“We appreciate Governor Reynolds recognized the excellence happening every day in classrooms across the state. But in the end, words only go so far and most important to us are the actions that go with them.
Resources for Iowa’s students are important, and we simply must put them first. Public money means public access, public oversight, and public accountability.
Governor Reynolds’ voucher proposal will pull critical resources from public schools which serve more than 90% of Iowa students. It will send public dollars to private schools most Iowa families will never benefit from. Private schools choose who they serve and limit access to who they admit and employ, and most families will be excluded from participating in a voucher program based on where they live.
Our public schools have always been transparent and accountable to the parents, taxpayers, voters, and local communities they serve.
The ISEA stands firmly in support of Iowa’s excellent public education employees, our students, and our public schools. A strong public education system is the foundation of a healthy and prosperous state and should be guaranteed to all and fully funded.
Our mission, with public money, must always be to provide a safe, healthy, quality educational experience of excellence, fairness, and equality. Just like our public schools, elected officials have a responsibility to serve the many, not just the few.”
