The application period for the state’s new Education Savings Account (ESA) program for the 2023-2024 school year will open on Wednesday, May 31, at 8 a.m. The ESA program was established under the Students First Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. It aims to provide state funding to eligible students who attend accredited nonpublic schools. Under the program, all incoming kindergarteners and K-12 students currently enrolled in public school districts are eligible to apply. Additionally, families with children already attending accredited nonpublic schools can also qualify for ESAs based on their annual income during the program’s first two years. For the 2023-2024 school year, the income eligibility threshold is set at 300 percent of the federal poverty level, increasing to 400 percent for the 2024-2025 school year. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, all K-12 students in Iowa who choose to attend an accredited nonpublic school will be eligible for an ESA, regardless of their income. The Department of Education has posted a list of frequently asked questions on the ESA webpage and has scheduled a series of informational webinars to assist families who plan to apply. More information is available through the links included below. The application period closes Friday, June 30.
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https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/students-first-education-savings-accounts
