Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed perhaps the gold standard of school choice bills on Tuesday night. The Students First Act would help provide Iowa families with expanded choice in educational opportunities across the state by creating an Education Savings Account that will help families navigate financial restrictions that have served as barriers to educational freedom in the past.
“If we are not providing a foundational education for our children then we are failing,” Reynolds said during Tuesday night’s Condition of the State Address. “And when I say our children, I mean every child. Our first priority in this legislative session — and what I will be focusing on over the next four years — is making sure that every child is provided with a quality education that fits their needs. This is no small feat. It will take all of us. And it will involve multiple efforts.”
Reynolds said if the only idea is “more funding,” then the work isn’t being put in and the focus isn’t on the children. She noted other states spend less per student and get better results.
“This isn’t about money,” she said. “It’s also not about public versus private schools. If that’s how you want to frame it; if you want to pretend this is a war between two different school systems, then you’re not focused on our children.”
Beginning July 1, 2023, the following students who attend a nonpublic school will be eligible for an ESA:
*students eligible to enroll in kindergarten;
*students eligible to enroll in grades 1-12 who were not enrolled in a nonpublic school for the immediately preceding school year (all public school students regardless of income);
*students eligible to enroll in grades 1-12 and were enrolled in a nonpublic school for the immediately preceding year if the student’s household has an annual income less than or equal to 300 percent of the most recently revised poverty income guidelines.
Beginning July 1, 2024, the following students who attend a nonpublic school will be eligible for an ESA:
*students eligible to enroll in kindergarten;
*students eligible to enroll in grades 1-12 who were not enrolled in a nonpublic school for the immediately preceding school year (all public school students regardless of income);
*students eligible to enroll in grades 1-12 and were enrolled in a nonpublic school for the immediately preceding year if the student’s household has an annual income less than or equal to 400 percent of the most recently revised poverty income guidelines.
*students who received an ESA payment in the immediately preceding school budget year.
Beginning July 1, 2025, the following students who attend a nonpublic school will be eligible for an ESA:
*students eligible to enroll in K-12 who attend a nonpublic school for the applicable school budget year.
“If we’re really going to make sure that every child has a quality education, then we have to set aside this us versus them mentality,” Reynolds said. “Because it’s not about whose team you’re on, it’s not about your politics, it’s not about you and it’s certainly not about me. It’s about our children.”
Families will have to request an ESA by submitting an application to the Department of Education. Within 30 days of submitting an application, the Department of Education must notify the parent or guardian of each pupil approved for the following school year and specify the amount of the ESA payment for the pupil, if it is known at the time of notice. Payments will only be approved for one school year and applications must be submitted each year.
Unused funds in a student’s account at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the student’s account and can be used for qualified educational expenses in the future until the student becomes ineligible or the remaining amounts are required to be transferred to the general fund of the state under the bill. Students with money remaining in the account upon graduation from high school or reaching 20 years old will have that money transferred to the state’s general fund.
The bill does require the Department of Education to compile all state and federally-required student assessment results for participating students to analyze student proficiency and academic progress of those students participating in the program.
Reynolds said regardless of reason, every parent should have a choice of where to send their kid.
“And that choice shouldn’t be limited to families who can afford it,” she said.
