Iowa is now paying for more than 27,000 students to attend private schools. Here’s why:

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 By Samantha Hernandez, Des Moines Register

Des Moines, IA-Iowa students using taxpayer-funded education savings accounts to pay for their private education grew to 27,866 participants, according to the Iowa Department of Education.

That’s up more than 60% from the roughly 17,000 students who used the funds for the 2023-24 school year.

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The certified enrollment numbers released Friday come from the October 2024 student count and are used to help determine public school funding for the 2025-26 school year, according to the department’s news release.

Education savings accounts and a law that expanded public charter schools were part of Iowa Republicans’ multi-year campaign to increase school choice options.

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The ESA program allowed families making up to 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines to apply for approximately $7,800 in public funds per student to cover private school costs, including tuition, according to the state Department of Education.

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In all, the state could end up disbursing about $218 million in funds by the end of the school year.

This is the final year of the program’s income restrictions. Next year, the program will be open to all Iowa families, regardless of wealth.

Here is what you should know about the latest ESA, open enrollment and public school student counts:

Has the number of students attending Iowa’s private schools increased?

Yes. Private school enrollment rose nearly 9%, according to state numbers.

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