Ohio Autism Scholarship Program Bond
Overview
Ohio's Autism Scholarship Program allows students with autism spectrum disorder to receive educational services outside the traditional public school setting — and providers who accept those scholarship funds must be bonded. This bond protects the State of Ohio and the families it serves if a participating provider fails to deliver contracted services or misuses scholarship dollars. Carrying this bond is a condition of program participation, not an optional safeguard. If you've been told you need it to enroll or remain as an approved provider, you're in the right place.
Who Needs This Bond?
Approved or prospective educational service providers participating in Ohio's Autism Scholarship Program are the applicants who need this bond. That includes private schools, tutoring centers, therapy providers, and other qualifying entities that receive scholarship payments on behalf of enrolled students. If your organization has applied to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce as an Autism Scholarship provider — or is renewing that status — this bond is required. You cannot receive program funds without it.
What is this Bond For?
This bond guarantees that your organization will faithfully deliver the educational services promised to scholarship recipients and handle scholarship funds according to program rules. It gives Ohio's oversight authority a financial remedy if a provider defaults on its obligations, closes without notice, or misappropriates funds meant for a student's education. The bond is not liability insurance — it is a compliance guarantee tied directly to your participation in the Autism Scholarship Program. Families and state administrators rely on it as a backstop.
When is it Required?
Enrollment as an approved Autism Scholarship Program provider is the moment this bond becomes mandatory. The requirement is triggered at the point of application to participate in the program and must remain in force for as long as your organization accepts scholarship payments. Renewal cycles for the program bring the bond requirement back into focus — a lapse can put your approved status at risk. Do not wait until your approval letter arrives to start the bonding process.
Where Does it Apply?
This bond applies statewide across Ohio and is tied to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's administration of the Autism Scholarship Program. It is not a local or county-level requirement — any approved provider operating anywhere in Ohio is subject to it. The bond's protections follow wherever scholarship funds are used within the state.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' to open the secure surety portal in a new tab — that's where you'll complete your bond application and move toward same-day processing. The portal walks you through the steps specific to this bond without requiring a phone call or waiting on an agent. Once approved, your bond documents are delivered digitally so you can submit them to the program without delay.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency, giving you access to a nationwide surety catalog built for fast online transactions — no waiting on a callback, no faxing forms back and forth. This bond is in our catalog because we've built it specifically for Ohio Autism Scholarship providers who need to move quickly. You get a straightforward digital experience backed by real surety expertise.