Iowa offers K–12 students and their families a few types of school choice, including three private school choice programs, charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling and inter-district public school choice via an open enrollment policy.
Iowa
Private School Choice
Iowa has three private school choice programs: a near-universal education savings account (ESA), a tax-credit scholarship and an individual tax credit. These programs help families send their children to participating private schools, but ESAs allow parents more flexibility because funds can be used on more than tuition, including education therapies and more.
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Iowa
Iowa Students First Education Savings Account
Education Savings AccountLearn More -
Iowa
Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit
Individual Tax Credit/DeductionLearn More -
Iowa
Iowa School Tuition Organization Tax Credit
Tax-Credit ScholarshipLearn More
Public School Choice
Iowa has an inter-district open enrollment policy, which allows parents to transfer to traditional public schools outside of their district. Iowa also has magnet schools.
Charter School Choice
Iowa has a few charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are free of many of the regulations that restrict traditional public schools.
Home School Choice
Parents have to follow certain laws in Iowa when homeschooling their children.
K-12 Education in Iowa Polling Insights
Learn more about your state’s views and preferences on important K–12 education topics.