This article is intended for Iowa parents applying for the 2024-2025 Iowa Students First ESA.
What is Manual Verification?
Manual verification becomes necessary under two conditions: when the application cannot be verified automatically through the system, or when the maximum number of attempts (3) to apply has been reached.
Residency Manual Review:
If the parent/guardian did not complete a 2023 Iowa State Tax Return, additional documentation will be required. Likewise, an application may go to manual review if a returning application creates a new account instead of logging into their previous account to apply for the 2024-2025 ESA year.
Income Manual Review:
Income verification is only required for students who attended an Iowa accredited nonpublic school in the 2023-24 school year who did not receive and use an ESA. If the parent/guardian did not complete a 2023 Iowa State Tax Return, additional documentation will likewise be required.
Please note, if your student is going into kindergarten in 2024-25 and are being asked for an income verification, it is most likely due to incorrect information being filled out on the application. We suggest taking a moment to carefully review this section: "Did This Student Attend an Iowa Accredited Nonpublic School in the 2023-2024 School Year for Any Grade Between K-12?"