The Iowa Senate passed an education bill that allows funding to be given to a targeted group of public school students to go to an institution of their choice.

District 24 Senator Jesse Green voted in favor of Senate File 159 and tells Raccoon Valley Radio the Student First Scholarship will give up to $5,200 to students that attend one of 34 public schools in Iowa that are “federally failing” according to the Every Student Success Act. He says while none of those schools are in his district, he wants to give those students a choice to go to another school, such as private institutions. Green shares his thoughts on using public taxpayer money to pay for private schools.

“We have public-private partnerships in every sector of life. I’m not sure why it’s so scary for people to have public-private partnerships when it comes to education. These are taxpayer dollars. I want parents and children to be given the resources that they need to make the best choices for their situation.”

Green explains that the estimated $3 million for this new scholarship wouldn’t be a burden on the taxpayer.

“That’s a portion of the SSA (State Supplemental Aid) that’s already allotted to that student that can follow that student into the school of their choice. So to the taxpayer it’s neutral.”

Green doesn’t believe this bill will force any closures or consolidation of the 34 schools that are being targeted. He also doesn’t believe this scholarship will go beyond the perimeters that are set in the bill. The legislation is now in the House Education Committee for consideration.