Understanding Your Scholarships: JPSN vs. Autism

Blog•December 13, 2021

Julie Billiart Schools are providers of two state scholarships that help to cover the cost of tuition. We are extremely grateful that we are able to provide families with these opportunities when it comes to making our educational experience and onsite therapies affordable. Check out this short resource for a high-level overview of the difference between the two scholarships, how they can be used, and the overall award amounts.

History of the scholarships by the numbers!

  • 2003 - The Autism Scholarship goes into effect
    • It is the second oldest scholarship for students with disabilities in the country
  • 2004 - For the first year ever, 70 students are able to use the Autism scholarship
  • 2007 - The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship was almost enacted but was vetoed
  • 2009 - 1,049 students utilize the Autism Scholarship
  • 2011 - The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship was enacted, after 8 full years it finally passed
  • 2012 - The first group of students utilized the Jon Peterson Scholarship
  • Each year the number of students taking advantage of each scholarship continues to grow!
  • 2020 - Nearly 4000+ students in the State of Ohio utilize the Autism Scholarship

Jon Peterson vs. Autism Scholarship - A brief explanation of each as defined by the Ohio Department of Education.

What Is Ohio’s Jon Peterson Scholarship Program? The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program (JPSN) gives the parents of children with disabilities the choice to send their child to special education programs other than the one operated by their school district of residence to receive the education and the services outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

What is the Autism Scholarship Program? The Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) gives the parents of children with autism who qualify for a scholarship the choice to send the child to a special education program other than the one operated by the school district of residence to receive their education and the services outlined in the child's individualized education program (IEP).

How can scholarship awards be used?

  • Educational Services
  • Intervention Services
  • Speech & Language therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Hearing Services
  • Tutoring
  • Music Therapy
  • Counseling Services
  • Special Transportation Services

In short, scholarship awards can be used to cover the cost of services set in place on the child’s IEP.

Award Amounts

The Autism and Jon Peterson Scholarships do not have equal amounts. The Autism Scholarship recipients were awarded $31,500 for the 2021-2022 and will be awarded $32,455 for the 2022-2023 school year. The Jon Peterson Scholarship amounts vary based on the category of disability and can range from $7,731 to $27,000. Efforts are still being made to see an increase for our Jon Peterson families as we know how crucial these funds are to their education. You can learn more about Julie Billiart Schools' efforts here.

Understanding Your Scholarships: JPSN vs. Autism

For more information on scholarship providers, you can check out the Ohio Department of Education! They also have more information on additional scholarships and how the funds can be used. https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Scholarships