The Iowa Department of Education announced the approval of the first round of education savings accounts. In total, 18,627 Students First ESA applications were approved, with less than 1,000 pending. 

Ninety-six of Iowa’s 99 counties have seen ESA’s approved for the upcoming school year. This includes 140 in Washington County, 572 in Johnson County, 112 in Jefferson County, 64 in Iowa County, 20 in Henry County, and 6 in Keokuk County. Louisa County joined Decatur and Ringgold Counties as the only three in the State with no approved applications. 

The ESA program was signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds in January. It allows state education funding to become available for students who choose to attend private schools, while also providing public schools with additional funding for students who live in their district but attend private schools. 

The State received more than 25,000 applications for the ESA program this year, far surpassing 14,000, the number estimated by the Iowa Legislative Services Agency. Additional information regarding the final number of approved applicants will be available after September 30.