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This user-friendly platform is designed to help you navigate the diverse landscape of Education Savings Accounts across different states. This tool offers a comprehensive comparison of ESA policies.

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First choose the specific policy you want to compare. Then from the list of state, you can choose the specific state policies you would like to compare. The results will show you the bill language of the particular policy feature included in the the program.

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IOWA: Education Savings Account Program

ESA comparison by Policy Hits: 115
  • Fund Administrator:
    • Synopsis:

      Department of Education

      , Statute Language:

      5. An education savings account fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the department of education consisting of moneys appropriated to the department of education for the purpose of providing education savings account payments under this section. For the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023, and each succeeding fiscal year, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education to be credited to the fund the amount necessary to pay all education savings account payments approved for that fiscal year. The director of the department of education has all powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes, objectives, and provisions of this section pertaining to the fund, including the power to do all of the following:
  • Funding Mechanism:
    • Synopsis:

      Direct

      , Statute Language:

      c. Contract with a qualified firm, including but not limited to the third-party entity under paragraph "a", to allocate funds from each pupil's account for the payment of qualified educational expenses by the pupil's parent or guardian.
  • Program Administrator (Gov't):
    • Synopsis:

      Third-party entity

      , Statute Language:

      a. Make and enter into contracts with a third-party entity necessary for the administration of the program.
      b. Procure insurance against any loss in connection with the assets of the fund or require a surety bond.
      c. Contract with a qualified firm, including but not limited to the third-party entity under paragraph "a", to allocate funds from each pupil's account for the payment of qualified educational expenses by the pupil's parent or guardian.
  • Third Party Administrator:
    • Synopsis:

      Odyssey
  • Role of DOE:
    • Synopsis:

      Fund Administrator

      , Statute Language:

      5. An education savings account fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the department of education consisting of moneys appropriated to the department of education for the purpose of providing education savings account payments under this section. For the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2023, and each succeeding fiscal year, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education to be credited to the fund the amount necessary to pay all education savings account payments approved for that fiscal year. The director of the department of education has all powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes, objectives, and provisions of this section pertaining to the fund, including the power to do all of the following:
  • Application Window/Dates:
    • Synopsis:

      April 16 – June 30

      , Statute Language:

      a. On or after January 1, but on or before June 30, preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested, the parent or guardian of an eligible pupil may request an education savings account payment by submitting an application to the department of education.
  • Fund Disbursement Frequency:
    • Synopsis:

      Biannually

      , Statute Language:

      a. For each pupil approved for an education savings account payment, the department of education or third-party entity shall establish an individual account for that pupil in the education savings account fund. The amount of the pupil's education savings account payment shall be deposited into the pupil's individual account on July 15 or thirty days following submission of the application, whichever is later, and such amount shall be immediately available for the payment of qualified educational expenses incurred by the parent or guardian for the pupil during that fiscal year using a payment method authorized under subsection 5.
  • Average Per-Pupil Funding:
    • Synopsis:

      $7,826

      , Statute Language:

      4. Each education savings account payment shall be equal to the regular program state cost per pupil for the same school budget year.
  • Income Limit:
    • Synopsis:

      None

      , Statute Language:

      (c) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested if the pupil's household has an annual income less than or equal to four hundred percent of the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services.
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement:
    • Synopsis:

      Yes, unless meets income requirement

      , Statute Language:

      (a) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in kindergarten.
      (b) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was not enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested.
      (c) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested if the pupil's household has an annual income less than or equal to three hundred percent of the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services.
      (2) For the school budget year beginning July 1, 2024, the following pupils who attend a nonpublic school for that school budget year shall be eligible to receive an education savings account payment:
      (a) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in kindergarten.
      (b) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was not enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested.
  • Geographic Limit:
    • Synopsis:

      Statewide

      , Statute Language:

      (1) For the school budget year beginning July 1, 2023, the following pupils who attend a nonpublic school for that school budget year shall be eligible to receive an education savings account payment:
      (a) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in kindergarten.
      (b) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was not enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested.
      (c) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested if the pupil's household has an annual income less than or equal to three hundred percent of the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services.
      (2) For the school budget year beginning July 1, 2024, the following pupils who attend a nonpublic school for that school budget year shall be eligible to receive an education savings account payment:
      (a) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in kindergarten.
      (b) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was not enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested.
      (c) A resident pupil who is eligible to enroll in grades one through twelve and was enrolled in a nonpublic school for the school year immediately preceding the school year for which the education savings account payment is requested if the pupil's household has an annual income less than or equal to four hundred percent of the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services.
      (d) A resident pupil who received an education savings account payment in the immediately preceding school budget year.
      (3) For school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, resident pupils eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade twelve who attend a nonpublic school for the applicable school budget year shall be eligible to receive an education savings account payment.
      b. Education savings account payments shall be made available to parents and guardians in the manner authorized under subsection 5 for the payment of qualified educational expenses as provided in this section. Parents and guardians shall first use education savings account payments for all qualified educational expenses that are tuition and fees for which the parent or guardian is responsible for payment at the pupil's nonpublic school prior to using the education savings account for other qualified educational expenses.
  • Additional Eligibility Check:
    • Synopsis:

      Must enroll in private school

      , Statute Language:

      b. Education savings account payments shall be made available to parents and guardians in the manner authorized under subsection 5 for the payment of qualified educational expenses as provided in this section. Parents and guardians shall first use education savings account payments for all qualified educational expenses that are tuition and fees for which the parent or guardian is responsible for payment at the pupil's nonpublic school prior to using the education savings account for other qualified educational expenses.
  • Homeschool Compatible:
    • Synopsis:

      No

      , Statute Language:

      c. "Resident" means the same as defined in section 282.1, subsection 2.
  • Enrollment Cap:
    • Synopsis:

      None
  • Lottery:
    • Synopsis:

      None
  • Testing:
    • Synopsis:

      National/State (Except IEP)

      , Statute Language:

      a. Each pupil participating in the education savings account program is required to take all applicable state and federally required student assessments and the results of those assessments shall be provided to the pupil's parents or guardians and reported to the department of education.
      b. The department of education shall compile all such reported assessment results in order to analyze student proficiency and academic progress among those pupils participating in the program, including analysis of graduation rates, proficiency, and progress based on grade level, gender, race, and household income level. The results of the department's analysis shall be included in the annual condition of education report.
  • Authorized Use of Funds:
    • Synopsis:

      Private School Tuition
      Online Education
      Education Therapies
      Private Tutoring
      Textbooks
      Curricula and Supplementary Materials
      Testing Fees
      CTE / Industry Credentials

      , Statute Language:

      (1)"Qualified educational expenses" includes tuition and fees at a nonpublic school, textbooks, fees or payments for educational therapies, including tutoring or cognitive skills training, curriculum fees, software, and materials for a course of study for a specific subject matter or grade level, tuition or fees for nonpublic online education programs, tuition for vocational and life skills education approved by the department of education, education materials and services for pupils with disabilities from an accredited provider, including the cost of paraprofessionals and assistants who are trained in accordance with state law, standardized test fees, and advanced placement examinations or examinations related to postsecondary education admission or credentialing.
      (2)"Qualified educational expenses" shall be limited to the items described in subparagraph (1) and rules adopted by the department to implement this section and does not include transportation costs for the pupil, the cost of food or refreshments consumed by the pupil, the cost of clothing for the pupil, or the cost of disposable materials, including but not limited to paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, and art supplies.