๐Ÿ’ฐ Indiana Education Scholarship Account

How to Use Indiana's Education Scholarship Account for Expert Tutoring

Indiana's Education Scholarship Account (INESA) gives students with disabilities up to $20,000 per year for tutoring, therapy, and other educational expenses. Here's everything Indiana families need to know.

โœ๏ธ By Kristen, Education Interventions ๐Ÿ“… 2025 ๐Ÿ• 8 min read

If your child has a disability and is struggling with reading, writing, or spelling, Indiana has one of the most generous special needs ESA programs in the country. The Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA) provides substantial annual funding that families can use for tutoring, therapy, private school tuition, curriculum, and more โ€” and tutoring is one of its most impactful approved uses.

Education Interventions is an approved Indiana INESA vendor. Here's everything you need to know.

$20KMaximum annual award for students with disabilities โ€” based on district and disability level
$8KMaximum annual award for siblings of qualifying students with disabilities
$1,000Maximum rollover amount โ€” unused funds can carry forward up to $1,000/year

What Is Indiana's INESA Program?

The Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA) is an ESA program created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2021 and first available in the 2022โ€“2023 school year. It provides scholarship funding to Kโ€“12 students with disabilities โ€” and as of July 1, 2024, their siblings as well โ€” giving families the ability to opt out of public school and customize their child's education.

INESA recipients receive 90% of the basic state tuition support allotted to their child, plus 100% of special education dollars if the child receives services outside their assigned school corporation. Award amounts vary based on disability level and school district, up to $20,000 for students with disabilities and up to $8,000 for siblings.

INESA is specifically designed for students with learning differences. One Indiana parent described it perfectly: "My son has truly had the best tutoring of his life through the ESA. My daughter receives much-needed vision therapy. We are getting true value out of Special Ed dollars vs. what little my kids received in public school." For families of students with dyslexia, ADHD, language processing disorders, and other learning differences, INESA can be transformative.

Who Qualifies for INESA?

To qualify for INESA, your child must be an Indiana Kโ€“12 student with a disability who has been evaluated and found eligible for special education services under IDEA. The program has an income cap of 400% of the Free and Reduced Lunch guidelines.

As of July 1, 2024, siblings of qualifying students also became eligible โ€” even if the sibling does not have a disability. Siblings receive up to $8,000 per year, which can also be used for tutoring and other educational expenses.

Note on program transition: Effective July 1, 2026, administration of the INESA program transfers from the Office of the Indiana Treasurer of State to the Indiana Department of Education. All current services continue without interruption. For 2026โ€“27 questions, contact the Indiana Department of Education at ESA@doe.in.gov.

What Can INESA Funds Be Used For?

INESA funds can be used for a broad range of approved educational expenses including private school tuition and fees, tutoring services, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, curriculum and instructional materials, assistive technology, educational technology, transportation, and vocational and life-skills courses.

Tutoring is explicitly listed as an approved expense. All payments are made after services are provided through the secure online ClassWallet portal โ€” parents are not reimbursed for personal fund purchases and debit cards are not used.

How to Apply โ€” Step by Step

1

Confirm Your Child's Eligibility

Your child must have been evaluated by Indiana and found eligible for special education services under IDEA. Gather documentation of your child's disability and special education eligibility.

2

Apply Through the Official Portal

Visit in.gov/doe/students/indiana-education-scholarship-account-program for application information. For 2025โ€“26, applications were managed through the Indiana Treasurer of State's office. Beginning 2026โ€“27, applications go through the Indiana Department of Education.

3

Submit Required Documents

You'll need your child's birth certificate, proof of current address, documentation of disability and special education eligibility, and income verification. The application typically opens in early spring for the following school year.

4

Access Your ClassWallet Account

Once approved, funds are distributed quarterly into your ClassWallet account. All payments to vendors are made through this secure online portal after services have been provided.

5

Select Education Interventions

Education Interventions is an approved Indiana INESA vendor. Contact us and we'll walk you through the ClassWallet payment process. Virtual sessions begin as soon as vendor payment is confirmed.

Why INESA Tutoring Is Life-Changing for Indiana Families

For students with dyslexia, language processing disorders, and other learning differences, one-on-one tutoring from a certified literacy specialist using structured literacy methods is not just beneficial โ€” it's often the intervention that changes everything. Public schools, even with the best intentions, cannot always provide the intensity and individualization that these students need.

INESA changes that equation entirely. With up to $20,000 in annual funding โ€” real state dollars that would otherwise go to a public school โ€” Indiana families can access the expert, certified, one-on-one support their child needs to finally break through.

โœ… Approved Indiana INESA vendor โ€” Enrolled in ClassWallet. Payments flow directly from your account to us after sessions are completed.

โœ… Certified teachers with learning disability expertise โ€” Every tutor holds a teaching certification. Indiana requires tutors to hold an Indiana state teaching license or a bachelor's degree in a related field.

โœ… Orton-Gillingham inspired structured literacy โ€” The gold standard for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences.

โœ… 100% virtual โ€” Expert support from anywhere in Indiana โ€” Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, or rural communities.

โœ… Regular progress reports โ€” Full transparency with every family we serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child has dyslexia. Do they qualify for INESA?

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that can qualify a student for INESA if they have been formally evaluated and found eligible for special education services under IDEA. Contact your school's special education department to initiate an evaluation if one has not already been completed.

My child's sibling doesn't have a disability. Can they still get INESA?

Yes โ€” as of July 1, 2024, siblings of qualifying students became eligible for INESA. Siblings receive up to $8,000 per year which can also be used for tutoring and other approved educational expenses.

Do INESA funds expire at the end of the year?

You can roll over up to $1,000 of unused funds each year, and those funds carry over from year to year up to when the student graduates or turns 22. This rollover feature allows families to accumulate a small reserve for larger educational investments.

Can I combine INESA with Indiana's Choice Scholarship?

No โ€” participants cannot receive both INESA and Indiana's Choice Scholarship at the same time. However, INESA can be combined with Indiana's School Scholarship Tax Credit program.

Ready to Use Your Indiana INESA for Tutoring?

Education Interventions is an approved Indiana INESA vendor. Contact us today and we'll walk you through exactly how to use your funds for expert virtual literacy tutoring โ€” reading, writing, and spelling for Kโ€“12 students across Indiana.

Contact Us Today โ†’
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿซ
Kristen โ€” Founder, Education Interventions

Kristen is a certified literacy specialist and founder of Education Interventions, providing research-based virtual one-on-one reading, writing, and spelling tutoring for Kโ€“12 students. Approved INESA vendor in Indiana and 11 other states. Contact us at kristen@eduinterventions.com or (336) 813-0191.

Sources: Indiana Treasurer of State โ€” INESA Program (in.gov/tos/inesa); Indiana Department of Education โ€” ESA Program (in.gov/doe); EdChoice โ€” Indiana ESA Profile (2026); School Choice USA โ€” Indiana ESA Guide. Program details change annually โ€” verify current information at in.gov/doe/students/indiana-education-scholarship-account-program.