Ohio has 1,500 apply for special-needs scholarship

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Department of Education has received more than 1,500 applications for a new program that awards scholarships to students with special needs to help pay tuition at private or public schools that could better serve them.

The scholarship amount of up to $20,000 is based on the severity of a student’s disability. A department spokesman says the number of available scholarships depends on the number of Ohio students identified as having disabilities.

The state received more than 17,000 applications for a second program that provides scholarships for students at low-performing public schools to attend private schools. A provision in the state budget offered as many as 30,000 of the private school scholarships, up from the old limit of 14,000.

Scholarship recipients in both programs will be notified this summer.