What is the Student First Act?

The Student First Act makes state education funding available for Iowa

 K-12 students who choose to attend accredited private schools. It also provides public schools additional funding for students who live in their district but attend private schools.

What is an Education Savings Account?

An Education Savings Account (ESA) is a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts which eligible families may use to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited private schools in Iowa. Parents who enroll their eligible children in an accredited private school will receive an estimated $7600 per pupil for the 2024- 2025 school year. Funds are deposited into the student's ESA each year until the student graduates high school or turns 20. The remaining balance is returned to the state general fund.

What are qualified educational expenses?

Qualified educational expenses include tuition and fees at a nonpublic school, textbooks, fees or payments for educational therapies, including tutoring or cognitive skills training, curriculum fees, software, and materials for a course of study for a specific subject matter or grade level, tuition or fees for nonpublic online education programs, tuition for vocational and life skills education approved by the department of education, educational materials and services for pupils with disabilities from an accredited provider, including the cost of paraprofessionals and assistants trained in accordance with state law, standardized test fees, and advanced placement examinations or examinations related to postsecondary education admission or credentialing.

Qualified educational expenses do NOT include transportation costs for the pupil, the cost of food or refreshments consumed by the pupil, the cost of clothing for the pupil, or the cost of disposable materials, including but not limited to paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, and art supplies.

Who is eligible for ESA funds, and when will funds be made available?




How do I apply for ESA funds?

 The application will be open on April 16, 2024 and will close 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.

Families interested in more information should visit the Iowa Department of Education website and sign up to receive updates.

 Frequently Asked Questions Español

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

How will ESAs affect our school's mission and culture?

The new ESA legislation maintains the independence of private schools. As a Catholic school, faith will remain central to our mission. No restrictions or changes to our curriculum will result from this legislation. We will continue to offer Mass, religion classes, and other faith activities.

Will class sizes increase dramatically?

We know parents value personal attention for their students and a close-knit community. This new legislation will not increase class size guidelines. We will welcome new students in grades with open seats according to our current enrollment process. Enrollment growth will be gradual over the next few years.

Will current students be guaranteed a spot at their school? Will current families with younger children be given priority?
Current students in grades K-8 at parochial schools will be guaranteed enrollment if registered by their school's deadline according to the school enrollment process. For all other students, the schools will prioritize enrollment according to the following guidelines: 

1.   Siblings of current students
2.   Parishioners
3.   Catholics from other parishes
4.  All other families during the open enrollment

Do Catholic schools accept students with diverse learning needs?

Our Catholic schools are committed to working with all learners to the best of our ability, including children who may require additional support. Several of our schools have faculty endorsed in special education. Additionally, all faculty benefit from professional development in differentiating instruction to support whole-child development.

We will continue to work with parents, the Area Education Agency (AEA) and our local public school partners to meet the academic and behavioral needs of students with Individual Education Plans (IEP) 

Do you welcome non-Catholic students?

While the Catholic faith is integral to all aspects of school life, we welcome families of all faith traditions into our school communities. 

Are Catholic Schools accredited?

All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City are fully accredited through the state of Iowa and meet or exceed the education standards of Iowa Code section 256.11.

Are all teachers licensed and endorsed to teach in their assigned area?

All of our teachers are licensed by the Board of Educational Examiners of the State of Iowa. In addition, the state of Iowa verifies that our faculty are teaching in their licensed subject areas annually.

Will our Catholic schools become more diverse due to the ESA legislation?
Our mission is to serve all families who desire a Catholic education. Our schools reflect the population we serve and welcome all backgrounds.