Ohio ACE sealThe 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. Your Akron Zoo is excited to be a Qualified Education Service provider through ACE!

Through ACE, the following Akron Zoo programs are available for refunds:

  • Akron Zoo general admission
    This excludes special event or group tickets.
  • Family Memberships
    This excludes individual or companion memberships. 

Access Ohio ACE Education Marketplace

Here's how it works for parents, guardians and students:

STEP 1
Parents and guardians can apply through the Ohio Department of Education for 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. Must meet eligibility requirements based on residency, income, or government social program participation.

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.

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.

*Please note: All claims must include a valid, educational reason for the service/good purchased and the service or activity must have started on/after the beginning of the Ohio ACE program.