Education Savings Accounts

 On January 24, 2023 the Students First Act made state education funding available for K-12 students who choose to attend private schools. Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in an accredited nonpublic school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year. Funds will be deposited into an Education Savings Account (ESA) to be used for tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses as specified in the legislation. Parents are responsible for managing the student’s funds which may be used to cover tuition, fees and other qualified education expenses.

• Any student who had an ESA in the 2023-24 school year. Families still need to apply each year.
• New students to Hillcrest who were previously enrolled in a public school, Pathway, or homeschooled.
• A student enrolled with a household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Your household income amount is based on the Net Income line 26 on your 2023 Iowa 1040.

• The application process will open this spring, with the opening date to be determined by the state. We will notify families when the application process opens.

• Applications will be due on June 30, 2024 for the 2024-25 school year. Applications are valid for one year; a family must apply annually to remain eligible for the program.

You can also find more information on the Students First ESA webpage. You can sign up for ESA notifications on the Students First ESA webpage. Contact Theresa Blossom (tblossom@hillcrestravens.org) or Rebecca Beachy Miller (rbeachymiller@hillcrestravens.org) with any questions.