ESA
An ESA (education savings account) is a state-supervised spending account for parents containing a student’s educational funds in grades K-12. Parents are responsible for managing the student’s funds which may be used to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited private schools in Iowa.
ESA funds are not available to pay for preschool tuition. ESA funds must be used for Kindergarten through 12th grade education at an accredited private (nonpublic) school in Iowa. Students must be enrolled full time.
Once an ESA account is established for a student, funds will be deposited in the account each year as long as they are enrolled in an accredited private school and until the student graduates from high school or turns 20 years of age. Families are required to apply annually to remain in the program.
For the 2025-26 school year, all students are eligible to receive ESA regardless of financial status.
The application for ESAs will open in spring 2025. Applications will be due June 30, 2025 for the 2025-26 school year. This is a hard deadline. Applications are valid for one year; families must apply annually to remain eligible for the program. Notifications of ESA details are available on the Iowa Department of Education website.
Tuition Assistance
- Odyssey – to apply for ESAs. Students First Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) may be used by families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified educational expenses. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, all families will qualify for ESAs.
- FACTS Grant & Aid – to apply for STO. Through Legacy of Grace STO grants, qualifying families may receive funding to reduce the cost of tuition. Funding from LOG-STO will be used before ESAs.
Guidance from IDOE website:
ESA funds are not available to pay for preschool tuition. ESA funds must be used for kindergarten through 12th grade education at an accredited private (nonpublic) school in Iowa. Students must be enrolled full time.
Once an ESA account is established for a student, funds will be deposited in the account each year as long as they are enrolled in an accredited private school and until the student graduates from high school or turns 20 years of age. Families are required to apply annually to remain in the program.