At the center of the school choice debate is whether families or bureaucrats are in control of education. Governor Kim Reynolds has made parental choice in education a priority for the 2021 legislative session. Whether it is ensuring all Iowa students have the option to return to class or expanding parental choice, Governor Reynolds understands that education is about students […]
“I feel like everybody should have the ability to make a choice like I did…”
During her Condition of the State address, Governor Kim Reynolds outlined a comprehensive school choice reform plan. One aspect of this calls for expanding charter schools in Iowa. Charter schools are public schools that are run independently but are still held accountable to state and federal standards. These schools are currently limited in Iowa but can provide a more flexible […]
Coretha lost her husband sixteen years ago. Twelve years later, she lost her daughter, Da’Onna. After this tragedy, Coretha is raising her three grandchildren by herself. Although she was happy with the local public school, she quickly found that her grandchildren were being bullied. She began looking for an alternative option, but she quickly realized she could not afford it on […]
“Educations savings account would make it possible for my kids to attend the school that best fits them.” “I’m raising my three grandkids after my youngest daughter, Da’Onna, passed away four years ago.” “Da’Onna became sick and I moved in with her to help out with the kids. Four years ago, this month, she went in for a procedure […]
By offering a customized and unique curriculum, Joshua Christian Academy in Des Moines offers its students hope and opportunity they would not otherwise have had in traditional public schools.
“Educations savings account would make it possible for my kids to attend the school that best fits them.” “We moved here from Raleigh, North Carolina and live on an acreage just outside the city limits of Glenwood, Iowa. We drive down three miles of gravel road to get to our house.” “I got a job offer in Omaha, but […]
In an effort to fill the gaps within the public school system, Royal Legacy Christian Academy opened its doors in 2008. The goal, to provide an affordable and accessible alternative to traditional public schools. Enrollment today continues to grow, as do the grade levels RLCA provides.
“Putting dollars behind the child with education savings accounts… would give many more families the ability to choose the education that fits their values and child’s needs.” “I was born and raised here in Waterloo, Iowa. I’ve always been very Waterloo-proud. When I went to college, I wanted to get some experience to bring back to this area – […]
“…parents must have to be able to give their child an education that isn’t at odds with what they’re teaching at home.” “Back in 2008, Mrs. Chris Hurley and myself began talking to each other about the importance of having a Christian school in the urban area, in Des Moines – one that would also be affordable for the […]
By offering a customized and unique curriculum, Joshua Christian Academy in Des Moines offers its students hope and opportunity they would not otherwise have had in traditional public schools.
“Education savings accounts would mean a huge deal to parents in our community and elsewhere, looking for an alternative that would meet their child’s unique needs.” “We have graduates this year that would not have graduated without in-person classes. We have students that, if not for our Christ-centered mission and student-centered learning environment at Joshua Christian Academy, would not be […]
From my experience traveling across Iowa and visiting with parents and teachers, I am convinced that having more choice in education is vital. Real-life stories of change from parents and private school leaders illustrate the importance of choice in education. A small private school principal in eastern Iowa shared, “We’ve increased our numbers this past year because of COVID-19. Parents […]
The Kirkwood Institute and the Tax Education Foundation of Iowa (TEF Iowa) released a special investigation into the Des Moines Public Schools and open enrollment. The report details documents, not previously released publicly, that show how the DMPS denies open enrollment requests from families who cite harassment, bullying, and even sexual assault.
Governor Kim Reynolds in her Condition of the State Address proposed the Students First Act, a bold comprehensive education reform plan, which places Iowa students first by removing barriers to educational opportunity. The goal is to ensure that socioeconomic status and zip codes do not limit the ability of parents to provide the best education for their children. The COVID-19 pandemic […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the discussion over education delivery in Iowa. Many Iowa parents are struggling with their children learning from home or balancing a hybrid system of in-school and online learning. In addition, many children are being impacted by the “COVID slide” and are falling behind academically. This has led to a growing call for more parental choice […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is greatly impacting how Iowans view education. As a result, many students across Iowa are either learning completely online or in a hybrid model of online and in-class learning. Parents are being forced to balance work from home as well as facilitate their children’s online learning. Many children are not getting the education they deserve based on […]
We all know a teacher who has greatly influenced our life, but sadly faith in public education is eroding. A Gallop poll found that in 2019 only 29 percent of Americans were confident in the public-school system. Increasingly, public schools are embracing and teaching questionable ideologies, such as The New York Times 1619 Project, which redefines the American Founding as […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all aspects of life. The pandemic is especially changing the way Americans think about education. COVID has forced many schools to adopt a hybrid model of in-class and online learning. Many parents, who are working from home, are finding themselves balancing both work and guiding their child’s online education. “The COVID crisis has laid bare […]
By Walt Rogers As a former state legislator my top priority was and still is education. Perhaps one of the most memorable and heartfelt moments occurred when I chaired an Iowa House subcommittee hearing on a bill proposing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). An emotional mother testified that her “public school does not offer my child what he needs, and […]
These are just a few of the testimonials from Iowa students and parents who have benefitted from the opportunities provided by Iowa’s school choice policies. Too often the policy discussion over education centers around spending and for good reason. Public education consumes a majority of the state budget and is one of the driving costs of property tax bills. […]
Recently TEF Iowa polled Iowans to get their view on some key public policy issues. In this guide you will find not only how Iowans think about these issues, but also public policy solutions that align with the interest of Iowans. TEF Iowa has developed this guide as a resource to provide legislative candidates additional information on some of the […]
As a new school year begins amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many Iowa parents are juggling working from home and facilitating their children’s online education. Schools across Iowa are offering a hybrid of in-class and online instruction. Many parents in Iowa have selected to have their children start school online for the fall semester as a result of the virus. A […]
As a new school year begins amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many Iowa parents are juggling working from home and facilitating their children’s online education. Schools across Iowa are offering a hybrid of in-class and online instruction. Many parents in Iowa have selected to have their children start school online for the fall semester as a result of the virus. A […]
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) represent the gold standard for school choice policy. The purpose of an ESA is to allow education tax dollars to follow the student rather than a specific designated school. An ESA provides parents with the flexibility to customize the best education for their children. This includes not only choosing which school their child attends, but also […]