Part of an education bill is being considered in the Iowa House that would give the ability to some parents to decide where their child could receive their education.

Senate File 159 includes the creation of a Student First Scholarship, where part of the per pupil funding would be given to the parents of children that are attending 34 Iowa schools that are considered “failing” by the federally-enacted Every Student Succeeds Act. Governor Kim Reynolds says the scholarships would be only for those students within the 34 designated schools, with a maximum amount of $3 million to be used. She points out that 32 of the 34 schools have been on the failing list since 2018. 

Reynolds says those schools represent the bottom five-percent of all public schools in the state. She notes that these schools were the lowest Title 1 scoring schools from the index score used for all students, along with having a graduation rate lower than 67-percent. Reynolds believes this scholarship program will help parents make educational decisions for their child.

“I don’t see how we can say that if you’ve got the financial means and you’re in a failing school, then you have options. But if you come from a poor family, then that child is just stuck. I don’t think that’s fair. We talk so much about equity except for when it comes to K-12 education and then if you don’t have the means, sorry fam, you’re just going to be stuck. I don’t agree with it. It’s not about special interest; it should be about the people and the kids. It’s not about the system; it’s about the child.”  

Reynolds adds some of the per pupil funding that isn’t allocated to the parents would remain with the school district. The bill was passed by the Senate and is currently in the House for consideration.