Thanks for this very relevant report. It seems to be the new charter/private schools can do what they do sort of like new independent churches get established - by siphoning off people from established organizations (in this case students from existing public schools).
Such is the case in Humboldt. A new private religious elementary school is planned to start this year and is actively recruiting kids (well, parents) right now. 50 kids @ $8000 will amount to $400,000 lost revenue from our local public school.
Worse, the president of the Humboldt school board is from the church starting the new school and sees no conflict of interest in his efforts to establish and promote the new parochial school.
Several of us in the community are suspicious of Christian nationalist motives.
Jim, thanks so much for this report from the fields of rural Iowa! We are struggling out here with declining populations, and last thing we need is a new private religious elementary school. The state argues that it compensates public schools for this attrition to private schools, but not at the same rate as having these students counted under their roof. I cannot imagine being president of the school board of a public school, and at the same time, supporting the launch of a new parochial school. What a conflict of interests!
Using public funds to support private (typically religious) schools is an egregious use of tax dollars. I remember when Iowa public schools were the envy of the nation - part of the reason my family moved back to Iowa after a decade in other states. I hope this travesty will be overturned, but I’m not sure I see how.
Thanks, Jim. It is wrong-headed and short-sighted, and more! But it won't be easy to take away the funds that are supporting this new educational surge called parental choice. The best we can hope for now is to move the pendulum back to a needs-based criteria for vouchers. And, to put the brakes on charters. I'm open to other ideas. Thanks again.
Ever since she felt slighted by her abysmal political support from public school teachers, unions, AEA’s and administrators, Reynolds’ personal grievances have fueled a wave of enmity toward public education. No matter how hard she tries to wrap individual choice into defense of private schools, there is no justification for taxpayer dollars funding independent religious indoctrination centers, private charter schools or home schooling. If an influx of Madras Islamic schools were being built using public funds ( with similar levels of oversight) there would be an immediate cry for halting this unnecessary and unconstitutional attack on what was formerly the most respected public education system in America.
They’re actively promoting a separate apartheid like system, absent the same curriculum and oversight regulations of public education systems.
You're absolutely correct in your assessment of this sad state of affairs. We are sacrificing our future and the future of Iowa's children for the sake of narrow partisan politics (Project 2025, Christian nationalism, you name it). Thanks for your insights!
Thank you for explaining what public education is struggling with lately. It just makes me sad. I worry about students who may fall through the cracks of bad policies and underfunding and , therefore, have a lesser education than I had, or my kids had. Why is Iowa letting educational excellence slip? He common good was good for me.
Thank you for your work, Cheryl. We will keep doing all we can to not only maintain, but also improve, public education in Iowa and across the United States.
You have articulated what is happening here in Iowa very clearly. Iowa used to be First in the nation in education, and if the Governor and Legislature continue to have it their way, it never again will be. Their actions (as well as inaction and ignoring parental and educator input as they make decisions), produce an immeasurable disservice for our children. As a retired school psychologist, I see that the evidence is mounting to demonstrate that the refusal to increase funding for students (not schools) and systematically dismantle the 9 AEAs in Iowa hurts STUDENTS and their families. In addition, this situation places additional undue burden on teachers and school staff. Their decisions negatively impact a large number of PEOPLE, while benefiting a few corporations. Your examples illustrate the inequities that are happening and will continue. Thank you for your service on a school board - they are forced to operate at the whim of the Governor and Legislature. Members of school boards have a very difficult job - to manage ever-decreasing funding to guide the education of students so they graduate and become successful, contributing members of a democratic society. All children can learn and deserve a high quality education that allows each student to reach their full potential.
One last statement: public schooling exists to educate ALL students and must not continue to operate with inadequate funds, to which school vouchers contribute. Separation of Church and State must prevail.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your insights regarding public education in Iowa. I apologize for a slow response, but I was out of pocket for a couple of days. Thanks for your close reading of my column, and your candid assessments of the situation.
Thanks for this column. I strongly agree with your analysis. It appears some of our public schools failed to provide a good education to some of our legislators. The harm will continue for many years.
Thanks, John! I had to chuckle when I read your comment "It appears some of our public schools failed to provide a good education to some of our legislators." Good one!
Thank you for this detailed information. I’ve encountered a few people who are unaware of these changes in Iowa public education. They no longer have children in school so they have not paid attention to the voucher program. It’s a surprise to them that an out of state company is making money to administer the program.
Absolutely right that we need to raise this issue. Even after our children graduate, we should care about the future for the next generation. Thanks, Char.l
Who knows! But, is it for the best? We already have many home-school families as well as a new group here that plans its own school and church. But they aren't asking for public money.
Thanks for explaining the mess Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa legislature have created in relation to school choices. Taxpayers need to know how their money is being spent and what is happening to our public schools. From being rated in the top percentages of US schools, Iowa has now dropped to mediocre ratings. The lack of foresight as to how this move to private, mostly religious, schools is shocking! What happened to separation of church and state ??? And the tuition increases for private schools shortly after private schools were approved has resulted in some very interesting uses of that extra money. Is there no limit to tuition increases?
Meanwhile, our public schools are barely holding on. One public school in western Iowa has already approved a 4 day week for next year and another school is considering shorting to 4 days.
What is the driving force behind these changes with all the problems and disadvantages for students and parents that will be created.
I doubt the proposed “not quite” 2% increase for public schools will solve many problems. Gov Reynolds and the legislature should be ashamed of what they are doing to education in Iowa.
You're welcome, Gayle! Of all of the issues that we should be focusing on as a state, creating turf battles between competing school choices is not what will pave the way to returning to Iowa's former educational success (or prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow, and life in this multi-cultural, global society) Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
I know that you are describing a real issue. I believe in public education. However my child had autism and was a visual learner. We tried three schools in Washington DC, then moved (in 2002) to my home state Iowa where I believed people took education for all and parenting more seriously. The Solon schools kicked him out because he was late to school. (we were out of boundary) ; West was big, overwhelming and terrified him. So I found myself outside Kalona in the principal’s office at the Iowa Mennonite School. I said, “This is a stretch. I think I’m an atheist.” Wilbur Yoder smiled. “. That’s ok. Let us try with your son.” It was a great school. And because of their religious ethos they were truly inclusive. They even found a tutor who taught using pictures. So my antipathy to private, religious schools was turned on its head.
My son and I are in California now. He is making a film about his life growing up with autism.
This story may or may not be relevant to your path in Iowa. But I just wanted to speak up about our experiences.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I certainly hope that Iowa and public education have come a long way since your son was in school. I realize there are some situations where a public school is not the best fit for a child. However, I have to believe that public schools are the best path forward here in Iowa for the sake of offering equality and opportunity to all (and for the sake of maintaining our democratic foundations as a country). Thank you again.
Thanks for this very relevant report. It seems to be the new charter/private schools can do what they do sort of like new independent churches get established - by siphoning off people from established organizations (in this case students from existing public schools).
Such is the case in Humboldt. A new private religious elementary school is planned to start this year and is actively recruiting kids (well, parents) right now. 50 kids @ $8000 will amount to $400,000 lost revenue from our local public school.
Worse, the president of the Humboldt school board is from the church starting the new school and sees no conflict of interest in his efforts to establish and promote the new parochial school.
Several of us in the community are suspicious of Christian nationalist motives.
Jim, thanks so much for this report from the fields of rural Iowa! We are struggling out here with declining populations, and last thing we need is a new private religious elementary school. The state argues that it compensates public schools for this attrition to private schools, but not at the same rate as having these students counted under their roof. I cannot imagine being president of the school board of a public school, and at the same time, supporting the launch of a new parochial school. What a conflict of interests!
Using public funds to support private (typically religious) schools is an egregious use of tax dollars. I remember when Iowa public schools were the envy of the nation - part of the reason my family moved back to Iowa after a decade in other states. I hope this travesty will be overturned, but I’m not sure I see how.
Thanks, Jim. It is wrong-headed and short-sighted, and more! But it won't be easy to take away the funds that are supporting this new educational surge called parental choice. The best we can hope for now is to move the pendulum back to a needs-based criteria for vouchers. And, to put the brakes on charters. I'm open to other ideas. Thanks again.
Ever since she felt slighted by her abysmal political support from public school teachers, unions, AEA’s and administrators, Reynolds’ personal grievances have fueled a wave of enmity toward public education. No matter how hard she tries to wrap individual choice into defense of private schools, there is no justification for taxpayer dollars funding independent religious indoctrination centers, private charter schools or home schooling. If an influx of Madras Islamic schools were being built using public funds ( with similar levels of oversight) there would be an immediate cry for halting this unnecessary and unconstitutional attack on what was formerly the most respected public education system in America.
They’re actively promoting a separate apartheid like system, absent the same curriculum and oversight regulations of public education systems.
They are wrong and they know it.
You're absolutely correct in your assessment of this sad state of affairs. We are sacrificing our future and the future of Iowa's children for the sake of narrow partisan politics (Project 2025, Christian nationalism, you name it). Thanks for your insights!
Thank you for explaining what public education is struggling with lately. It just makes me sad. I worry about students who may fall through the cracks of bad policies and underfunding and , therefore, have a lesser education than I had, or my kids had. Why is Iowa letting educational excellence slip? He common good was good for me.
Exactly, Sarah! I am heartsick over it.Thanks for your thoughts!
Thank you for your work, Cheryl. We will keep doing all we can to not only maintain, but also improve, public education in Iowa and across the United States.
You have articulated what is happening here in Iowa very clearly. Iowa used to be First in the nation in education, and if the Governor and Legislature continue to have it their way, it never again will be. Their actions (as well as inaction and ignoring parental and educator input as they make decisions), produce an immeasurable disservice for our children. As a retired school psychologist, I see that the evidence is mounting to demonstrate that the refusal to increase funding for students (not schools) and systematically dismantle the 9 AEAs in Iowa hurts STUDENTS and their families. In addition, this situation places additional undue burden on teachers and school staff. Their decisions negatively impact a large number of PEOPLE, while benefiting a few corporations. Your examples illustrate the inequities that are happening and will continue. Thank you for your service on a school board - they are forced to operate at the whim of the Governor and Legislature. Members of school boards have a very difficult job - to manage ever-decreasing funding to guide the education of students so they graduate and become successful, contributing members of a democratic society. All children can learn and deserve a high quality education that allows each student to reach their full potential.
One last statement: public schooling exists to educate ALL students and must not continue to operate with inadequate funds, to which school vouchers contribute. Separation of Church and State must prevail.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your insights regarding public education in Iowa. I apologize for a slow response, but I was out of pocket for a couple of days. Thanks for your close reading of my column, and your candid assessments of the situation.
Thanks for this column. I strongly agree with your analysis. It appears some of our public schools failed to provide a good education to some of our legislators. The harm will continue for many years.
Thanks, John! I had to chuckle when I read your comment "It appears some of our public schools failed to provide a good education to some of our legislators." Good one!
Cheryl,
Thank you, once again, for your clear-headed reportage on the damage being done to our public schools in Iowa. Keep speaking truth to power!
Charlie
Thank you, Charlie! I appreciate your confirmation that I'm on the right track! Take care.
Thank you for this detailed information. I’ve encountered a few people who are unaware of these changes in Iowa public education. They no longer have children in school so they have not paid attention to the voucher program. It’s a surprise to them that an out of state company is making money to administer the program.
Absolutely right that we need to raise this issue. Even after our children graduate, we should care about the future for the next generation. Thanks, Char.l
Perhaps such political manuvering can revitalize & reopen the "PILOT MOUND" school !!!
Who knows! But, is it for the best? We already have many home-school families as well as a new group here that plans its own school and church. But they aren't asking for public money.
Jim, here: Thanks, Cheryl, for laying all "cards on the table - face up".
You're welcome, Jim!
Grifters, all.
Thanks, Doug. I fear it.
Thanks for explaining the mess Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa legislature have created in relation to school choices. Taxpayers need to know how their money is being spent and what is happening to our public schools. From being rated in the top percentages of US schools, Iowa has now dropped to mediocre ratings. The lack of foresight as to how this move to private, mostly religious, schools is shocking! What happened to separation of church and state ??? And the tuition increases for private schools shortly after private schools were approved has resulted in some very interesting uses of that extra money. Is there no limit to tuition increases?
Meanwhile, our public schools are barely holding on. One public school in western Iowa has already approved a 4 day week for next year and another school is considering shorting to 4 days.
What is the driving force behind these changes with all the problems and disadvantages for students and parents that will be created.
I doubt the proposed “not quite” 2% increase for public schools will solve many problems. Gov Reynolds and the legislature should be ashamed of what they are doing to education in Iowa.
You're welcome, Gayle! Of all of the issues that we should be focusing on as a state, creating turf battles between competing school choices is not what will pave the way to returning to Iowa's former educational success (or prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow, and life in this multi-cultural, global society) Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
I know that you are describing a real issue. I believe in public education. However my child had autism and was a visual learner. We tried three schools in Washington DC, then moved (in 2002) to my home state Iowa where I believed people took education for all and parenting more seriously. The Solon schools kicked him out because he was late to school. (we were out of boundary) ; West was big, overwhelming and terrified him. So I found myself outside Kalona in the principal’s office at the Iowa Mennonite School. I said, “This is a stretch. I think I’m an atheist.” Wilbur Yoder smiled. “. That’s ok. Let us try with your son.” It was a great school. And because of their religious ethos they were truly inclusive. They even found a tutor who taught using pictures. So my antipathy to private, religious schools was turned on its head.
My son and I are in California now. He is making a film about his life growing up with autism.
This story may or may not be relevant to your path in Iowa. But I just wanted to speak up about our experiences.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I certainly hope that Iowa and public education have come a long way since your son was in school. I realize there are some situations where a public school is not the best fit for a child. However, I have to believe that public schools are the best path forward here in Iowa for the sake of offering equality and opportunity to all (and for the sake of maintaining our democratic foundations as a country). Thank you again.