IW-EDU-IA

Iowa Puts Students First and It’s Working

On January 24, 2023, the Governor of Iowa, signed HF 68, The Students First Act, into law, in part because of the contribution and citizen grassroots organizing with our sister organization of Americans for Prosperity Iowa. For the 2024-2025 school year, the first year of implementation, the program received 29,000 applicants. Of those applicants,18,000 Iowa students were eligible for a Students First Act Education Savings Account (ESA) empowering them and their families to chart their education destiny in the state of Iowa. Recipients of Students First ESAs can use their student’s equal portion of state education funding at an accredited school of their choice and tailor their children's education experience to each student’s unique needs, aptitudes, and aspirations!

Nearly 18,000 students have taken advantage of the Students First Act and now have the freedom and opportunity to get into an educational setting that best meets their needs. It is working in Iowa and serves as a model for the rest of the country.

–Americans for Prosperity – Iowa State Director, Tyler Raygor

All Iowa students will be eligible for Student’s First ESAs after a three-year phase in process. For the 2023-2024 school. Year all incoming kindergartners and all public-school students are eligible for ESAs and students are eligible in accordance with the following phase in process:

  • For the 2023-2024 school year, private school students with household incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.
  • For the 2024-2025 school year, private school eligibility expands to include families with household incomes at or below 400% FPL.
  • At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, all K-12 students in Iowa are eligible regardless of family income.

“Iowa’s school choice bill lets parents use their hard-earned tax dollars to fund education that works best for their children.”

– Des Moines Register Guest Columnist, Ellie Krasne

Apply for a Students First Education Savings Account Here

“School choice is putting students first, helping young Iowans reach their potential.”

–Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa