2024-2025 APPLICATION
The application window for the 2024-25 school year is now closed.
IMPORTANT* – Once you have applied and your family receives an acceptance email you MUST follow the next step in the ESA program which is to select the accredited nonpublic school your student plans to attend for the 2024-25 school year. Please log in to your Odyssey Portal to begin that step.
About ESAs…
The Students First Act, introduced by Governor Reynolds and signed into law on January 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, which may be used by eligible families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa.
How ESAs Work…
Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in an accredited private school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year ($7,826 for the 2024-2025 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.
Who is Eligible for an ESA?
Year 1: 2023-2024
- All entering kindergarten students
- All students enrolled in a public school
- A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 300% of the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines, $90,000 for a family of four
Year 2: 2024-2025
- A student who was approved for and used an ESA in the 2023-24 school year
- All entering kindergarten students
- All students enrolled in a public school
- A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines, $124,800 for a family of four
Year 3: 2025-2026
- All K-12 students in Iowa regardless of income
How do I apply for an ESA?
The Students First ESA Application is available in English and Spanish. The application window for the 2024-25 school year is open from 8:00 a.m. on April 16, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2024. Apply Now
Applications are valid for one year; a family MUST apply annually to remain eligible for the program.
Applying for the first time: Parents/guardians will first be directed to sign up with an email and password. Parents/guardians will receive a message from Odyssey asking them to confirm their email address. After the email is confirmed, the parent/guardian can sign in to the Odyssey portal to begin their application.
Returning applicants: Parents/guardians with an existing Odyssey portal account will log in to the existing account to begin the application for the 2024-25 school year.
If you believe you may qualify for an ESA but are not certain, we strongly encourage you to complete the application process. The application process takes just a few minutes and in most cases, families will know immediately if they qualify.
We are encouraging families interested in learning more about planning for next school year to reach out to our Director of Finance, Kady Hall, at kady.hall@regina.org or 319.337.2580 to ensure that you receive the latest updates as they relate to Education Savings Accounts.
Have additional questions?
If you have any questions about the admissions process or learning more about how ESAs can help make Regina your school of choice for your student(s), please contact our Director of Admissions at 319.499.4006.
More Information about ESAs…
Learn More About ESAs: For reliable and timely information, including Frequently Asked Questions, check out following the resources provided by ESAs for Iowa and the Iowa Department of Education. You may also click the button below to sign up to receive updates
through the Department of Education.
