After two years of setbacks, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday proposed a more ambitious and far-reaching “school choice” plan, telling the state legislature that all Iowa students receive taxpayer-funded scholarships. I asked for it to be made available. school.
Reynolds, a Republican, made the announcement in the state’s annual address at the Capitol. She sparked the criticism and “hysteria” that endured over her decision to reopen public schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We stood strongest when it mattered most. It was about our children,” she said in a prepared remark. I’m here to tell you tonight that I intention do it again. More importantly, we I will do it again. If we are not providing our children with a basic education, we are failing. ”
This is the third year in a row that the Governor has promoted the use of state funds to pay for Iowa’s private schools. Her plan failed twice, facing united opposition from Democrats in the Iowa House of Representatives and passive opposition from resistance within her own party.
This year, Reynolds is working with the newly elected Iowa House of Representatives, which includes several Republicans who replaced incumbents who opposed her plan.
House Republicans expanded their majority in last fall’s elections and now hold 64 seats in the 100-seat House. The Iowa Senate, also controlled by Republicans, has passed Reynolds’ proposal every year for the past two years.
Her new “School Choice” proposal is a significant extension of her previous efforts. Her 2022 proposal limited the number of scholarships statewide to her 10,000 families below a certain income threshold, but the new plan will allow all statewide scholarships over a three-year period. families will be phased in.
It cost $106.9 million in its first year alone, and the exact amount wasn’t immediately known.
Reynolds also proposes a 2.5% increase in state aid to public schools in her budget, bringing total public school funding to $3.68 billion.
“All parents, regardless of reason, should be able to choose where to send their children, and that choice shouldn’t be limited to families who can afford it,” Reynolds said.
Democrats have consistently criticized Reynolds’ push to allow families to use taxpayer money to pay for private schools. He said it would have a negative impact on the school.
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House Minority Leader Jennifer Confurst predicted that the plan would “become less popular among Iowans” if eligibility for scholarships were expanded.
“Iowans didn’t like the plan when there was an income limit,” said Konfrst of D-Windsor Heights. “If it means wealthy families in Des Moines can put money into savings and pay taxpayers’ money for private schools while public schools across the state are collapsing, they certainly do.” I wouldn’t like it.”
Reynolds also proposed increasing funding for the Pregnancy Resource Center, which provides anti-abortion counseling, and unveiled plans to reorganize the Iowa government by consolidating more than half the number of state agencies.
Under Reynolds’ plan, every family in Iowa is eligible for a private school scholarship.
In addition to expanding the reach of her education plan to all families in Iowa, Reynolds said her new proposal will also increase the amount families receive from the state for their education savings account.
Each student who applies for an education savings account will receive $7,598 from the state, Reynolds said. This is the total amount Iowa provides per child in public school. Last year’s iteration should have provided about $5,500 per student.
By the third year of the plan, families will be eligible for scholarships regardless of income, Reynolds said. This is a change from her last year’s plan to limit her eligibility to her 400% of federal poverty guidelines.
Also, the scholarship is available not only for students who are currently attending private school, but also for students who have transferred from public school to private school.
Reynolds has often said that his educational plan is not a zero-sum game, and has disputed criticism that the proposal pits public and private schools against each other.
“We have an incredible public school full of wonderful, dedicated teachers, and my daughter is one of them,” said Reynolds. “But every child is a deserving individual who deserves an education tailored to their needs, and parents are best placed to identify the right environment.”
It remains unclear whether Reynolds supports her plans at Iowa House. bottom. Following Reynolds’ speech, Grassley called the proposal “a very ambitious plan” and hoped the process would start soon because “clearly many members are eager for it.” said that he is
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Faith-based groups have supported Reynolds’ previous education proposals, and Reynolds noted that faith-based education is likely to appeal to some families.
“Some families may want an education that aligns with their faith and moral convictions,” she said. Some children may have ambitions and abilities that require a unique educational environment. Others may experience bullying or have special needs.
Critics of Reynolds say private schools, including religious schools, do not have to accept all students the way public schools do.
“Overwhelmingly, Iowans don’t want their hard-earned taxes going into private schools. Private schools control who gets in and who doesn’t, not parents. ,” said Connie Ryan, executive director of the Interfaith League of Iowa.
Reynolds also asked school districts to be more flexible with certain funds so they could use the funds to increase teacher salaries.
Awaiting Court Decision, Reynolds Proposes Funding Abortion Alternatives
Reynolds is a staunch abortion opponent. But she and her legislative leaders say they are waiting for a significant court decision before introducing or passing new legislation restricting abortion.
The Iowa Supreme Court will consider whether a 2018 law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy can go into effect in Iowa.
Rather than calling for further restrictions, Reynolds called on lawmakers to discourage women from getting abortions and to provide additional funding for groups offering other services, such as counseling and parenting classes.
“(A) A pro-life state is a state that surrounds everyone involved in a pregnancy, born or unborn, mother or father, with protection, love and support,” Reynolds said. .
Legislators have created a framework to fund the Pregnancy Resource Center with the passage of the “More Options for Mothers’ Support” bill, known as MOMS. I am proposing an increase.
“Tonight, I am calling on Congress to expand the MOMS program to increase father involvement and address fathers’ needs,” Reynolds said. “This new funding will enable non-profit grants to support at-risk fathers and mentoring school-aged men.”
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Reynolds also asked for funding for four new obstetrics and gynecology fellowships for primary care physicians, and said it would provide an additional $12 million for healthcare apprenticeship programs.
She returned to the priorities that stalled in the last session, arguing that Iowa must cap the amount of noneconomic damages it can claim in court in a malpractice case to $1 million.
She said the “out of control verdict” is “pushing obstetrics and gynecology clinics out of business and driving medical school graduates out of state.”
Reynolds plans to merge more state agencies
Reynolds said she plans to cut the number of state agencies in Iowa by more than half in order to reorganize how the state provides services. It does not reduce agency funding, programs or current employees.
“We will introduce legislation to improve the services we provide and streamline our operations by increasing the number of government agencies from 37 to 16,” Reynolds said.
She said the current structure creates “unnecessary friction” for Iowa because services are spread across multiple state agencies. Reynolds said 11 agencies operate some kind of workforce program, with more than 100 specialized licensing functions spread across another 11 agencies.
“It’s been nearly 40 years since we undertook a comprehensive review of government operations and structures,” says Reynolds. “And frankly, it shows.”
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She noted that last year’s merger of the Iowa Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health created a new Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Kelly Garcia.
“The change has paid off,” said Reynolds. “Employees didn’t lose their jobs and service didn’t become less important. In fact, quite the opposite happened.”
Reynolds also took aim at what she described as a bloated and cumbersome state regulatory framework.
She also said Tuesday she issued an executive order that ordered a moratorium on new administrative regulations and directed state agencies to review the rules and regulations found in more than 20,000 pages of Iowa’s administrative code. The agency will assess whether each one is “worth the economic cost” and “only those that meet this criteria will be reissued. The rest will be retired.”
“When it’s all over,” she said. “Iowa will have a smaller, clearer, more growth-friendly regulatory system.”
Stephen Gruber-Miller is in charge of the Iowa State Capitol and politics at the Register. You can contact him by email. [email protected] Or call 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter. @sgrubermiller.
Katie Akin is a political reporter for The Register.contact her [email protected] or at 410-340-3440. Follow her on Twitter. @Katie Akin.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is Chief Politics Reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact her at [email protected] or her 515-284-8244. Follow her on her Twitter. @Brian DMR.
