Iowa families who missed the June 30 Education Savings Account deadline will get another chance this fall.
HF 2754, which took effect in May, added a second ESA application window from October 15 through November 15 for families seeking an ESA for the spring semester. Students approved through this window receive half of the annual ESA amount. For 2026–27, that is $4,074, half of the $8,148 per-student amount set by the Iowa Department of Education.
The law does not limit the fall window to families with particular circumstances. A family may have moved to Iowa after June 30. A student may need to change schools at midyear. Some parents may simply have missed the first application period. Whatever the reason, the same basic eligibility requirements apply.
Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, Iowa’s ESA program became universal. Household income does not determine eligibility. To receive an ESA, a student must be an Iowa resident eligible for kindergarten through 12th grade and attend an accredited nonpublic school in Iowa.
Start with the school, not the portal
Applying for an ESA and enrolling in a school are two separate processes. Odyssey handles the ESA application. Admissions decisions belong to the school.
That is why your first call should go to the school.
Ask whether the school has openings for the spring semester, what its admissions timeline looks like, and what tuition and fees will be for the semester. Talk through any academic, behavioral, or other services your child may need before counting on a January start. A private school may not be able to accommodate every student’s needs, and it is better to know that before you apply.
You can also use the Iowa ACE school locator to find accredited nonpublic schools that participate in the program.
A short checklist to work through now
Confirm that a spring seat is available. Contact the school directly about admissions, tuition, fees, and enrollment requirements.
Check your Odyssey account. If you already have an account, make sure you can log in and that your contact information is current. First-time users can create a parent or guardian account with their name, email address, and password.
Gather the information you will need. Have your student and residency information ready so you are not tracking it down after the application window opens.
Mark November 15 on your calendar. Do not wait until the final night to apply. The application window runs from October 15 through November 15.
What to watch for next
As of October 3, the Iowa Department of Education’s ESA page still lists only the April 16–June 30 application window for 2026–27. Odyssey’s published calendar does the same. Neither has posted step-by-step instructions specifically for families applying during the new October 15–November 15 window.
Iowa ACE will update this post when the Department and Odyssey publish the spring application link, instructions, and any additional deadlines.
If your family may use an ESA for the spring semester, start talking with schools now. Then be ready when the application window opens October 15.