NEW: Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
-
ESA APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED
-
Apply Today
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023
(Application process via Odyssey)
CLICK HERE TO APPLY... -
About ESAs...
The Students First Act, introduced by Governor Reynolds and signed into law on January 24, 2023, makes state funding available to support the success of every K-12 student in Iowa. The bill establishes a framework and funding for education savings accounts, which may be used by eligible families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited private schools in Iowa.
How ESAs Work...
Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in an accredited private school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year ($7,598 for the 2023-2024 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.
Click here to sign up for alerts about ESAs from the Iowa Department of Education.
-
In-Person Training Sessions
-
All parents/guardians are also invited to attend training sessions about applying for ESAs. Xavier Catholic Schools administrators and staff will be on hand to answer questions AND help complete the ESA application process during these sessions.
The noon sessions will be livestreamed and available for on-demand viewing on this page as well.These sessions will be held at Xavier High School (6300 42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52411) and are for parents/guardians of students entering Kindergarten through 12th Grade in 2023-2024.
DATES/TIMES OF INFO SESSIONS:- Thursday, June 1, 2023, Noon
- at Xavier High School (Theatre)
- Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 7 p.m.
- at Xavier High School (Theatre)
- Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 7 p.m.
- at Xavier High School (Theatre)
- Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Noon
- at Xavier High School (Theatre)
- Thursday, June 1, 2023, Noon
-
-
-
Who is Eligible for an ESA?
-
- Students entering Kindergarten
OR- K-12 Students currently enrolled in a public school
- K-12 Students currently enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 300% of the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines, $90,000 for a family of four (View poverty guidelines...)
-
- Students entering Kindergarten
OR- K-12 Students currently enrolled in a public school
- K-12 Students currently enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines that will be updated January 2024
-
- All K-12 students in Iowa regardless of income
-
-
WHY XAVIER?
-
Xavier offers unparalleled Catholic education for its students through a strong commitment to faith development, positioning graduates for success in all post-high school endeavors, and nearly 100 percent participation from its students in at least one co-curricular activity.
Learn more about Xavier...
-
-
-
How Do I Apply for an ESA?
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023
(Application process via Odyssey)
CLICK HERE TO APPLY...
The application process for ESAs opens on May 31 and ends June 30. All information is available on the Students First ESA webpage.
Registration for online training sessions for parents and guardians is now available. These sessions provide an overview of the Students First Education Savings Account (ESA) application platform and process, including eligibility criteria, required documentation and the verification and approval process.
If you believe you may qualify for an ESA but are not certain, we strongly encourage you to complete the application process. The application process takes just a few minutes and in most cases, families will know immediately if they qualify.
Anyone interested in learning more about the parent/guardian application process can register to attend the training on one of the following dates and times:
Tuesday, May 23, 10 a.m. Thursday, May 25, 8 p.m. Friday, May 26, 12 p.m. (Spanish Speaking Session) Saturday, May 27, 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2 p.m. Monday, June 5, 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 7 p.m.
The webinars will be approximately one hour long and will be conducted by Odyssey, the state’s contracted vendor for administering the Students First ESA program.
-
Have additional questions?
If you have any questions about the admissions process or learning more about how ESAs can help make Xavier your school of choice for your student(s), please contact our Admissions Coordinator, Cara Joens at cara.joens@xaviersaints.org
or 319.294.6635 ext. 313 -
Admissions Coordinator
-
Cara Joenscara.joensxaviersaints.orgAdmissions & College/Career Coordinator
-
-
-
-
More Information About ESAs...
-
Learn More About ESAs For reliable and timely information, including Frequently Asked Questions, check out following the resources provided by the Archdiocese of Dubuque Office of Catholic Schools and the Iowa Department of Education. You may also sign up to receive updates through the Department of Education.
-
