Program Overview

Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in one of Iowa’s accredited nonpublic schools will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year. For the 2025-26 school year, the amount will be $7,988. Funds are held in an education savings account (ESA) to be used for tuition, fees, and other eligible qualified education expenses.

The state contracted with Odyssey for ESA program administration, including applications, financial transactions, compliance, fraud prevention, and customer service. Odyssey securely administers funds and provides families with direct customer service and support.

• Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, and for each subsequent year, all Iowa resident K-12 students are eligible regardless of income.

2025-26 ESA Calendar Important Program Deadlines

• April 16, 2025 – ESA Applications Open
  Parents/Guardians can begin applying for an ESA at 8:00 a.m.
• June 30, 2025 – ESA Applications Close
  The deadline to submit an ESA application for the 2025-26 school year is 11:59 p.m.