Can an Iowa Students First ESA pay for a laptop for a Des Moines student?
Yes. Laptops, desktops and tablets are on the state's eligible-expense list, automatically eligible whether the school or a Marketplace vendor bills them, but only from ESA money left after tuition and fees and only through the Odyssey Marketplace.
What are the rules for laptops, desktops and tablets?
- Tuition and fees billed by the school are paid first each semester; a computer can only come out of what remains.
- Buy through the Odyssey Marketplace or have the school bill it. Purchases made anywhere else are not reimbursed.
- The state's expense guide and Odyssey's Iowa articles publish no dollar cap and no replacement schedule for computers (checked October 30, 2026). Every purchase is still checked against the state's eligible-expense list.
- Microsoft Office and Adobe products are pre-approved software; other learning software is eligible, sometimes with verification.
What is not allowed in this area?
- Printers, scanners, copiers and other computer accessories
- Phones, smartwatches, video games and game consoles
- Laptop bags and backpacks
What does this mean for a Des Moines-area family?
At a school whose tuition and fees use the whole $8,148, nothing may be left for a device in the first year. Families whose tuition is lower, or who carry a balance from an earlier year, are the ones who usually have room.
| It is | It isn't |
|---|---|
| Paid from money left after tuition and fees | Paid before tuition |
| Bought through the Odyssey Marketplace or billed by the school | Reimbursed when bought at another store |
| Checked against the state's expense list | A guarantee that every item will be approved |
Sources: Iowa Department of Education, "Iowa's Students First Act ESA Program: Eligible and Ineligible Expenses" (educate.iowa.gov/media/8595, updated May 25, 2023 and still linked from the ESA program page in October 2026); Iowa Code section 257.11B(1)(b); Iowa Administrative Code 281-20.1(6); Odyssey Iowa help center. This is a summary, not legal advice; Odyssey and the Department decide individual purchases, and a parent may appeal a decision to the State Board of Education within 30 days.