This bill amends the application periods for the education savings account program in Iowa, which provides financial assistance to pupils attending nonpublic schools for qualified educational expenses. The current law requires parents or guardians to submit applications for education savings account payments between January 1 and June 30 of the preceding school year. The new provisions allow applications to be submitted between December 1 and December 20 for the semester for which the payment is requested.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that if an application is submitted during the new December timeframe, the education savings account payment will be set at 50 percent of the regular program state cost per pupil for that school budget year, rather than the full amount. The bill also includes conforming changes to ensure clarity in the application process and payment distribution, specifying that payments will be deposited into individual accounts based on the timing of the application submission.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 257.11B