Gov. Kim Reynolds applauds Iowa’s new school ranking

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds applauded the state’s expansive school choice policy at an education conference organized by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that ranked Iowa ninth in the nation in its recent “Education Freedom Report Card.”

Iowa saw the biggest jump of any state in its ranking between 2022 and 2023, owing largely to the education savings account program that lawmakers passed this year, allowing Iowa families to use public school dollars to pay for private school tuition and expenses.

The new law caused Iowa to jump 13 places in the conservative think tank’s rankings, from 22nd in 2023 to ninth this year. Iowa ranked fourth for Education Choice in the group’s report.

Iowa placed 16th in transparency, 30th in teacher freedom and 25th in return on investment.

During her Thursday remarks, Reynolds thanked the Republican lawmakers who helped pass the bill into law and said the demand for the program has exceeded expectations.

“I truly believe that school choice will make the most consequential change for our education system in decades,” Reynolds said at the event at he Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel.

Nearly 19,000 Iowa students were approved for Iowa’s education savings account program this year. The program allows a student to take their full per-pupil allocation, around $7,600, to pay for a private school tuition and supplies.

Democrats, and some Republicans, opposed the law, arguing it would pull money away from public schools and give it to unaccountable private entities.

Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa State Education Association, the union representing Iowa’s public school teachers, said he was “highly disappointed” that Reynolds supported the Heritage Foundation’s views.

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“The Heritage Foundation is an ultraconservative think tank that lobbies for policies that weaken public schools, including using public money for private school vouchers, tax-funded tuition credits for private schools, expanding private charters, and defunding public schools,” Beranek said in a statement. “Any group can make a report card, but understanding their values and mission is critical.”

Speaking with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, Reynolds said she has always supported school choice, but that the COVID-19 pandemic made her more committed to making dramatic changes to Iowa’s education system.

“That, really, I think drove me to realize through all of this, parents should have the ability to decide, regardless of income or ZIP code, where their children should get their education,” she said. “And I was just hell-bent on getting it done from that point forward.”

Improving Iowa’s ranking

Though Reynolds did not outline any actions she would push for in next year’s legislative session, she did say she wants to increase Iowa’s rankings with the Heritage Foundation.

“I was doing everything I could to catch up with Florida,” she said. “We are competitive, we have you in our sights. We gained 13 spots, we’re going to be in the top five, if not higher, next year.”

Florida ranked No. 1 in the Heritage Foundation's report card.

Speaking with reporters after the event, Roberts said that Iowa can improve its ranking by making every child eligible for an education savings account a year earlier than anticipated.

Under the law, current private school students whose families make more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level will not be eligible for the program until the 2025-26 school year. The program is open to all public school students regardless of income.

“The additional thing that they can do is continue to increase transparency, that is for parents, anyone who wants to see what's going on in the classroom,” he said. “And giving teachers a lot of freedom."

Comments: cmccullough@qctimes.com