2026-27 School Year ESTF Eligibility

Income limits for the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program increase for the school year 2026-27 and all years after. Learn what these income limits are so you can plan ahead for your child!

For 2026-27 and every year after, households at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Line can apply for the ESTF program during the early priority application window, which opens on January 15, 2026. Here is what those numbers look like for 2026 (note that they are slightly higher than the 2025 300% calculation, as they are adjusted for inflation):

For households above 8, add $16,500 for each additional person.

For 2026-27 and every year after, ESTF participation is capped at households at 500% of the Federal Poverty Line, which for the 2026 is as follows:

For households above 8, add $27,500 for each additional person.

Applications for families at 500% FPL or below will open on February 16, 2026.

These numbers are calculated based on the 2025 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines. Income is calculated for the ESTF application based on a household’s adjusted gross income (line 11 of the 1040). The 2026 application window will be based on 2024 or 2025 taxes.

If a family is expecting a baby to be born in 2025, that baby can be counted as a household member for the purposes of determining income eligibility (medical documentation will need to be submitted with your application).

In addition to families at or below 300% FPL, other priority groups who can apply starting January 15, 2026, are children of active duty military and students who attended their residential public school in the previous school year. Any siblings of 2025-26 ESTF students can apply starting November 1, 2025.