What is the Indiana Education Scholarship Account Program?
By applying to participate in the Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA) Program as a Participating Entity, qualifying providers may accept direct deposit payment of state scholarship funds awarded to students to be used for qualified expenses. The ESA Program provides Participating Entities the opportunity to grow their client base and offer an additional payment method for current clients who have been approved for an Education Scholarship Account. Providers eligible to apply as a Participating Entities provide education related services and therapies directly to Hoosier students with disabilities in grades K-12. The program is open to providers in a range of fields, including educational services, therapies, camps and training programs, transportation, testing services and tutoring. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a provider and how to qualify.
What are the benefits of becoming a provider for the Indiana Education Scholarship Account Program?
As an approved Indiana ESA provider, you will be able to expand your client base while supporting the needs of K-12 students and families. See below for the many benefits of participating in the program.
Approved providers can accept payment from scholarship accounts for the services they deliver after they are rendered. These include costs for education-related services such as tutoring, therapy and other pre-approved programs that a provider delivers under the Indiana ESA program.
Participating in the Indiana ESA program demonstrates a commitment to providing students and families with equal access to high-quality educational services.
As Indiana students and families continue to seek out individualized educational experiences, approved providers can feel empowered to expand the number of experiences and services they offer.
Who can qualify as an Indiana ESA provider?
The Indiana ESA program is open to a range of providers including qualified schools, public schools, individuals and businesses that offer services, therapies, fee-for-service transportation, courses and programs to K-12 students with disabilities. The specific criteria for qualifying as an Indiana ESA provider are outlined in detail below. Please note that this list is not an exhaustive list of all types of providers able to be approved.
A “qualified school” refers to a nonpublic school accredited by either the Indiana State Board of Education or a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the state board. The Qualified School must administer the applicable statewide assessment to ESA students.
To qualify, the tutor must hold one of the following: an Indiana state teaching license or a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as elementary education, or in a relevant subject area, such as math, science, reading etc.
Services must be provided in accordance with an individualized education program or service plan or generally accepted standards of care prescribed by the eligible student’s treating physician.
Licensed occupational therapists may apply to become a participating entity and may offer occupational therapy services to students with disabilities.
These are entities that provide students with assessments or examinations, which could include national norm-referenced or criterion-referenced examinations, Advanced Placement exams, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations or statewide assessments associated with industry-recognized credentials.