School Tuition Organization (STO)
STO’s are provided for in a bill passed by the Iowa Legislature. Their purpose is to raise money for scholarships to lower-income students who wish to attend an accredited private school in Iowa. Those who give money to the School Tuition Organization scholarship fund receive a 65% Iowa tax credit on their donation. These tax credits are not an appropriation. They save the state money because current and new students to Iowa’s private schools do not draw down from state school aid dollars. The program also goes a long way in respecting Iowa parents’ rights to direct the education of their children by choosing the educational environment that best meets their child’s needs.
The form to apply for an STO grant is available online at www.stoseiowa.org. You may visit this website for more information or contact Steve Roling at 563.391.1845, or send an email to steve@bistatetax.org
STO’s require a completed tax form for the year previous to the school year for which aid is being applied. The cut off date for submitting an application for STO money is April 15th.
financial aid
The parishes of St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s provide scholarships on a limited basis for students who are members of each respective parish. Beyond this, families may apply for aid through the School Tuition Organization.
Students First education savings accounts
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 established a framework and funding for education savings accounts (ESAs), which may be used by eligible families to cover tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa.
Iowa Administrative Code 281-20 specifies definitions for the program, eligibility requirements for participation, parameters for the application process, and program administration and accountability.