The Students First Act is a bill that was signed into law by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds that makes state education funding available for K-12 students who choose to attend private schools. It also provides public schools with additional categorical funding for students who live in their district but attend private schools, and allows public school districts to use unspent money from some categorical funds to supplement teacher salaries.

Educations Saving Accounts are available to parents who enroll their eligible children in an accredited private school. Parent(s) will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funds allocated by the state to all public school districts each year ($7,820 for the 2023-24 school year).

Yes, you must be an Iowa Resident (specific residency requirements to be announced by the Iowa Department of Education).

1)  Must be an Iowa Resident (specific residency requirements to be announced by the Iowa Department of Education)

2) Anyone who in the previous school year attended public school or homeschool within the state qualifies for the ESA/Voucher

3) Incoming kindergarten students qualify for the ESA/Voucher

4) For anyone who in the previous school year attended private school, eligibility will be based on household income:

• During the 2023-2024 school year, private school students with household incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), currently $83,250 for a family of four, are eligible.
• In the 2024-2025 school year, private school eligibility expands to include families with household incomes at or below 400% FPL, currently $111,000 for a family of four, are eligible.
• Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, all K-12 students in Iowa are eligible regardless of family income.

For more information please visit https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

No, they would be eligible for an ESA regardless of income as long as they are enrolled as a full-time student at Maharishi School.

Yes, they would be eligible for an ESA regardless of income as long as they are enrolled as a full-time student at Maharishi School.

No, at this time you can only qualify for this program if you are a current resident of the state of Iowa.

Any families who would like consideration for additional financial aid are encouraged to complete the Financial Aid Independent Review (FAIR) form. Our Students Accounts office will inform the family of their eligibility for additional financial aid. Many of our families do qualify for substantial financial aid.

The funds can be used for Maharishi School tuition.

In this inaugural year ESA applications will not be available until July 1, 2023. No deadlines for submission have been announced.

That information has not been made available yet by the Iowa Department of Education.

No.  Per the Iowa Department of Education, private schools are NOT allowed to refund ESA tuition to families.

No, the ESA will not be taxable income.

No, the program begins with Kindergarten age students.

Yes, we operate as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization under Maharishi International University and are audited annually. Our best measure of how our funds are used are the outcomes seen in our students: their academic and extracurricular achievement and their creative, compassionate, contributing qualities of character.