Education Savings Accounts (ESA)
School Choice empowers parents to choose the K-12 educational options best suited for their children and in the best interest of their child’s educational future without the limitations of income or zip code. This encompasses public school, private school, charter schools, home school or any other learning environment a parent chooses for their child(ren). At Holy Family, we believe that parents have the primary responsibility of educating their children, and ESAs put real opportunities in the hands of parents.
The Students First Act

The Students First Act, signed into law on January 24, 2023, makes state funding available to support the success of every K-12 student in Iowa. The bill establishes a framework and funding for education savings accounts, which may be used by eligible families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. It also provides public schools additional funding for students who live in their district but attend nonpublic schools.
If you are not enrolled at Holy Family but would like to be notified of developments with ESAs and enrollment opportunities, please submit an enrollment interest form.
Education Savings Accounts will be phased in over three years:
Year One | 2023-2024
- All entering kindergarten students
- All students enrolled in a public school
- A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 300% of the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines, $90,000 for a family of four
Year Two | 2024-2025
Year Three | 2025-2026