Does the Indiana ESA reimburse parents?

No. The Indiana Education Scholarship Account cannot reimburse a parent for any expense. An approved provider invoices you, and the invoice is paid from your ClassWallet account after the service is provided.

Who qualifies for the Indiana ESA?

K-12 students with a disability qualify for all categories, and their siblings qualify for a limited set of categories.

How much is the Indiana ESA for 2026-27?

Up to $20,000 per year for a student with a disability, and up to $8,000 per year for a sibling.

Indiana ESA (INESA): spending categories, invoices and dates

Indiana Education Scholarship Account · last checked September 25, 2026. For 2026-27 the program is administered by the Indiana Department of Education.

The Indiana ESA does not reimburse parents. An approved provider invoices you, and the invoice is paid from your ClassWallet account after the service is delivered. So every "receipt" is really an itemized vendor invoice — and missing itemization is the #1 hold-up.

Who qualifies

K-12 students with a disability qualify for all categories. Their siblings qualify for a limited set. Applications go through Access Indiana; payments run through ClassWallet.

2026-27 award amounts

Student	Up to
Student with a disability	$20,000 / year
Sibling	$8,000 / year

Funds are distributed quarterly, in August, October, December and February.

Allowed spending categories

Tuition or fees (private, public, magnet or charter — course, registration, lab, textbook, supply, tutoring fees)
Curricular materials (books, software, digital content — not hardware)
Supplementary materials (STEM/art kits, manipulatives, calculators, workbooks, supplies)
Educational services / therapies from a licensed, accredited provider
Occupational therapy per the student's IEP or service plan
Paraprofessional or educational aides
Tutoring or teaching services (a parent can't be paid to tutor their own child)
Transportation to an approved special-ed provider (up to $750/year, waiver to $1,500)
Training programs and camps
Extracurricular activities, classes and programs
Services provided by a public school (itemized paid invoice required)
Exam fees (SAT/ACT, AP, IB, CLEP and prep)
Statewide assessments
Additional physician-prescribed therapies (beyond school/insurance/Medicaid)

Things that are not allowed

Examples include personal computers, laptops, tablets, printers and TVs; online/virtual schools; uniforms and clothing; meals and room/board; postsecondary education; computer accessories; furniture and backpacks; phones; daycare; and late or missed-appointment fees.

Key rules to track

Every expense must be an itemized invoice from an approved provider.
The account never pays you back directly — payment goes to the vendor after service.
Transportation is capped at $750 a year (waiver to $1,500).
2025-26 invoices had to be submitted by May 22, 2026; up to $1,000 can roll over starting July 2027.

Keep every invoice organized

Because the program runs on itemized invoices and category limits, it pays to track spending by child and category and keep every document together. School Choice Tracker stores each invoice with its photo, tags the child and category, shows what's left against the award, and warns you as you approach a cap. It stays on your phone.

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School Choice Tracker is independent and not affiliated with the Indiana Department of Education or ClassWallet. This page summarizes public sources and isn't legal or financial advice; the official rules control. Sources: IDOE ESA, INESA spending categories.