Rock Valley Christian School

The application for the 2025-26 school year will be open at 8:00 am on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 and close on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

The Department's ESA web page has been updated and includes a calendar of important deadlines and tips for families.

Annual ESA applications are required for ALL prospective ESA participants. Even if a student previously participated, a new application is required for annual participation.
Immediately following application approval, students will be able to select their school of choice in the ESA Portal.
Once selected, the school will be able to see the student in their ESA Portal.
1. Prior to marking the student as "verified" in the ESA Portal:
  - If your school has multiple buildings, ensure the school selection is correct.
  - Confirm the grade level is correct.
  - If the school or grade level are incorrect, please ask the parent to modify the selection in the ESA Portal.

ESA funding for the 2025-26 school year is $7,826, plus an increase established by the Iowa Legislature.
- Students must be in "verified" enrollment status with the ESA Portal for tuition and fees to be charged.
- Fall semester funds ($3,913, plus any increase) will be available beginning July 15.
- Spring semester funds ($3,913, plus any increase) will be available beginning December 1.
School invoicing
- Schools will include tuition and fees for each student each semester.
  - Fall tuition and fees may be charged from $0 (if no tuition or fees are due) to the amount available, which includes the current semester's funding plus any amount remaining rom the prior year.
  - Spring tuition and fees may be charged from $0 (if no tuition or fees are due) to the amount available, which includes the current semester funding and any amount remaining from the first semester (which may include a prior year balance.)

Status Change: "Verified" to "Did Not Attend"
- From the time the school is notified or otherwise determines a student will not be attending, the student must be changed from "verified" to "did not attend status in the ESA Portal within three business days.
- Students that do not attend an Iowa accredited nonpublic school are not eligible for an ESA.
  - Payments received from ESAs for students that did not attend are required to be refunded to the ESA.
Status Change: "Verified" to "Withdrawn"
- Students that attend, even for a day, and later withdrawn must be changed in the ESA Portal from "verified" to "withdrawn" status within three business days from the withdrawal date.
- If a refund is determined due by the nonpublic school, the refund, up to the amount paid from the ESA, must be refunded to the ESA.
  - ESA funds are prohibited from being refunded directly to parents.
In all cases, please work directly with Odyssey for logistical questions regarding the refunding process.
Questions regarding the payment process can be directed to the Odyssey Support Team at help.ia@withodyssey.com or 515-368-9564. Questions regarding nonpublic school certified enrollment or SRI requirements may be directed to Jennifer.Thomas@iowa.gov or 515-725-2252. Other ESA program policy questions may be sent so studentsfirst@iowa.gov.

ESA