On February 8, the state will hold a lottery to distribute unused accounts that are not being used for the current school year. They are also known as ESA accounts and have been made available to parents since 2015. Each year, the state can provide up to $6,000. These funds can be used to pay tuition at private schools or for other expenses like tutoring, transportation, curriculum, and school transport. According to a release, the department granted 435 ESA accounts in 2017-18, while 90 went unused. While the Mississippi Legislature is considering a bill to expand ESA accounts for the 2017-18 school year, some are questioning whether current accounts are being properly used. Students must be residents of Mississippi, and they must have an Individualized Education Program not more than 5 years old. The application must be submitted by February 6._x000D