Lawmakers are waiting for what’s expected to be a massive bill impacting Iowa schools. Gov. Kim Reynolds outlined the bill in her Condition of the State address earlier this week. The bill would require schools to offer 100{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} in-person learning. The bill could come any day now and is expected to not only deal with return to learn, but with school choice measures proposed by Reynolds. “We can’t wait any longer and our kids can’t wait any longer,” Reynolds said. The bill is also expected to include a number of elements under the banner of school choice, including open enrollment, education savings accounts and more flexibility to create public charter schools. Lawmakers are now waiting to see the bill. “I think a lot of what the governor said the devil’s in the details,” said (R) Rep. Dustin Hite. Hite chairs the House Education Committee. He said he and other Republicans are supportive of getting kids back in class, and the overarching theme of second choice. “What that looks like, that’s what we need to talk about,” Hite said. Democrats have expressed worries that public dollars may go back to private schools. “This is a time when parents are figuring out how best to teach their kids and to use this as an example, as an excuse to bring forward a school voucher bill is cynical at best,” said (D) Rep. Jennifer Konfrst.But Hite said school choice has been talked about for a while now. “The pandemic may have brought it to light a little bit more. It’s not a pandemic related thing. It’s always been out there,” Hite said. And there’s likely to be disagreement on that 100{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} in-person option. “Most of the concern I’m hearing is about the lack of ability to make those decisions in our own communities,” Konfrst said. “We’ve heard from parents, ‘I don’t want my kid to go back.’ Well that’s not what we’re saying here,” Hite said. “We’re saying you should have the option to make that decision.” Democrats have said they too feel the best place for kids is at school, but it has to be done safely. Republicans like Hite said it’s clear the majority of Iowa schools have been able to do that. While there hasn’t been an exact date for when the bill will come out, lawmakers are expecting it next week.
Lawmakers are waiting for what’s expected to be a massive bill impacting Iowa schools.
Gov. Kim Reynolds outlined the bill in her Condition of the State address earlier this week. The bill would require schools to offer 100{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} in-person learning.
The bill could come any day now and is expected to not only deal with return to learn, but with school choice measures proposed by Reynolds.
“We can’t wait any longer and our kids can’t wait any longer,” Reynolds said.
The bill is also expected to include a number of elements under the banner of school choice, including open enrollment, education savings accounts and more flexibility to create public charter schools.
Lawmakers are now waiting to see the bill.
“I think a lot of what the governor said the devil’s in the details,” said (R) Rep. Dustin Hite.
Hite chairs the House Education Committee. He said he and other Republicans are supportive of getting kids back in class, and the overarching theme of second choice.
“What that looks like, that’s what we need to talk about,” Hite said.
Democrats have expressed worries that public dollars may go back to private schools.
“This is a time when parents are figuring out how best to teach their kids and to use this as an example, as an excuse to bring forward a school voucher bill is cynical at best,” said (D) Rep. Jennifer Konfrst.
But Hite said school choice has been talked about for a while now.
“The pandemic may have brought it to light a little bit more. It’s not a pandemic related thing. It’s always been out there,” Hite said.
And there’s likely to be disagreement on that 100{c25493dcd731343503a084f08c3848bd69f9f2f05db01633325a3fd40d9cc7a1} in-person option.
“Most of the concern I’m hearing is about the lack of ability to make those decisions in our own communities,” Konfrst said.
“We’ve heard from parents, ‘I don’t want my kid to go back.’ Well that’s not what we’re saying here,” Hite said. “We’re saying you should have the option to make that decision.”
Democrats have said they too feel the best place for kids is at school, but it has to be done safely.
Republicans like Hite said it’s clear the majority of Iowa schools have been able to do that.
While there hasn’t been an exact date for when the bill will come out, lawmakers are expecting it next week.
