Strong public schools
With the first few weeks of the legislative session under our belts, it’s time to turn our attention to one of our most important duties – supporting public education.
Probably the biggest decision in front of us is deciding how much money the state will invest in public schools across the state, which are home to about 480,000 kids.
After hearing from parents, educators, and school board members about the challenges they are facing next year, we’re proposing boosting support for public education by $315 million next year, which is an increase of about 5 percent.
It’s what our state needs in order to guarantee every kid in Iowa gets a quality education, regardless of where they live. It will give public schools the flexibility to meet the needs of their students, whether it’s reducing class size, expanding mental health, or raising pay for educators.
After a decade of low funding, it’s the minimum our public schools need to just keep up with rising costs. It’s also a matter of fairness given about 90 percent of our kids are in public schools. Here’s why.
When the session began, the Governor recommended a whopping 44 percent increase in the amount of public dollars going to unaccountable private schools, while offering just a 2 percent increase for public school kids.
In the first four years alone, school vouchers are now expected to cost Iowa taxpayers over $1 billion. In addition to being way more than the original cost estimates, the huge increase next year is because there are no more limits on vouchers. Every family can receive almost $8,000 of taxpayer money to send their kids to private school – even the richest families in Des Moines.
Like most Iowans, I’m an opponent of vouchers because I believe public money is for public schools. As state lawmakers entrusted with taxpayer dollars, our commitment must be to public schools first.
Here’s my bottom line: public school kids deserve at least the same increase of $315 million that is being given to private schools next year.
While the looming debate over public school funding isn’t over yet, early signs aren’t looking good for public school kids. So far, signs are showing that kids in public schools will not get the share of state resources they deserve. So far, Senate Republican leaders are siding with the Governor but Republican leaders in the House haven’t yet shared plans.
It’s so frustrating and I don’t blame Iowans one bit for feeling like politicians in Des Moines just aren’t listening to them. I’ve heard from so many people who grew up in Iowa like me saying Iowa doesn’t seem like the same state anymore, especially when it comes to our commitment to public schools. Honestly, I can’t disagree with them.
We’ve got to do better for our kids. The solution is pretty simple: put people over politics.
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State Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights serves the 32nd District in the Iowa House and is the Iowa House Democratic Leader.