Indiana: Education Scholarship Account Program
Record Keeping
- Funding Breakdown
Funding Breakdown
- Qualifications
Qualifications
- Student Eligibility
Student Eligibility
- How to Apply
How to Apply
- Usage Explanation
Usage Explanation
- Rollover Funds Explanation
Rollover Funds Explanation
- Guidelines
Guidelines
- State Statute
State Statute
Funding Breakdown
Accounts are funded at 90% of what a student without an UEP would receive in a public school, which is affected by a student’s school district of residence. If the student chooses to not receive special education services from the district, accounts are funded with the per-student special education funding for the district of residence.
Example Breakdown of Funding Structure
The amount a family receives through the Indiana ESA Program depends on the student’s school district of residence and whether the student receives special education services from the district.
- Base Funding (Non-IEP Student): The ESA provides 90% of the state’s per-student tuition support for a student without an IEP. For example, in the 2024-25 school year, the average state tuition support per student in Indiana is approximately $6,800. Therefore a student without an IEP with this average, the ESA would provide $6,120.
- For siblings of students with disabilities, the funding is capped at $8,000 per year, so they would receive up to 90% of the state’s per-student tuition support or $8,000 whichever is lower.
- Special Education Funding: If a student with an IEP opts out of district-provided special education services, the ESA includes 100% of the district’s per-student special education funding, which varies by the severity of the disability and the district.
Funding Breakdown
Accounts are funded at 90% of what a student without an UEP would receive in a public school, which is affected by a student’s school district of residence. If the student chooses to not receive special education services from the district, accounts are funded with the per-student special education funding for the district of residence.
Example Breakdown of Funding Structure
The amount a family receives through the Indiana ESA Program depends on the student’s school district of residence and whether the student receives special education services from the district.
- Base Funding (Non-IEP Student): The ESA provides 90% of the state’s per-student tuition support for a student without an IEP. For example, in the 2024-25 school year, the average state tuition support per student in Indiana is approximately $6,800. Therefore a student without an IEP with this average, the ESA would provide $6,120.
- For siblings of students with disabilities, the funding is capped at $8,000 per year, so they would receive up to 90% of the state’s per-student tuition support or $8,000 whichever is lower.
- Special Education Funding: If a student with an IEP opts out of district-provided special education services, the ESA includes 100% of the district’s per-student special education funding, which varies by the severity of the disability and the district.
Qualifications
- Income Limit: 400% x FRL
- Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
- Testing Mandates: State
- Special Needs Accessibility: Pathway
Student Eligibility
Students must be between 5 and 22 years of age are eligible. Students must come from families earning no more than 400% of the threshold for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL) program ($230,880 for a family of four in 2024) and have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for students with special needs. Eligible plans include an IEP from a public school as well as a special needs service plan from a private school.
Indiana’s ESA program mandates participating students to take the state test or the assessment dictated by their special education service plan.
ESA recipients are not eligible to combine funding with Indiana’s voucher, the Choice Scholarship Program. ESA recipients are eligible to combine funding with Indiana’s School Scholarship Tax Credit.
How to Apply
- Parents can apply for the Indiana ESA Program via Access Indiana - ESA Portal located here.
- Parents will need to submit the following documents to be considered for INESA.
- A completed copy of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Service Plan (SP), or ESA Service Plan (IEP + ESA SP).
- Proof of residency
- Proof of income
- Birth Certificate
- Upon acceptance and enrollment, you will need to sign the Parent Agreement viewed here.
- Finally, your student will be required to participate in state testing.
- Your student may test with a private school if it offers the appropriate state testing, or you can make arrangements with one of Indiana’s testing partners viewed here.
Usage Explanation
Education Scholarship Accounts may be used for the following:
- Private school tuition and fees as well as other educational services including testing fees
- Special needs services and therapies
- Individual classes and school-sponsored extracurricular activities
- Occupational therapy
- Curriculum
Students may also use up to $750 of their ESA funds annually for transportation services to a special education provider.
Rollover Funds Explanation
Parents may roll over up to $1,000 of unused funds each year plus previous years’ rollover amounts to be used in subsequent years, up to when a participating student graduates or turns 22 years old.
Guidelines
Additional Program Guidelines
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Budget Cap: $10 million (2024–25)
- Account Cap: 90% State funding
Participant and Family Guidelines
- Click Here for the Program Administrator’s Parent Handbook
- Education Requirements: Ensure students take standardized test / receive education in the subjects of reading, math, social studies, and science
- Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
- Disbursement/Payment Frequency: Quarterly
- Reimbursement: Not allowed
- Miscellaneous: N/A
Provider Guidelines
- Accreditation/Approval: State, regional, or national
- Employment: Background checks
- Nondiscrimination: Federal
- Calendar/Curriculum/Academic: N/A
- Financial: State audit
- Miscellaneous: N/A
(Last updated September 4, 2024)
State Statute
(Last updated April 21, 2025)