The Iowa Department of Education is starting the third year of a program that allows families access to funds to aid in registering for private schools. 

The Students First Education Savings Account (ESA) started two years ago after being signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds in 2023. After the first two years of ESAs going to income qualified households, this year, all households are now eligible to apply for an ESA for the 2025-26 school year. A press release states that all kindergarten through 12th grade students’ families can apply for an ESA and will have funds that are held in that account to be used for tuition, fees and other eligible qualified education expenses. 

The release says eligible students must be Iowa residents, be enrolled as a full-time student and attend an accredited nonpublic school in the state. The enrollment period is now open through June 30th at midnight. For more information and to apply for the ESA program, click here.