Students First Education Savings Accounts
The Students First Act, introduced by Governor Reynolds and signed into law on Jan. 24, 2023, makes state funding available to support the success of every K-12 student in Iowa. The bill establishes a framework and funding for education savings accounts (ESAs), which may be used by eligible families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa.
Who is Eligible
Year 3: School Year 2025-2026
- All K-12 students in Iowa, regardless of income
Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in an accredited nonpublic school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year. Funds will be deposited into an education savings account (ESA) to be used for tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses as specified in the legislation.
The state has signed a contract with Odyssey to manage program administration for Students First Education Savings Accounts, including applications, financial transactions, compliance, fraud prevention, and customer service. Odyssey was selected through a competitive bid process based on its ability to securely administer funds, provide families with direct customer service and support, and offer the state real-time insight into the program’s effectiveness.
If you have any questions, on an ESA account please contact the Odyssey Support Team by phone at 515-368-9564 or email help.ia@withodyssey.com
More information and Q&A can be found on the Iowa Department of Education Webpage.