Over 18,500 students in 96 counties have been approved and are taking advantage of Iowa’s “Student First” ESA program. Iowa’s lawmakers enacted the Students First Act in late-January 2023, creating universal education savings accounts (ESAs) for Iowa students. Funded with the state’s share of per pupil spending, which is currently $7,635, the ESAs will soon be available to every student […]
Whether it is the passage of a universal ESA or the largest tax reform in Iowa’s history, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature have made some big changes that have made Iowa a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Two years ago, no state gave all parents money to help educate their children.
By delivering truly universal school choice, a child’s educational opportunity will no longer be blocked because of their zip code or socioeconomic status. This legislation is not about dollars, but about creating life-changing opportunities for families across Iowa. In January, the Iowa legislature passed the Students First Act, which creates a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The Students First […]
The Students First Act is a victory for families across Iowa. Last fall when ITR Foundation wondered aloud what might happen with education in 2023, we were optimistic that it could be something big. After all, Governor Kim Reynolds had just won re-election by nearly 20 points after making school choice the focal point of her campaign. The Senate had […]
Governor Kim Reynolds, after winning reelection in a landslide, delivered her sixth Condition of the State address where she continued to outline a conservative policy agenda. Governor Reynolds has led the state through natural disasters, the COVID pandemic, and through our current uncertain national economy. Since assuming office, Governor Reynolds has been a champion of conservative policies that place the taxpayer first and protect and defend traditional values. As a result, Iowa’s economy is strong, the tax code is more competitive, and as Governor Reynolds stated the state is “a beacon for freedom and opportunity.”
The microschools that have sprouted in recent years, and the new ones that are now appearing, span a wide variety of educational philosophies and approaches, from structured “classical” models to unstructured “unschooling” models, and everything in between. Iowa lawmakers are poised to debate additional school choice legislation this year. If passed, parents will be given even more flexibility on how state […]
School choice can take many shapes and sizes. We will all soon find out exactly what Governor Reynolds and the legislature have in mind for Iowa. When Iowa House Republicans released committee assignments for the 2023 legislative session, one new committee stood out above the rest: the Education Reform Committee. Speaker Pat Grassley will chair the committee that he explained will […]
If anything good has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic it is the growing awareness by parents across the nation about what is being taught in schools. This is especially true concerning civic education. For decades a crisis has existed over the decline of civic education. Numerous surveys and studies have shown that at all grade levels, including higher education, students do not have an adequate understanding of American history, American government, or Western civilization. Reform is needed to strengthen civic education in Iowa schools and the National Association of Scholars has issued social studies standards—a guide for curriculum in each classroom—that will help improve civic education in Iowa. American Birthright: The Civic Alliances Model K-12 Social Studies Standards is guide to help improve standards in civic education.
Rural citizens and legislators are concerned that school choice would take critical funding away from their local schools. ITR Foundation Deputy Director Walt Rogers sat down with Need to Know host Jeff Angelo to debunk this myth and explain how school choice would improve education quality through the competition. The discussion starts at the 9:25 minute mark.
The education establishment has done an amazing job of creating the perfect “Emperor’s New Clothes” scenario when arguing against school choice. We’ll remind you of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale that raises questions about believing our own two eyes or buying into a pretense that is being sold to us. In the story, the emperor is fond of clothes […]
Let us take a step back from all the numbers, charts, and research on the issue of school choice. If we’re honest, most of us only believe the data that fits with our narrative anyway. Instead, we can discuss a couple of arguments that opponents of school choice trot out and apply some basic common sense to both of them.
School choice, specifically in the form of Educational Savings Accounts, is taking center stage inside the Iowa Capitol as negotiations on key policy items continue with the end of this year’s legislative session in sight. ITR Foundation has detailed the need for school choice in our state from various perspectives.
Parents across Iowa are demanding greater accountability from public schools. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with current social and political movements, has raised significant concerns from parents about what is happening in K-12 classrooms across the state. Parents want greater visibility into what their children are learning and what types of books and other resources are utilized in school. Whether it is radical 1619 Project curriculum or controversial books that use vulgar words and portray explicit and pornographic content, curriculum concerns are driving this demand for more transparency and accountability. Requiring public schools to be fully transparent about classroom curriculum, available books and other resources within schools is a commonsense and much-needed reform.
The splintering of our culture — in art, religion, entertainment and so many other ways — demands a pluralism that allows various factions to co-exist. With the culture wars very much active in education, we shouldn’t expect it to work out any other way. An approach that allows families to choose the best option for them is our best bet.
This week is National School Choice week, which brings awareness to the importance of empowering parents to choose the best educational path for their children. To most parents, it is obvious that they should be in control of their child’s education. The problem is, in the collective mind of the education establishment, that is not so obvious. Remote learning caused […]
Join ITR Foundation Deputy Director Walt Rogers, School Choice Expert Corey DeAngelis, and House Education Committee Vice-Chair Representative Skyler Wheeler for an online School Choice 101 event. Watch this live Facebook event Monday, January 10 at 7:30 pm on The Iowa Standard page.
ITR Foundation Deputy Director Walt Rogers had a great interview discussing education with Jeff Stein on 1540 KXEL this week. Here is some of what Walt had to say: Connecting school choice to taxes: “If we’re going to advocate for the taxpayer, we should be looking probably at the #1 eater of tax dollars, which is public education. We should […]
“School choice shouldn’t be limited to those who have the financial means or are lucky to live in a district that’s confident enough to allow open enrollment. So, let us make choice an option for everyone.” – Governor Kim Reynolds Recently, Governor Reynolds became the first Governor in the nation to sign the Education Freedom Pledge. The American Federation […]
Nothing from the local elections here in Iowa, nor races across the country, will have changed the perception that this political environment is toxic for those who want to push a tax and spend agenda. Tuesday’s elections in Iowa and across the country are now in the books. Iowa voters went to the polls to elect candidates to school […]
Parents are fed up with mask and vaccine mandates, gender and race issues in our local schools. Citizens across Iowa are stepping up and running for their local school boards to take them back. Recently, TEF Iowa Deputy Director Walt Rogers spoke with Jeff Angelo on how these frustrations have sparked a movement to get involved in local schools.
Mask mandates are the latest controversy in a series of events that has parents up in arms over what is best for their children. Recently, TEF Iowa Deputy Director Walt Rogers spoke with Jeff Angelo on what is going on in our public schools and how school choice is the solution for families to choose the education and environment best […]
This past Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pratt issued a temporary restraining order stopping the enforcement of the mask mandate ban that the Iowa Legislature passed, and Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law. This ruling sent Iowa parents into a quandary, wondering what to do next, finding their children are again being used in a cruel game of tug of […]
Photo: @IAGovernor In a recent editorial The Des Moines Register criticized Governor Kim Reynolds’ vision for education in Iowa. During the legislative session, Governor Reynolds made students a priority and she led the nation in requiring Iowa schools to offer the option of 100 percent in-person learning. By advancing more parental choice in education, Governor Reynolds is placing families first. […]
As this year’s legislative session wound to a close, thanks to the tireless efforts of Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-led legislature, they passed several essential measures that not only expand school choice in Iowa but also place the interests of students first.
Education savings accounts (ESA) can help more Iowa families tailor their children’s education to what best fits their needs—no matter their geographic location or socioeconomic background. Rural Iowans Face Unique Education Challenges Iowa’s population is 43% rural and unfortunately, many of Iowa’s lowest rated school districts are located in rural counties. These rural areas often offer fewer educational choices […]