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Homeschool benefits and savings in Columbus

The Columbus PLAY Scholarship Fund gives each eligible child 18 or younger up to $150 in 2026 toward Columbus Recreation and Parks camps, classes, aquatics, and sports leagues. Families qualify by income, for example an adjusted gross income of $87,200 or less for a household of four, and school enrollment is not part of the rules. Other options include library educator cards and resources.

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Columbus PLAY Scholarship Fund

Who qualifies

  1. Child is 18 or younger

    Each child in the family can have their own application and their own $150 limit. A homeschooled child applies the same way as any other child.

  2. Family meets the income limit

    Adjusted gross income must be at or below 80 percent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income limit, based on the dependents claimed on your federal tax return.

  3. Shows proof of eligibility

    Bring your most recent federal income tax return. If you do not file, bring a Medicaid eligibility notice, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit statement, or proof of Franklin County Social Services.

What it is worth

Columbus Recreation and Parks lists these adjusted gross income limits as of January 1, 2026; each eligible child can receive up to $150 for the year.

2 people
$69,760
3 people
$78,480
4 people
$87,200
5 people
$94,240
6 people
$101,200

Not every application is approved, and not every award is the full $150, so plan for the remaining balance.

From applying to keeping it

  1. Before you register

    Apply at a community center

    For sports, aquatics, and community center programs, bring your proof of eligibility to your local community center or the Columbus Aquatics Center.

  2. Within 10 days

    Watch your ACTIVENet account

    Approved scholarships are added to your ACTIVENet account, then applied automatically at checkout until the funds are used up.

  3. For summer camp

    Answer yes in ACTIVENet

    When you register each camp, answer yes to the PLAY Scholarship question, then upload proof of eligibility in ePACT. Upload by March 13 to be sure it applies before payment-plan charges start.

  4. By Dec. 31, 2026

    Use the funds

    Scholarship money must be spent by the end of the year. Apply again for the next year.

What it pays for

Covered

Not covered

Donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations pay for the PLAY Scholarship Fund, and scholarships are not guaranteed.

Who to contact

Your local community center takes PLAY applications in person, and the department answers other questions through its contact form.

Contact form

Pickerington Public Library homeschool teacher card

Who qualifies

  1. Homeschools your children

    The library states that homeschooling parents are eligible. Provide state-issued documentation that you homeschool, such as a homeschool letter dated within the year.

  2. Lives in Ohio

    All library card applicants must be Ohio residents.

  3. Brings photo ID and address proof

    Bring a photo ID and proof of your current address along with your homeschool documentation.

  4. Applies in person

    Apply at the Customer Service Department of Pickerington Main Library or Sycamore Plaza Library.

What the card gives you

Teacher Card terms come from Pickerington Public Library's teacher resources page, and the item limit comes from its borrowing rules for all cards.

Loan period
6 weeks
Renewals
None
Items checked out per card
100
Lost items allotted per school year
2
Card length
3 years
Card cost
Free

New cards are limited to 10 items for their first 28 days, so ask Customer Service whether that limit applies when you open a Teacher Card.

How to get the card

  1. Before you go

    Gather your papers

    Bring a photo ID, proof of address, and a homeschool letter dated within the year.

  2. At Customer Service

    Ask for a Teacher Card

    Any Pickerington Public Library location can issue it: 201 Opportunity Way or 7861 Refugee Road in Pickerington.

  3. When you need a topic

    Request a teacher collection

    Fill out the teacher collection form and allow at least one week. Once notified, you have three days to pick it up.

  4. Each checkout

    Return within six weeks

    Teacher Card items cannot be renewed, so return or check them out again within the six-week loan period.

  5. After three years

    Renew the card

    Teacher Cards are good for three years. Ask Customer Service what documentation to bring when yours expires.

What it includes

Included

Not included

Good to know

Who to contact about the card

Customer Service at either location issues Teacher Cards and answers account questions.

614-837-4104 Contact us

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Ohio

You must notify the resident district superintendent within five calendar days after beginning home education, moving into a district, or withdrawing from school, and notify annually by August 30.

Ohio sets these rules:

Read the Ohio homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Ohio

Questions parents ask

Can the PLAY Scholarship pay for the first week of camp?
No.
We do not file taxes. What proof do we use for the PLAY Scholarship?
Submit a copy of current Medicaid eligibility, a SNAP benefit statement or free or reduced lunch approval, or proof of receiving Franklin County Social Services.

Turn support into your child’s next lesson

Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home.

Start your 14-day free trial

$149/month per child after the trial.

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