Can an Indiana ESA pay for transportation to services?
Up to $750 a school year for fees paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider taking the student to and from an approved special education service provider; a waiver can add $750 more.
Up to $750 a school year for fees paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider taking the student to and from an approved special education service provider; a waiver can add $750 more.
Transportation is not part of the voucher.
Transportation does not appear on IDOE's list of SGO-qualified expenses.
Which rules apply in 2026-27?
- The waiver is requested from the ESA office and is not guaranteed; total transportation can never exceed $1,500 a year.
- When two or more ESA students share the same route, only one claim per vehicle is accepted.
What does the ESA refuse under transportation to services?
The state excludes: gas cards and mileage reimbursement; buying, leasing or insuring a vehicle; rides already paid by another source.
How does this play out for Indianapolis-area families?
For a family in Hendricks or Johnson County driving to a therapy clinic on Indianapolis's north side, the cap covers a commercial service, not the family car.
| Allowed (ESA) | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| The waiver is requested from the ESA office and is not guaranteed; total transportation can never exceed $1,500 a year. | Gas cards and mileage reimbursement |
| When two or more ESA students share the same route, only one claim per vehicle is accepted. | Buying, leasing or insuring a vehicle |
| Rides already paid by another source |
Sources: Indiana Treasurer of State, ESA Spending Categories (revised March 27, 2024), which IDOE's February 2026 ESA FAQ says remain the approved categories for 2026-27; IDOE ESA program page, Common Eligibility Determination Requests (checked October 2026); IDOE Choice and SGO program pages. A summary, not legal advice; the ESA handbook controls.