tr?id=&ev=PageView&noscript=

WATCH: Schools are shortchanged in the heartland

By Iowa Production Staff, Salina Heller

February 15, 2026

If you live in Iowa, you know public school funding is a hot topic.

Educators warn of a “funding crisis” as state aid lags behind inflation. How much of a lag? State aid is now $888 less per student than it would have been if kept in line with inflation. That’s not $888 of new money—it would have been just enough aid to keep up with current expenses with inflation.

And it seems that things are about to get worse. For the upcoming school year, the Iowa Senate proposed a 1.75% increase in state aid. Gov. Kim Reynolds recommended 2%. Both fall short of the 5% increase requested by the Iowa State Education Association to keep pace with rising costs.

✏️: Salina Heller

  • Iowa Production Staff
  • Salina Heller

    A former 15-year veteran of reporting local news for western Wisconsin TV and radio stations, Salina Heller also volunteers in community theater, helps organize the Chippewa Valley Air Show, and is kept busy by her daughter’s elementary school PTA meetings. She is a UW-Eau Claire alum.

CATEGORIES: POLITICS VIDEO
Related Stories
Share This
BLOCKED
BLOCKED