The Iowa House Education Committee recently passed a bill focusing on establishing different kinds of schools.

District 47 Representative Phil Thompson voted in favor of charter schools. He says charter schools are public schools that have to apply to the Iowa Department of Education. Thompson talks about other regulations that charter schools would follow.

“They’re subject to the same curriculum as public schools are, the curriculum requirements. They can’t discriminate in any way based on disability or anything else. They have to let students in. If they reach that cap of what they’re capacity is, then they go to a lottery system and they’re funded the same way as open enrollment.”

Thompson notes these charter schools could be created within an existing school district or within the boundaries of a school district. He points out that if a charter school applies to the Department of Education, they would have to give reasons for a specific curriculum and why it’s needed. He explains why he supported the legislation.

“There’s enough regulation here that I felt comfortable. With this being an additional option for parents, if there was a need in that community, and like I said they go through a rigorous process to determine a need for a particular curriculum. I just feel comfortable with the safeguards in place there that they’re subject to oversight and the same curriculum requirements and safety requirements that other public schools are.”

Click the link below to see the full House bill.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HSB242