Last week I received an email from Cassie Olesen, who recently enrolled her children at Emmetsburg Catholic School in Emmetsburg, Iowa. She said they transitioned from public school this year to take advantage of smaller class sizes, religious education, and they are excited to have each of their kids’ individual needs met. I am writing […]
ESAs Making A Difference for St. Teresa’s Catholic School Family
Lindsi Hruska, a teacher at St. Teresa Catholic School in Des Moines, recently emailed me to share her story about the impact that Iowa’s education savings accounts have made on her family and school: I wanted to share how the Education Savings Account (ESA) program has made a difference for my family. Because of the […]
ESA Ripple Effect: How School Choice is Expanding Across Iowa
When Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) law became effective in 2023, the immediate aim was to give families more financial flexibility. But within just a couple of years, the deeper effects are becoming clear: choice is expanding, private school supply is growing, and existing schools are scaling to match demand Surge in ESA Applicants The […]
What Iowa Parents Can Actually Buy with an ESA
If you’ve heard about Iowa’s Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) but aren’t sure what they do—or whether they’re too good to be true—this post is for you. We’ll walk through exactly how ESA funds must be used, and then show the kinds of educational expenses families can cover beyond tuition. No jargon. No hidden caveats. Just […]
Five More Ways You Can Support School Choice in Iowa
Iowa’s Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) have given families the freedom to choose the school that best fits their children. But the work of expanding awareness and strengthening school choice doesn’t stop there. Parents, grandparents, and other advocates can continue to make a difference in creative and practical ways. To follow-up on a previous post, here […]