Rule 5180:6-2-01 | Family eligibility requirements for the early childhood education grant also known as the Ohio preschool program.
(A) This rule contains the definitions for Chapter 5180:6-2 of the Administrative Code:
(1) "Child care choice voucher program (CCVP)" means a program that provides assistance with child care costs for families over income for publicly funded child care.
(2) "Early intervention (EI)" is a statewide system that provides coordinated early intervention services to parents of eligible children birth through age two with developmental delays or disabilities.
(3) "Individualized education program (IEP)" as defined in section 3323.011 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Kinship" means the following:
(a) Individuals related by blood or adoption.
(i) Parents, grandparents, including grandparents with the prefix "great," "great-great," "grand," or "great-grand."
(ii) Siblings.
(iii) Aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, including such relative with the prefix "great," "great-great," or "great-grand."
(iv) First cousins and first cousins once removed.
(b) Stepparents and stepsiblings.
(c) Any non-relative adult the current custodial caretaker or child identifies as having a familiar and long-standing relationship/bond with the child and/or the family which will ensure the child's social ties.
(5) "Ohio preschool program (OPP)" means the early childhood education grant program as established pursuant to section 5104.53 of the Revised Code.
(6) "Ohio works first (OWF)" means the program established under section 5107.03 of the Revised Code.
(7) "Presumptive eligibility" means a determination that a child meets only the family income requirement for the OPP based on verified active participation in a qualifying public assistance program as listed:
(a) Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
(b) Cash assistance/(OWF).
(c) Medicaid, excluding child only eligibility cases.
(B) What are the child eligibility requirements for the OPP?
To be eligible for the OPP, a child in need of care meets all of the following:
(1) Is a verified citizen or qualified alien of the United States as defined by appendix B to rule 5180:6-1-02 of the Administrative Code.
(2) Is a member of a family with income at or below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level (FPL).
(3) Is a resident of the state of Ohio.
(4) Is not age-eligible to attend kindergarten in their school district of residence.
(a) If the child is age eligible for kindergarten, then the child is eligible only through June thirtieth of the current state fiscal year in which the child became age-eligible for kindergarten. The state fiscal year is defined as July first through June thirtieth.
(b) To be enrolled during the current state fiscal year, the child is at least three years of age no later than April first of the state fiscal year of attendance.
(C) What are the requirements for OPP presumptive eligibility?
(1) The child meets all eligibility requirements of this chapter.
(2) The family income requirement is considered met based on verified active participation in a qualifying public assistance program.
(D) What are the copayment requirements for the OPP?
Programs may assign a copayment to families whose income exceeds one hundred per cent of the FPL. Assigned copayments are not to exceed seven percent of the family's income.
(1) Programs may choose to assign a zero-dollar copayment.
(2) Families are to pay the assigned copayment(s) directly to their OPP.
(3) The family is to sign a written agreement with the OPP that includes a mutually agreed upon due date for the copayment.
(E) What are the reasons why a family may become ineligible to participate in the OPP?
(1) The family is found to have committed fraud against the publicly funded child care program as defined in rule 5180:6-1-07 of the Administrative Code.
(2) Voluntarily withdrawals from the OPP.
(3) Moves out of state.
(4) The child has reached age eligibility for kindergarten as outlined in paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule.
(F) How is income calculated for the purposes of eligibility?
Income is calculated pursuant to rule 5180:6-1-03 of the Administrative Code.
(G) What is the process for enrolling a family in the OPP?
To enroll in the OPP the family is to:
(1) Complete a valid application in the Ohio benefits (OB) system self-service portal (SSP) or submit an application to the county department of job and family services (CDJFS). A valid application means submission of the JFS 07200 "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash, Medical, and/or Early Care and Education (ECE) Assistance Application" with a name, address and signature.
(2) The application is to be considered complete when the applicant has submitted all of the following:
(a) The JFS 07200 with the completed information for all family members. A family is any of the following:
(i) One or more caretaker(s) and all minor children who reside with the caretaker(s) in the same household.
(ii) A caretaker, a minor parent and the child of the minor parent when all reside in the same household. The caretaker is not included in the family size if the following requirements are met:
(a) The minor parent is participating in the learning, earning and parenting (LEAP) program; or
(b) The minor parent received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma.
(iii) A caretaker with shared custody of minor children and all children who reside with the caretaker in the same household. Minor children with more than one residence due to shared custody agreements are counted in the caretaker's household during the time periods they reside with the caretaker.
(iv) A caretaker who is a foster parent and/or stepparent and all of the minor children who reside with the caretaker in the same household.
(v) Married caretakers and all minor children who reside with the caretakers in the same household.
(vi) Unmarried caretakers who live in the same household with a common child and all of the minor children who reside with them. Both caretakers are to be considered caretakers for all the children in the family.
(b) Submit a valid birth certificate or age documentation to the CDJFS for the child in need of the OPP.
(c) Submit the required verification of citizenship or qualified alien status, as required by appendix B to rule 5180:6-1-02 of the Administrative Code.
(d) Provide the CDJFS with proof of income and family size.
(i) Proof of income as required by rule 5180:6-1-03 of the Administrative Code.
(ii) Family size is determined by the number of members as outlined in paragraph (G)(2)(a) of this rule.
(H) What are the categorical eligibility criteria for the OPP?
The family is exempt from income eligibility requirements and is not to be charged a copay if any of the following apply to the child in need of the OPP:
(1) The child has a current IEP.
(2) The child is placed in foster or kinship care.
(a) If the child is placed in foster care, the family is to submit a family case plan, document from the public children services agency (PCSA) indicating placement to the CDJFS at the time of application. The PCSA may submit this document on behalf of the family.
(b) If the child is placed in kinship care, the family is to submit a case plan, court order indicating placement, or proof of kinship permanency incentive (KPI) eligibility or incentive payments to the CDJFS at the time of application.
(3) The child is homeless as defined in rule 5180:6-1-01 of the Administrative Code.
(I) What are the reporting requirements for a family to remain eligible for the OPP?
To remain eligible for the OPP, the family is to:
(1) Comply with the policies of the OPP.
(2) Report changes that effect eligibility, including:
(a) Address changes, including relocation out of state.
(b) The child has reached age eligibility for kindergarten in their school district of residence as outlined in paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule.
(J) What are the exceptions for a child to receive multiple authorizations?
An OPP authorized child may receive a combination of PFCC or CCVP and OPP when both of the following conditions apply:
(1) Funds are not claimed for the child at the same program for both PFCC or CCVP and OPP.
(2) Hours of service do not overlap.
Last updated August 3, 2026 at 8:51 AM
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