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Guide to the Iowa ESA Application (2025-2026 School Year)

Berenice D
Updated

This article is intended to help Iowa families understand the application process, eligibility requirements, and key details for participating in the Students First Act ESA program for the 2025–2026 school year.

 

Welcome! This article provides an overview of the Education Savings Account (ESA) application process for Iowa's 2025–2026 school year.

Use the links below to jump to the section you need:

Click here for the full training presentation.

What Is Iowa’s Students First Act ESA?

ESA stands for Education Savings Account— an account that holds funds to cover eligible education expenses for eligible students. Each state, including Iowa, sets its own rules and guidelines for how ESAs operate.

Here’s how it works in Iowa under the Students First Act:

  • ESA funds must first be used to pay tuition and fees at an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school.
  • Any remaining funds can be used for other eligible educational expenses.

It's also important to note that:

  • Applying to an accredited nonpublic school is a separate process from applying for an ESA through the Odyssey portal.

Who’s Eligible?

To qualify for an ESA under Iowa’s Students First Act, the following requirements must be met:

  • Parent/Guardian must be an Iowa resident.
  • Students must be at least 5 years old by September 15, 2025.
  • Student must enroll in and attend a K–12 Iowa-accredited nonpublic school for the 2025–2026 school year.

Key Dates for Parents/Guardians

Click here to view the 2025–26 program timeline for important ESA dates and deadlines!

How to Apply

You can save and exit the application at any time before submitting.

Step 1: Create or Log In to Your Account

Use the same email and password you used last year, if applicable.

  • Please note: Applying for enrollment to an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school is a separate process from applying for an ESA through the Odyssey portal. Nonpublic school enrollment is unrelated to the Students First ESA application and is strictly between the family and the school.

 

Step 2: Parent/Guardian Information

The following information will be requested:

  • Parent/Guardian Legal Name
  • Email Address
  • Phone Number
  • Preferred Language
  • Address Information
    • Current Residential Address
      • If your 2024 Iowa State Tax Return lists a different address, please check the box and input that address.

 

Step 3: Add Student(s)

The following information will be requested:

  • Student Legal name
  • Student Date of birth
  • Student Address
    • You will be able to add multiple students under the same household ESA application.

 

Step 4: Confirm Eligibility

The following information will be requested:

  • Parent/Guardian ID Type and Parent/Guardian Identification Number
  • Spouse ID Type and Spouse Identification Number
    • This information will be used to verify Iowa residency with the Iowa Department of Revenue.
      • If you did not file a 2024 Iowa State Tax Return, please click the checkbox.

 

Step 5: Consent & Approvals

The following items will require acknowledgment:

  • Guardianship Checks
  • Site Release
  • Communication Consent

 

Step 6: Acknowledge and Sign

Read each statement, check the boxes to affirm your understanding and agreement, sign, and click submit when completed.

Understanding Application Statuses

Once you submit your application, it will be processed. Most approvals happen automatically within seconds. A student’s ESA application status will appear next to their name in the Odyssey Portal.

Here are the status types you might see:

 

Pending

The application is currently being reviewed. This process can take up to 30 minutes.

 

 

Additional Information Needed

If the automated process is unable to confirm eligibility, Odyssey will prompt the parent/guardian to update information or upload additional documents.

This status will apply to uncommon scenarios where additional documentation and manual review could be needed to move forward in the application process.

 

  • Manual Review: Update Residency Information
    • Odyssey may ask the parent/guardian to update the address used on their 2024 Iowa State Tax Return to further process verification.

 

  • Manual Review: Update Spouse Information
    • If the parent/guardian filed their 2024 Iowa State Taxes jointly but did not enter their spouse’s information on the application initially, Odyssey may ask them to enter their spouse’s information to further process verification.
      • If special circumstances apply, click the check box, and the parent/guardian will be asked to provide further documentation to verify eligibility. 


 

Under Review

Once documents have been uploaded, the Odyssey team will manually review them. If any additional documentation is required, Odyssey will contact the parent/guardian.

 

 

Approved

Once a student’s application is changed to “Approved,” parents/guardians can select the school each student plans to attend for the 2025–2026 school year directly in the Odyssey Portal.

Please note:
Applying for enrollment to an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school is a separate process from applying for an ESA through Odyssey.

Nonpublic school enrollment is unrelated to the Students First ESA application and is strictly between the family and the school.

How Odyssey Verifies Eligibility

To determine eligibility for the ESA program, Odyssey works with the Iowa Department of Revenue to automatically verify each applicant's Iowa residency using their 2024 Iowa State Tax Return.
This automatic verification will successfully verify residency for most applicants.

 

If Additional Verification Is Needed
If the automated check fails, the Odyssey system will request the parent/guardian to upload additional verification documentation. Please review the options below if more documentation is requested:

Option 1:

  • Parent/Guardian's current Iowa Driver’s License (dated no later than June 30, 2025)

Option 2:

  • Proof of residence (e.g., current mortgage, lease, or utility bill) and one of the following:
    • Iowa Voter Registration Card
    • Claim of Homestead Credit or Military Tax Exemption on an Iowa home
    • An active checking or savings account with an Iowa address
    • Other documents and correspondence initiated during tax periods with an Iowa address

Option 3:

  • Other written and signed narrative from the parent/guardian including a stated claim of Iowa residency, and related documentation reflecting residency.

2025-2026 School Information

Applying for enrollment to an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school is a separate process from applying for an ESA through the Odyssey Portal. Nonpublic school enrollment is unrelated to the Students First ESA application and is strictly between the family and the school.

When submitting school information in the Odyssey Portal, make sure that for each student you:

  • Select the student's school
  • Select the student’s grade
  • Click “Submit” to finish

Please note: A newly accredited school for the 2025–2026 school year may not appear right away in the school list. You may check with your school directly to confirm their participation in the program.

School Attendance

Schools are required to inform Odyssey if an invoice was submitted for a student who did not attend.

Example:

  • Tuition was billed to Odyssey on July 15, school started on August 23, but the student did not attend.

Students are not eligible for an ESA if they do not attend an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school.

ESA funds must be returned by the school for the semester(s) in which the student did not attend.

Please note that ESA ineligibility does not absolve individuals from financial obligations they have directly entered into with a nonpublic school or any other vendor.

How can I use my ESA Funds?

Tuition and Fees Come First
ESA funds must first be used to pay tuition and fees at an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school.

Then: Other Eligible Educational Expenses
Once tuition and fees are covered, any remaining ESA funds can be used for other approved educational expenses — but only through the Odyssey Marketplace.

Examples include:
● Microsoft Office and Adobe products
● Laptops, desktops, and tablets
● Textbooks
● Tutoring
● Course materials

🔗 View the full list of eligible and ineligible expenses

Please note: Purchases made outside of the Odyssey Marketplace are ineligible and will not be reimbursed.

Odyssey Marketplace

The Odyssey Marketplace is a closed platform that features approved vendors, products, and services for Iowa’s Students First Act ESA program. Families can use ESA funds in the Marketplace to purchase eligible educational expenses.

Examples of Odyssey Marketplace vendors include:

  • Iowa-accredited nonpublic schools
  • Computer stores
  • Educational therapy providers
  • Tutoring services
  • Local and national vendors

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