Iowa Students First is Iowa's Education Savings Account (ESA) program. It helps families with funding when they choose private education over public schools.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. As of 2024, 12 states have enacted universal or near-universal Education Savings Account (ESA) programs, with Arizona's program alone serving over 75,000 students — making state-funded homeschooling more accessible than ever (EdChoice, 2024).
What is IOWA students first?
Iowa Students First is the state’s ESA program. It started with the Students First Act in January 2023. When families pick an accredited private school, public education funds go into a special account for them. For the 2025-26 school year, each student gets about $7,988. That’s the same amount public schools receive per student. This makes Iowa’s ESA program one of the largest in the country since it’s now open to everyone.
Approved expenses
Families can use ESA funds for various expenses. This includes private school tuition, fees, textbooks, tutoring, cognitive skills training, AP exams, college entrance tests, and tuition for non-public online programs. You can also use it for educational services, therapies, and vocational training. Remember, though, private school tuition must be paid first before using funds on other approved services.
The bottom line
Iowa Students First gives families nearly $8,000 each year for private education. But keep in mind, this program is only for private school choices. If you homeschool in Iowa, it won’t help with your curriculum or materials. If you're thinking about switching from homeschooling to private school, check if the ESA funding can help cover tuition costs at your chosen accredited school.
