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Iowa News You Can Use

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Iowa Production Staff
Feb 2026 19

WATCH: What’s siphoning money out of Iowa’s public schools?

By , | LOCAL VIDEO, COMMUNITY, Iowa Production Staff, Salina Heller

Could Iowa phase out private school vouchers someday?

That’s what a grassroots group is working toward.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) wants to get rid of vouchers and put the tax money that goes to private schools back into the public school system.

CCI is organizing people to urge their local school boards to pass a resolution that demands the governor and state legislature end vouchers, plus provide a 5% annual increase in public school funding.

So far at least 10 of Iowa’s 327 school districts have unanimously passed resolutions, including the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

That’s where Kelly McMahon is a kindergarten teacher.

✏️: Salina Heller

Salina Heller - Iowa Starting Line
Feb 2026 15

WATCH: Schools are shortchanged in the heartland

By , | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff, Salina Heller

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

Salina Heller - Iowa Starting Line
Dec 2025 1

WATCH: Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill burdens school meal programs

By , | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Salina Heller, Iowa Production Staff

Giving out free fruit for snack time. Stocking on-site pantry shelves. Coordinating after-school meals with local non-profits.

School districts across Iowa scrambled to make sure students were able to eat when there were SNAP delays due to the government shutdown and the Trump administration’s challenges to court rulings. Now, there’s a looming threat of big, long-term SNAP cuts from the Republicans signature tax and spending law—the “Big Beautiful Bill Act.” It’s poised to kick millions of people off SNAP, which is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.

While schools are scrambling to fortify existing food programs and connect families with community resources, their work may not be enough to compensate for the potential loss of SNAP benefits, which would lead to hungry bellies in just about every classroom in Iowa.

✏️: Salina Heller

Salina Heller - Iowa Starting Line
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