Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Iowa Students First ESA for the 2026–27 school year, the following requirements must be met:
The parent or guardian must be an Iowa resident
The student must be at least 5 years old by September 15, 2026
The student must enroll in and attend a K–12 Iowa-accredited nonpublic school for the 2026–27 school year
Key Notes
Students are not eligible if they do not attend an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school. If a student does not attend, ESA funds must be returned by the school for the semester in which the student did not attend.
ESA ineligibility does not remove any financial obligations a family has entered into directly with a nonpublic school or other vendor.
Not Sure if Your School Qualifies?
Check with your school directly to confirm their accreditation status and participation in the program. A newly accredited school for the 2026–27 school year may not appear right away in the Odyssey school list.
For questions about eligibility contact Odyssey Support.