Dozens signed up to speak at School Voucher Plan hearing
Hunter
01/17/23
An Education reform subcommittee will hold a public comment hearing tonight, allowing Iowans to speak for or against Governor Kim Reynolds plan to offer private school vouchers with state funds.
The bill, if approved, would offer nearly $7600 in education savings accounts, which could be used for private school tuition and other related costs. Though restricted to families making less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level in year one, the program would be available to any family regardless of income by year three.
The governor’s plan will cost nearly $314 million annually by the time the program is fully implemented. The $7500 allocated to each qualified student would be subtracted from that student’s school district funding, although the state would reimburse the district $1205 for each student. That would amount to a net loss to the district of nearly $6400.
The committee’s hearing at the State Capitol is scheduled to start at 5 pm and last about 90 minutes. KCRG TV reports that as of Monday afternoon, over 90 people had signed up for the opportunity to speak for up to two minutes, meaning those who signed up aren’t guaranteed a chance to speak.
An online site has been set up for those unable to attend to leave comments on the proposal. A link to the site is available under this story on our website at 1630 KCJJ dot com.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/publicHearings?action=viewOnlineSignup&meetingID=35789
So far, more online comments are against the proposal than for. One, from Jean Schilling from the Central Springs School Board, pointed out that a family with four students taking the private school vouchers could divert out enough funds greater than the annual wage of a para-educator.
