2023
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Iowa House And Senate Pass Voucher Bill, Now Awaits Reynolds’ Signature
The third time was indeed the charm for Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to implement a private school voucher program in Iowa. The Iowa House passed her bill 55-45 on Monday—all Democrats voted against it, along with nine Republicans—after a nearly five-hour floor debate that saw legislators tell heartfelt stories about what public education has done…
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Jeff Shipley Laments That Student Charged With Murdering Fairfield Teacher Didn’t Get A Voucher
Rep. Jeff Shipley connected the murder of a Fairfield teacher to a student charged in her killing being denied a voucher to leave the public school over his family’s disagreement over masking policy. During floor remarks, Shipley cited an April 21, 2021, Fairfield School Board meeting in which a parent of one of the two…
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Senate Republicans Block Ability To Amend Voucher Bill
Republicans in the Iowa Senate made a change to debate rules that blocked senators from introducing amendments to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ bill that would direct millions in taxpayer money to private schools. This change is meant to limit debate and to prevent Democrats—or other Republicans—from offering any changes to the bill such as introducing income…
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The Problem With Reynolds’ ‘Taxpayer Money’ Argument On Schools
Over the last week or so I’ve been paying a lot of attention to the arguments lobbed in support and opposition to the Governor’s proposal for state-funded K-12 ESAs. It wouldn’t be news to Starting Line readers that there is a lot to worry about, particularly the deceptive, overgeneralized, and just plain untrue arguments manufactured…
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Rural Iowa Superintendent Says Voucher Bill Helps Privileged Few That Private Schools Can ‘Cherry-Pick’
Perry Community Schools Superintendent Clark Wicks has a few thoughts on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ private school voucher bill, which Iowa lawmakers are set to debate on Monday. Wicks said the legislation, which would divert over $900 million in taxpayer funds over its first four years alone, is an attack on public schools in order to…
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These 10 Iowa Counties Would Receive The Most In Voucher Money
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ staff estimates Iowa taxpayers would spend $341 million annually to pay for students’ private school tuition and related expenses once her voucher plan is fully phased in starting with the 2026-27 school year—and over half of that could be doled out to just ten counties. The plan would be rolled out over…
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Quiz: How Well Do You Know Iowa’s State Symbols?
Which of these flowers is Iowa’s state flower? Wild Rose Purple Cone Flower Prairie Lily Golden Alexanders Which rock was not considered when the Iowa General Assembly designated the official state rock in 1967? Granite Geode Limestone Fossil Coral Iowa’s state tree is the oak. Which of our neighboring states also has a variety of…
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Ingredion, Union Have Tentative Agreement; Vote Sunday
Workers who have been on strike since last summer at an ingredient and starch manufacturer in Cedar Rapids will be voting on a potential contract this weekend. The contract’s details were slowly hammered out since around 116 workers at Ingredion—organized with the Bakers, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 100-G union—began striking Aug. 1,…
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Full Iowa House And Senate Will Debate Voucher Bill On Monday
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ private school voucher bill is ready for debate on the Iowa Senate floor after passing through Thursday’s Senate Appropriations Committee meeting on a party-line 12-6 vote. The Iowa House advanced the bill on Wednesday and both chambers are set to debate the bill on Monday. During the Appropriations Committee meeting, Democrats and…
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School Voucher Bill Advancing Quickly Through Statehouse
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ private school voucher bill has passed two more milestones on its way to becoming law. The bill passed through the Senate Education Committee Wednesday morning with an 11-5, party-line vote. It has not been decided when the bill will appear on the floor for debate, but a hearing in the Appropriations Committee…
