Iowa Education Savings Account
Iowa ESA curriculum and learning platform
Use your Iowa Students First Education Savings Accounts for METHEAN, an approved instructional technology platform and curriculum, with ESA funds disbursed through Odyssey.
Start your METHEAN enrollment with Iowa Students First ESAAbout the Iowa Students First Education Savings Accounts
The Iowa Students First Education Savings Accounts program lets Iowa families direct state education funds to approved expenses, including curriculum and instructional technology. Iowa disburses funds through Odyssey.
METHEAN is built to fit the Iowa ESA as an instructional technology platform and curriculum materials. You pay with ESA funds, your purchase is itemized, and you keep audit ready records.
Iowa Students First ESA eligibility
Eligibility is set by the state and changes over time. Use this as a general guide and confirm the current rules with the official program before you apply.
- Your child is eligible to attend an Iowa public school and meets the program's age and residency rules.
- Iowa Students First has expanded toward broad availability; the rules are set by the state and change over time.
- Always confirm current eligibility with the Iowa Department of Education before you apply.
Typical funding. Iowa Students First ESA awards are set each year and are typically around 7,800 US dollars per student. Confirm your current award through your Odyssey account.
How METHEAN qualifies
- METHEAN bills as two approved ESA categories: an instructional technology platform and curriculum materials.
- The instructional technology platform covers adaptive learning software, AI guided tutoring, curriculum delivery, and progress reporting.
- Curriculum materials cover standards aligned content, practice work, and assessments delivered through the platform.
- Both line items are itemized on every invoice so your program administrator can review and approve each one.
Your funds are disbursed through Odyssey, the platform Iowa uses for Iowa Students First ESA payments.
From ESA approval to METHEAN enrollment
- 1
Get approved for your ESA
Apply for the Iowa Students First ESA and wait for your approval and funding through Odyssey.
- 2
Create your METHEAN account
Start your enrollment from this page. Your state is preselected, so you go straight to setting up your family.
- 3
Add your child and enrollment details
Enter your child's profile and your ESA enrollment details, including your program-issued student identifier.
- 4
Pay with ESA funds
Choose Pay with ESA funds at checkout. METHEAN routes the charge to Odyssey for your program to authorize.
- 5
Start learning and keep your records
Your child begins right away. Itemized invoices and usage reports are always available for audit and reimbursement.
Pricing
Frequently asked questions
Is METHEAN an approved Iowa ESA expense?
METHEAN bills as an instructional technology platform and curriculum materials and itemizes each charge. The program makes the final approval of any specific expense, so keep your METHEAN invoices.
How do Iowa ESA funds reach METHEAN?
Iowa disburses through Odyssey. At checkout you choose Pay with ESA funds and METHEAN routes the charge to Odyssey for your program to authorize. No personal card is used.
What does METHEAN cost?
METHEAN is 1,499 US dollars per year for the instructional technology platform and 250 US dollars per year for curriculum materials, 1,749 US dollars per year in total.
Can I get records for an audit?
Yes. METHEAN generates itemized invoices and per child usage reports with a tamper evidence hash, available as PDF and machine readable files.