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School Choice Scholarship Deadlines 2026–2027: ESA, Voucher and Tax-Credit Application Windows by State
Updated · By Edulist · 27 sources
How to use this calendar
This page collects application windows for major ESA, voucher and tax-credit programs, using dates published by each program and summarized on our state scholarship pages as of October 13, 2026. Every date is subject to change. Programs extend windows, close early when money runs out, and publish next year's dates late.
For each program, the "Status" column tells you whether to act now, get ready, or watch for an announcement. Follow the state link for eligibility, amounts and the official apply link. If you're new to this, read how to apply for school choice scholarships first.
Open now or closing soon (fall 2026)
| State | Program | Window or deadline | Status (Oct 13, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Students First ESA (half-year) | Oct 15 – Nov 15, 2026 | Open now; for accredited private school students |
| Florida | FES-EO and FTC (new students) | Deadline Nov 15, 2026 | Open now |
| Florida | FES-UA (new students) | Apply by Nov 15, 2026; accept by Dec 15, 2026 | Open now |
| Georgia | Promise Scholarship (spring 2027) | Nov 1 – 30, 2026 | Opens soon; spring spots limited to households at or below 400% FPL |
| Montana | Special Needs ESA | Nov 1 – Dec 1 (also May 1 – Jun 1) | Program's future uncertain after a court ruling; contact OPI |
| West Virginia | Hope Scholarship (new, prorated) | 50% award Sep 16 – Nov 30, 2026; 25% award Dec 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 | Open now at a reduced award |
| Indiana | Choice Scholarship, Period 2 (half-year) | Approved Nov 1 – Jan 15 | Opens Nov 1 |
| South Carolina | ESTF, Window 1 (returning students and siblings) | Nov 1 – Jan 14 | 2026–27 full; confirm 2027–28 dates on ESTF site |
| New Hampshire | Education Freedom Accounts (prorated 2026–27) | Rolling through Feb 2027 | Open; 2027–28 dates not announced |
| Ohio | EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion | Feb 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027 | Open; prorated after Oct 14, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Opportunity Scholarship (2027–28) | Cycle runs Sept to April/May | Open now |
| Arizona | Empowerment Scholarship Account | Year-round, Jul 1 – Jun 30 | Open; award letter within 30 days of a complete application |
| Colorado | ACE Scholarships (federal-credit SGO) | Expected to open mid-November 2026 | Watch |
Opening in early 2027 (for 2027–28)
| State | Program | Expected window | Last year's window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | CHOOSE Act ESA | Opens January 2027 | New families: Jan 2 – Mar 31, 2026 |
| Idaho | Parental Choice Tax Credit | Jan 15 – Mar 15, 2027 | May 21 – Jul 17, 2026 |
| South Carolina | ESTF Windows 2 and 3 | Window 2: Jan 15 – Feb 8; Window 3 opens Feb 9 | Same pattern; year not stated by ESTF |
| North Carolina | Opportunity Scholarship | Opens by Feb 1, 2027; priority deadline Mar 1 | Same statutory pattern |
| Indiana | Choice Scholarship, Period 1; INESA | Opens Mar 1, 2027 | Mar 1 – Sep 1 (Choice) |
| Arkansas | Education Freedom Account | Opens March 2027 | Mar 9 – Jun 1, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Parental Choice Tax Credit | Mar 15 – Jun 15, 2027 (priority first 60 days) | — |
| Utah | Utah Fits All | Opens spring 2027 | New students: Apr 1 – May 1, 2026 |
| Maryland | BOOST | Expected spring 2027 | Mar 9 – May 8, 2026 |
| Iowa | Students First ESA (full year) | Not announced | Apr 16 – Jun 30, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Hope Scholarship | Not announced | Returning: Jan 5 – Jun 15, 2026; new at 100%: Mar 2 – Jun 15, 2026 |
| Montana | Special Needs ESA | May 1 – Jun 1 (if the program continues) | — |
Not announced yet (as of October 13, 2026)
| State | Program | What happened last cycle | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) | Window Feb 4 – Mar 31, 2026, then a lottery the week of Apr 27 | Join the TEFA interest list |
| Florida | PEP and FES/FTC for 2027–28 | PEP window Feb 1 – Apr 30, 2026; renewal priority Apr 30 | Join Step Up's interest list |
| Tennessee | Education Freedom Scholarship | 2026–27 closed with 17,735 waitlisted | Watch TDOE announcements |
| Louisiana | LA GATOR | Mar 1 – 16, 2026 | Watch LDOE; the window was very short |
| Missouri | MOScholars | 10,235 students funded for 2026–27 | Contact an educational assistance organization |
| Wyoming | Steamboat Legacy Scholarship ESA | 2026–27 closed Aug 6, 2026 | Watch WDE |
| New Hampshire | Education Freedom Accounts | Full-year 2026–27 required verification by Jul 15, 2026 | Watch CSF NH |
| Georgia | Promise Scholarship 2027–28 | Fall window Aug 1 – 31, 2026 | Watch GESA |
Tax-credit scholarships and SGOs
Private SGO scholarships set their own deadlines. Many follow the private school enrollment calendar, with applications in winter and spring. Some examples:
- Georgia SSOs: spring family deadlines are typical. AAA Scholarship Foundation's 2026 deadline was May 11.
- Pennsylvania EITC and OSTC: set by each scholarship organization, often winter and spring.
- Arizona STOs: family applications set by each STO.
- Kansas tax-credit scholarships: set by each SGO; ask before spring enrollment.
The federal scholarship tax credit (2027)
The new federal credit applies to donations made on or after January 1, 2027, in states that opt in. As of October 13, 2026, 31 states had opted in (see the list). Under Treasury's proposed rules, participating states submit their SGO lists to the IRS by February 15, 2027. Family application dates will come from each SGO. The rules aren't final.
A planning timeline for 2027–28
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now – December 2026 | Check your state's programs. Gather residency, birth certificate, income and IEP documents. Join interest lists. |
| January 2027 | Download your 2026 W-2s and prepare your tax return early if programs ask for current-year income. Alabama and Idaho open. |
| February – March 2027 | NC, SC, Indiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma windows. Watch for Texas and Florida announcements. |
| April – May 2027 | Utah, Maryland and Iowa windows typically run. Accept awards and confirm private school enrollment. |
| Summer 2027 | Learn your program's marketplace and plan purchases before deposits arrive. |
Get ready before your window opens
Windows are short and some fill in a day. The best move is to decide what you'd use the money for now. On Edulist, save the curriculum, tutoring or online school options you'd choose to your wishlist. When SGO programs on Edulist open, you can apply once and reuse your household details across programs. Opt in to opening updates to hear when they do.
Programs that help
- Primer: K–8 microschools that publish tuition after state scholarships.
- Prenda: microschool platform that handles ESA invoicing.
- Bridgeway Academy: accredited homeschool academy with full-enrollment options.
- The Good and the Beautiful: low-cost curriculum for families waiting on an award.
Programs that help
Sources
- Iowa Department of Education: Education Savings Accounts
- Georgia Promise Scholarship
- Step Up For Students: Private School Scholarship apply
- Step Up For Students: Unique Abilities (FES-UA)
- Step Up For Students: Personalized Education Program
- West Virginia Hope Scholarship
- Ohio Department of Education: How to apply for EdChoice Expansion
- Serving Our Children: D.C. Opportunity Scholarship apply
- Arizona Department of Education: ESA
- Indiana Department of Education: Choice Scholarship
- SC Education Scholarship Trust Fund
- Montana OPI: Special Needs Equal Opportunity ESA
- CHOOSE Act Alabama (ClassWallet)
- Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit: how to apply
- NCSEAA: Opportunity Scholarship
- Arkansas Education Freedom Account
- Oklahoma Tax Commission: Parental Choice Tax Credit
- Utah Fits All Scholarship
- Maryland State Department of Education: BOOST
- Louisiana Department of Education: LA GATOR
- Texas Comptroller: Texas Education Freedom Accounts
- Tennessee Department of Education: Education Freedom Scholarship
- Missouri State Treasurer: MOScholars
- Wyoming Department of Education: Education Savings Accounts
- New Hampshire Education Freedom Accounts (CSF NH)
- ACE Scholarships (Colorado): apply
- IRS: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
Questions
When do most school choice applications open for 2027–28?
Most state programs open between January and April. Alabama's CHOOSE Act opens in January 2027, Idaho's tax credit January 15, North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship by February 1, Arkansas in March and Oklahoma's tax credit March 15. Texas, Tennessee, Missouri and Louisiana hadn't announced 2027–28 dates as of October 13, 2026.
Are these deadlines final?
No. Programs change dates, extend windows and close early when funding runs out. Treat this page as a planning calendar and confirm every date on the official program site linked on your state page before you rely on it.
Which programs accept applications year-round?
Arizona's ESA accepts applications from July 1 to June 30. Ohio's EdChoice takes 2026–27 applications through June 30, 2027, with prorated awards after October 14, 2026. West Virginia's Hope Scholarship accepts new 2026–27 applications at a reduced award through February 28, 2027.
When can families apply for federal SGO scholarships?
The federal credit applies to donations made on or after January 1, 2027, in states that opt in, and states submit their SGO lists to the IRS by February 15, 2027 under the proposed rules. Each SGO sets its own family application dates. Some, like ACE Scholarships in Colorado, expect to open in mid-November 2026.
Keep exploring
Get ready before your window opens
Programs, amounts and deadlines, state by state.