Education Savings Account Program

Eligibility for Iowa’s Education Savings Account Program is phased in to near universal participation beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. Participating students must first be enrolled in an accredited private school to participate in the program. Home-educated students are excluded. For the 2024–2025 school year, students who previously attended a public school or are entering kindergarten are eligible. Students who attended private school the previous school year and whose family income does not exceed 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or students who have used an ESA in the previous school year are also eligible. For students who previously used an ESA, parents must reapply annually. _(Last updated July 29, 2024)_

Qualifying expenses for Iowa’s ESA include: private school tuition and fees; textbooks; tutoring services; cognitive skills training; fees for nationally norm-referenced testing, advanced placement exams, and any college admission exams; tuition and fees for non-public online learning programs; educational services and therapies; and vocational and life skills education. Participating students must be enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school, and they must use ESA funds to pay private school tuition before they may use ESA funds for other services. Home-based education is not a qualifying expense. All funds remain in the student’s account until they graduate high school, or turn 20 years old, whichever occurs first. _(Last updated July 29, 2024)_

Accounts are funded at 100% of the state’s regular program cost per-pupil funding, absent administrative expenses. The program is funded through an appropriation from the general fund to the Department of Education for ESAs. _(Last updated July 29, 2024)_

No legal challenges have been filed against this program. _(Last Updated July 29, 2024)_