An important issue for Governor Kim Reynolds did not get resolved in the 2022 Legislation Session and one senator, she hopes that matter doesn’t go into law. 

Iowa Senator for District 14 Sarah Trone-Garroitt knows the governor’s proposal of school vouchers will be a highly discussed topic that will allow private schools to use state allocated funds for their own use. Trone-Garroitt tells Raccoon Valley Radio that she hopes this proposal fails in the 2023 Legislative Session again. 

“It’s not popular with the people of Iowa because we know that our public schools are the heart of our communities. And for the last ten years, the state has not been supporting our public 

education at the same rate that costs are rising.”

Trone-Garriott stresses that public schools have to serve every student and that this proposal would give vouchers to private schools without putting any restrictions on what students they can accept. She says  the proposal doesn’t even have a clear sense on how the money will be spent.

“It could be spent on anything, really. It could be spent on books, computers, education, camps, and lessons. It could be saved for college later. And that seems to be just something that wealthier families can kind of put in their pocket. And it’s taking it out of the public school system.”

Republicans in support of school vouchers say that this proposal gives parents better educational choices for their children. The next legislative session begins January 9th.