Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship
The Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) Scholarship Program provides funding to help homeschooled students ages 3 through 21 receive special education services. To qualify, your child must have an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) through your local school district.
The amount of the scholarship is based on your child’s primary disability category, as identified in their Evaluation Team Report (ETR), and provides between $13,000 to $34,000 per school year to be used for services listed on the student's IEP. Homeschooled students can apply for the Jon Peterson Scholarship at any time during the year.
Eligibility
Your child will qualify for the Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) Scholarship if:
- Your child lives in Ohio
- Your child has (or is eligible for) an IEP from your local school district.
- You are homeschooling under Ohio’s homeschool exemption rules.
- You keep the ETR and the IEP current.
School Solutions will help you understand these requirements and the steps to complete them, but we do not give legal advice.
Applying for the Jon Peterson Scholarship
As a homeschool family with a student with special needs, you’ll have one foot in the homeschool world and one foot in the special education world. Here’s the big picture of how the Jon Peterson Scholarship works when you partner with School Solutions:
1. Mail homeschool exemption paperwork.
Officially notify your district that you are homeschooling using law‑aligned forms (not school-created forms).Â
2. Get an ETR/IEP from Your District
Your local school district must complete testing and write an Evaluation Team Report (ETR). Then, if your child qualifies, the district will write an Individualized Education Program (IEP). These documents are the ticket to the scholarship.
3. Choose a Jon Peterson Provider (Like School Solutions)
Once you know your child qualifies, you can research approved Jon Peterson providers. School Solutions is one of those providers. School Solutions has online intervention specialists waiting to partner with you.
4. Apply with School Solutions
When you choose School Solutions, we’ll send you the Jon Peterson application form and ask for proof of address. You’ll complete, sign, and return these documents so we can submit your scholarship application.
5. Receive Funding & Start Services
When the JP office approves the scholarship, you’ll receive a funding award based on your child’s disability category. We’ll then work with you to build a schedule of intervention that fits your child’s needs and your family’s routine.
School Solutions can walk you through each of these steps, help you understand the timelines, and coordinate with your district. This information is for guidance only and is not legal advice. We strongly encourage you to review Ohio homeschooling regulations, the Jon Peterson law, and IDEA for yourself and to consult the official Ohio Revised Code and state resources for the most current requirements.
Use the Jon Peterson Scholarship with School Solutions
Homeschooling families can use funds for support services written on the student’s IEP. When you partner with School Solutions, this includes:
- Specialized academic intervention in reading, writing, and math
- IEP‑aligned tutoring that targets your child’s specific goals
- Progress monitoring and communication to support IEP updates
- Coordination with your district team so services match your child’s plan
School Solutions will help you build a service schedule that fits your child’s needs and your homeschool routine.
Jon Peterson vs. Autism Scholarship: Which Fits My Child?
Both scholarships help Ohio families fund special education services outside the local school district.
- Autism Scholarship is only for students with an autism diagnosis listed on their IEP. Students who have a medical diagnosis can use the Autism scholarship with an AEP (Autism Education Plan)
- Jon Peterson Scholarship covers a wider range of disability categories, including autism and other learning needs.
School Solutions can help you understand which scholarship your child may qualify for and how services would look under each option.