is strictly based on annual income and does not involve the performance of your local designated school. Only families not permitted to participate in the EdChoice scholarship are those that live in Cleveland because there is a different scholarship available. For those seeking qualification, annual income must be 250% or below the federal poverty level and tax documents must be submitted online. More information is available at the Ohio Department of Education Website.
Submission Process
We will submit the application on your behalf. St. Anthony of Padua will be notified if any errors have been identified. In that case, we will contact you about anything that needs to be updated. Awarding of scholarships will be done periodically and an award letter and acceptance form are mailed to the parent/guardian listed on the EdChoice application. You will then sign and return the acceptance form to St. Anthony of Padua for us to accept the scholarship on your behalf. Typically, the notification of the scholarship award is around July, but late submission can take months into the school year. Please submit your applications by May 1.
Current EdChoice Recipients (Renewal Process)
Below you will find the EdChoice renewal application for the 2022-2023 school year. If you are still interested in receiving the EdChoice scholarship for 22-23 school year, you must complete the EdChoice renewal form below. Once completed, please bring the application along with your current utility bill to the school office.
If you will be applying for the EdChoice Expansion scholarship you MUST submit your financial documents online. Information regarding this process is outlined below. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to the school office, we will be happy to assist you in any way that we can.
Documents Required for Renewal
Print and complete the EdChoice Renewal Form
- Make sure the student name on the Renewal Form exactly matches their name from their birth certificate
- Sign the application form.
- Mailing address AND Service address MUST be on the bill.
- See attached document for acceptable forms of address verification
*** Expansion Scholarships Only - Income Verification Required Each Year ***
You must submit your Income Verification using the ONLINE Scholarship Income Verification System. This process is completed by the parent/guardian, NOT St. Anthony of Padua. The approval process is much faster when using the online portal. Follow the instructions in the documents for accessing the portal and uploading income verification documents.
New EdChoice Applications
For new families seeking to participate in the EdChoice Scholarship, you must complete the following the process. Below you will find the EdChoice Request application for the 2022-2023 school year. Once completed, please bring the application along with your current utility bill and your child's birth certificate to the school office. Please submit applications by May 1.
If you will be applying for the EdChoice Expansion scholarship you MUST submit your financial documents online. Information regarding this process is outlined below. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to the school office, we will be happy to assist you in any way that we can.
Documents Required for New Applicants
Print and complete the EdChoice Request Form
- Make sure the student name on the Request Form exactly matches their name from their birth certificate
- Sign the application form.
- The bill must have BOTH the TOP and BOTTOM portion of the bill.
- Mailing address AND Service address MUST be on the bill.
- See attached document for acceptable forms of address verification
Provide a copy of the child's birth certificate.
*** Expansion Scholarships Only - Income Verification Required Each Year ***
You must submit your Income Verification using the ONLINE Scholarship Income Verification System. This process is completed by the parent/guardian, NOT St. Anthony of Padua. The approval process is much faster when using the online portal. Follow the instructions in the documents for accessing the portal and uploading income verification documents.
Parent Income Verification Tutorial VideoFACTS Application Process
FACTS is a tuition assistance program sponsored by the Diocese of Cleveland. Families must submit an online application and tax documents at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid. Once your application is submitted it will go into a pool of applications from the entire diocese to determine awards based on need. The diocese determines recipients for assistance. Please review for the attached document for more information.
If you currently receive a full scholarship for EdChoice, please do not complete the FACTS application.
Timeline for Application Submissions
- Round One Deadline - March 15
- Round Two Deadline - June 1