Students First Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) may be used by eligible families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses as specified in the legislation.
How it Works
Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in an accredited private school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year. Funds will be deposited into an education savings account (ESA) to be used for tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses as specified in the legislation. The ESA amount for the 2025-26 school year will be over $7,800. (Exact amount not yet determined by Iowa legislature – will be equal to state, per-pupil funding amount)
Who is Eligible
School Year 2024-25
- All entering kindergarten students
- All students enrolled in a public school
- A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines
School Year 2025-26
- All K-12 students in Iowa regardless of income
How to Apply
The application process for the 2025-26 school year is not yet open, and the application dates have not been announced by the State. It is too late to apply for the 2024-25 school year – there is only one enrollment period per school year, and that is closed.
Applications are valid for one year; a family must apply annually to remain eligible for the program.
For a helpful Q&A, visit the Iowa Department of Education website You can also sign up there to receive email notifications each time new information on the ESA program becomes available.
Attention School Administrators
Are you a private or faith-based school administrator needing help with promoting ESAs in your school community? We created an ESA toolkit to help you inform and engage parents, students, and educators about the benefits of ESAs in Iowa. Contact Iowa ACE to gain access to the ESA ToolKit located under Resources. ESA Toolkit >