COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Education has announced significant updates to the Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) educational savings account program, following the passage of House Bill 45 by the 134th General Assembly in December 2022. These updates include expanded access and increased grant amounts for eligible students and families in Ohio.
Starting April 7, eligible families can obtain a $1,000 credit for each child, which can be used for various enrichment and educational activities during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. Approved activities cover before- and after-school educational programs, day camps, music lessons, and tutoring, among others.
The program’s eligibility now encompasses children aged 6-18 from families with income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, those participating in income-based programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and Ohio Works First, or residing in districts with high chronic absenteeism rates or including EdChoice-eligible schools.
Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Stephanie Siddens praised the program’s enhancements, stating, “The changes to the Ohio ACE program provide more students access to educational activities outside of the traditional classroom. The ACE Marketplace helps parents extend and enrich learning opportunities and broaden experiences for their children.”
The Ohio Department of Education and Merit International, Inc. jointly administer the ACE program, which aims to offer educational activities to students who faced learning disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on applying for an ACE educational savings account and exploring service providers in the ACE Marketplace, visit aceohio.org.
