Short answer: it depends entirely on your state's program. Some allow it outright, some only after tuition is paid, and a few exclude it completely. Here's the real rule in each of our service states.
ESA programs almost always treat "educational technology" as its own spending category — separate from tuition, curriculum, and therapy — and they attach one or more of these guardrails:
Always confirm through the family's official program portal before purchasing — rules get updated year to year.
Personal computers, laptops, and tablets are explicitly listed as allowable purchases in the ESA Parent Handbook. Entertainment devices (TVs, phones, game consoles) are excluded.
Under Florida law, PEP students cannot use scholarship funds to purchase laptops, computers, or other digital devices. This has been a point of active parent advocacy — families have petitioned to change it, but as of now it remains excluded. (Florida's separate FES-UA program for students with disabilities does allow technology purchases — different program, different rules.)
Laptops are an eligible marketplace purchase, but families may buy only one such device every 3 years. Buy a laptop this year, and you can't purchase another device in that category again for three years (though a different type of device is fine sooner).
Personal computers, laptops, and other technological devices are explicitly on Indiana's excluded expense list — under both the tuition/fee category and the curricular materials category. Educational software and apps are fine; the hardware itself is not.
Laptops, desktops, and tablets are eligible — but only after tuition and fees are paid in full for the semester, using whatever balance remains. Also note: Iowa's ESA requires enrollment in an accredited private school — homeschoolers don't qualify for this particular program.
Educational technology and materials are reimbursable expenses for this special-needs-only ESA. Important: the program is currently in active litigation. A court stay allows currently enrolled students to keep receiving reimbursements through June 30, 2026, but the program's future beyond that is undecided. Worth flagging to Montana families directly.
Laptops and desktops are allowed ("computer device" is a defined category), but families must submit a Computer Device Build Form and are encouraged to buy a warranty — components that fail without warranty coverage aren't replaceable with EFA funds. Tablets are capped at $1,500 per item.
Desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and interactive whiteboards are listed under "Computers and Related" educational technology. Accessories (keyboard, mouse, case, printer) are allowed once every 3 years per device. Note: ESA+ specifically serves students with disabilities.
"Computer hardware or other technological devices" is a named qualifying expense category under state law. Purchases go through the ClassWallet marketplace.
Laptops, desktops, and tablets are eligible, but a computer or tech device can only be purchased once every 3 years per student, and price caps apply (tablets are capped at $1,500). A 2026 state audit flagged overspending on high-end laptops, so expect scrutiny on pricier models.
Computers, printers, and required software are eligible under the "Technology" category, with a 2-year repurchase restriction per device category. A laptop bought this February can't be replaced with Hope funds until two Februaries from now.
"Technology, such as computers and educational software" is listed among approved expense categories. Note: the program is currently the subject of an ongoing legal challenge, though it's operating normally at present following the Wyoming Supreme Court lifting an earlier injunction.
This guide reflects publicly available program rules as of July 2026 and is provided for general informational purposes — not legal or financial advice. ESA rules change frequently; always confirm current allowable expenses directly with your program's official portal (ClassWallet, Odyssey, or your state's designated administrator) before making a purchase.