How it Works

Ohio ACE + Merit

The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides funds to a student’s parent or guardian to use on various enrichment and educational activities. The program is being offered through a contract between Merit International, Inc. and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

Here's how it works for parents, guardians, students, and service providers.

STEP 1

Eligible parents and guardians have been awarded a $1,000 educational savings account to be used to pay for goods (Homeschool only) or services that provide their student with an academic opportunity to make up for a learning loss that occurred due to Covid-19. The application has closed, as the program is now fully subscribed.

STEP 2

Qualifying parents and guardians will receive an email from Merit International, Inc. notifying them of their award, and inviting them to accept their digital access credential, or “merit.” This credential will be used as the login for the Ohio ACE app.

STEP 3

Parents and guardians can browse the Ohio ACE Education Marketplace to see relevant service providers by category, grade, and location. These organizations have been verified as offering approved programs and services.

Organizations offering approved programs or services can apply to become a Qualified Educational Service provider. Once verified by Merit, the organization will be listed in the Ohio ACE Education Marketplace.

STEP 4

Parents and guardians use Merit’s Ohio ACE app on the web, or for Android or iOS to submit claims* and check the balance of their educational savings accounts.

STEP 5

Parents will receive an email notifying them when a claim has been approved or rejected.

STEP 6

Once a claim is approved, payment will be made either to the parent/guardian or the Qualified Educational Service provider, depending on what payor the parent/guardian selects during the submission of the claim. Claims submitted through the app may take 6-8 weeks for payment to be issued.

STEP 7

The student’s educational savings account balance will reflect the reimbursement.