Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the school choice bill, House File 68, into law Jan. 26 following a 55-45 vote by the Iowa House and a 31-18 vote by the Senate. The law allows Iowa families to use the $7598 of taxpayer dollars allocated to each public school student per year, as tuition for private school education through an “educational savings account.” Excess funds can be used for textbooks, standardized test fees, online courses or other expenses.

The law will be implemented in three stages. For the 2023-24 school year, all incoming kindergarten and all public school students can access the funds. Private school families who earn at most 300% of the federal poverty level will also be eligible. In the 2024-25 school year, private school families at or below 400% of the federal poverty level will be eligible. In the 2025-26 year, all private school students will be eligible. The law also provides $1205 to public schools for each student who uses the funds to attend private school. 

Those seeking more information about the ESA can find it at the state’s webpage.