Iowa’s public K-12 schools will get a 2% increase in general state support, bringing total state spending per student to more than $8,100 next year. Republicans in the Iowa House approved the plan late last week, and on Monday Senate Republicans voted to send it to the governor.
The decision also means every state-funded Education Savings Account for a private school student will receive more than $8,100 for the next school year.
Democrats, including Sen. Molly Donahue of Cedar Rapids, say Republicans are opening the state’s checkbook for private schools while telling Iowa’s public schools to cut staff and consider consolidations.
