Accounts will be funded as soon as July 15, according to the release. These applications represent about 245,000 students. DES MOINES, Iowa, (AP/PRNewswire) - Iowas education landscape is experiencing a transformation with the implementation of the new Education Savings Account (ESA) Program. Reynolds school choice bill takes first step forward in Iowa Senate The state picked Odyssey over three other applicants seeking to run the program. Iowa's Education Savings Account Program is an education savings account (ESA) that allows eligible parents to receive the per-pupil state funding already set aside for their children's education into an electronic, parent-controlled fund for educational expenses. Applications Underway, Iowa School Choice Program - KWQC IOWA ESA - American Federation for Children Document. "A lot of school districts in Iowa have no private schools within their boundaries," Paone said. The House Education Reform Committee held a hearing on the proposal, House Study Bill 1, Tuesday night, alternating between public comment in support and against the plan. Opponents are worried that public schools will lose money because they get a share of state funding based on enrollment. 515-745-3385. janet.boyd@iowa.gov. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KCCI-TV. The governor's office estimates it will cost the state roughly $106.9 million for the first year and $313.9 million for the third year. The bill also expands both tax credits from $250 to $500 for classroom expenditures in Iowa elementary and secondary school teachers, and doubles the allowed Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit . . Approved educational expenses include private school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, advanced placement exams, nonpublic online learning, and more. Iowa lawmakers approve universal school choice bill championed by Gov "Unfortunately for Iowans, the governor and the majority party in the Statehouse have decided that unlimited budgets are reserved for just a select few Iowans," Beranek said in a statement. I believe education is the great equalizer, which is why it was so important to remove the boundaries that have existed between public and private schools for too long and to ensure families can send their children to the school of their choice. Approval to receive an education savings account does not guarantee the student will be able to use the money. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "Today marks an important milestone for Iowa's education system as universal school choice becomes a reality for Iowa families," Gov. Those expenses can include private school tuition, tutoring, credentialing, therapies, online learning and more. Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Press Release DES MOINES - Governor Reynolds' landmark Students First Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which promotes universal school choice for K-12 students in Iowa, officially opens for applications on Wednesday, May 31, at 8 a.m. 's plan for private school vouchers, Gov. The application window for the 2023-2024 school year runs from 8 a.m. on May 31 through 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2023. The scholarships in the first year will be capped at 10,000. The link will redirect them to the Students First ESA platform managed by Odyssey, the program administrator selected by the state. Gov. Parents and guardians can access the online application from a link on the Department of Educations ESA webpage. 2021 Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education. "The kids who are suffering the most in this scheme will be those who are already on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder, not kids at the top," Paone said. All incoming kindergarteners and all K-12 students currently attending a public school who choose to enroll in an accredited nonpublic school for the 2023-2024 school year are eligible for the ESA program regardless of income. She envisions a three-year rollout that would initially focus on lower-income students, but after three years, the scholarship would be available to any student, regardless of income. This is the third time Reynolds has proposed a private school voucher plan and it's a more expansive program of taxpayer-funded scholarships for private schools. . Applications Underway for Groundbreaking School Choice Program in Iowa In its application, Odyssey said it has the ability to distribute funds through a "digital wallet" on its platform. You can see the full rules for the program, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, here. More Than 29,000 Apply For Iowa Private-School Funds in First Year Students who attended an accredited nonpublic school at any time during the 2022-2023 school year are eligible for the 2023-2024 school year if their household income is at or below 300 percent of the 2023 Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Families who are approved to receive education savings accounts will receive $7,635 per student for the 2023-24 school year. Iowa offers K12 students and their families a few types of school choice, including three private school choice programs, charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling and inter-district public school choice via an open enrollment policy. Davenport, IA . Odyssey's application states it worked last year to distribute $50 million in taxpayer funds to Idaho families as part of that state's Empowering Parents program. Today marks an important milestone for Iowas education system as universal school choice becomes a reality for Iowa families, Gov. Income eligibility will be automatically verified during the application process using the parents or guardians 2022 Iowa State Tax Return. 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