School Choice > Iowa
Iowa School Choice Programs
Parents and guardians have plenty of options in Iowa when it comes to School Choice. If open enrollment (including magnet schools and a few charter schools) or homeschooling options aren’t right for your family, consider starting an Educational Savings Account for private schooling instead.
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How to offset private school tuition costs in Iowa
Searching for ways to fund your child’s private school education? Iowa offers different publicly funded School Choice programs that you can apply for.
Option #1
Education Savings Account (ESA) Program
Participants in Iowa’s ESA program gained access to up to $7,635 of public education funds per child in a private school during the 2023-2024 school year. Funds in an ESA can be used to cover much more than just tuition, making it a flexible, effective option for Iowa families.
Option #2
Tax Credits/Deductions
Offset additional educational costs (like uniforms, standardized test fees, and textbooks) with up to $250 dollars worth of tax rebates and deductions from the state of Iowa.
Families must submit a single application on a yearly basis—this application covers all school-aged children in the household. If you choose to submit your family’s application through the online automatic verification system, your account may be approved in as little as 30 minutes. You can find detailed ESA application information and relevant links on the Iowa State Government’s website.
One of the central benefits of an ESA program (in comparison to a voucher program, for instance) is that the allocated funds in the account can be dedicated to tuition and other education-related expenses. This means that you can use public funds to pay for things like books, software, course materials, sensory items, educational services, therapies, and life skills education.
Flexible, easy to access, and convenient, Iowa’s Educational Savings Account Program might just be a perfect fit for your family.
Iowa Tax Credits/Deductions
Iowa citizens can report up to $250 worth of educational costs on their taxes to earn credits and deductions on their return. You can learn more about the School Tuition Organization Tax Credit here or learn more about the Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit here.
If your family’s educational costs exceed $250, consider setting up a RaiseRight program to help families further their expenses. Learn more here.
Save more on your child’s education with RaiseRight
Families that fundraise with RaiseRight know that it’s the easiest, most effective way to offset private school educational costs. Iowa's School Choice benefits are limited in covering expenses beyond tuition, so utilize RaiseRight to cover other school-related costs and relieve financial pressure.
