Which tutors and therapists can a Des Moines family pay with ESA funds?
Tutors and educational therapists whose credential comes from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners or another state of Iowa license for that service. The list covers tutoring, occupational, speech and behavioral therapy, reading specialists, multisensory reading, cognitive and auditory-processing therapy, executive functioning and study skills.
What are the rules for tutoring and educational therapy?
- The provider needs a relevant Iowa credential (Board of Educational Examiners or another state-issued credential).
- Cognitive skills training is automatically eligible when billed by the provider or pre-approved; otherwise it needs extra verification.
- Paraprofessionals and assistants count when trained under state law, per Iowa Code 257.11B.
What is not allowed in this area?
- Services billed by family members: parents, step-parents, guardians, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and first cousins
What does this mean for a Des Moines-area family?
Ask a Des Moines-area provider whether they are registered as an Odyssey vendor before the first session, because payment only flows through the Marketplace.
| 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.