INDIANA – The Indiana Education Scholarship Account is gaining significant ground with parents throughout Indiana and children navigating life with disabilities.
Indiana Treasure of State officials report that more than 50 percent of the $10 million in program dollars for the 2024/25 school year are already committed to eligible students – with two full months remaining until the September 1 application deadline.
INESA scholarship funding provides eligible K-12 students access to the educational environment that best meets their learning needs, such as private education, at-home learning, and other qualifying non-public educational settings.
The program launched in 2022, and between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years, the number of K-12 students with disabilities who applied for and received INESA dollars increased by more than 200 percent.
In addition, provider participation increased by more than 130 percent during that same time period, with more joining each week. Likewise, nonpublic schools educating INESA scholarship students increased by more than 350 percent between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 scholarship terms.
“These numbers are proof positive that this program is hitting the mark with parents and nonpublic schools, and our provider pool is growing across the state,” said Tina Kaetzel, executive director of the INESA and Career Scholarship Account with the Indiana Treasure of State’s Office. “That provider data point is crucial, because providers are significantly instrumental to both parents and nonpublic schools in providing support and services to customize education for our special-needs kids.”
The INESA program is also on track to continue growing as it heads into the 2024/25 school year, with 20% more providers registered with the program (compared to 2023/24). Additionally, the number of non-public schools participating in the program has grown by 50 percent (to date) compared to the 2023/24 school year.
Parents still have time to apply before the Sept. 1 deadline, but INESA officials tell parents not to wait.
“We’re seeing strong activity, with more applications coming each day – so parents will have their best chance of funding availability if they apply now,” said Kaetzel.
To apply for the INESA program, visit www.in.gov/tos/inesa/home.
Parents can use INESA dollars for a variety of qualified expenses for educational support, such as tuition and fees, transportation costs, occupational therapy, tutoring, vocational and life-skills courses, extra-curriculum programs and more.
The INESA application deadline is 11:59 p.m., Sept. 1, 2024.
