Access to tutoring, day camps and more for low-income students with ACE Savings Accounts

6/21/2022

The Ohio Department of Education now is accepting requests from families to establish Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Accounts. The ACE Educational Savings Account program provides students ages 6-18 years old whose family income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level with a $500 credit to use for a variety of enrichment activities to accelerate learning for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of eligible activities include tutoring, day camps, music lessons and field trips.

Families can find details about how to verify their income and start an ACE account on the Department website. After the Department verifies applicant eligibility, the Department’s contracted vendor, Merit International, Inc., will set up the savings account.

Merit International, Inc., recently contacted schools, districts and scholarship providers to sign up as Qualified Education Service Providers. These service providers will join the Education Marketplace, where families can spend their savings account credit. The opportunity to become a Qualified Education Service Provider is open through June 2023.

The Department encourages schools and districts to share information about Ohio’s first K-12 savings account program with families. Details about the program are available at ACEOhio.org.