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Proposals would change education in Iowa

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River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

Public money to pay for private schools is back on the agenda for Iowa’s Republican lawmakers. On this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer and co-host Grant Gerlock focus on several education proposals at the statehouse. Joining the conversation are the president of the Iowa State Education Association, Mike Beranek and Lya Williams, of Johnston Parents for Equity & Anti-Racism.

Later in the podcast, State Senator Herman Quirmbach talks about controversial proposals that would shift some state funding from public to private schools and create a so-called “parent bill of rights.”

Guests:

  • Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa State Education Association
  • Lya Williams, parent, Johnston Parents for Equity & Anti-Racism
  • State Senator Herman Quirmbach, Democrat of Ames, ranking member of the Senate Education Committee
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Grant Gerlock is IPR's Assistant News Director, with expertise in reporting on education policy, the Iowa Legislature, water quality, and news in Central Iowa, all with an eye to helping Iowans better understand their communities and the state. He's covered education policy from the state to local level, environmental concerns and local policy implementations across the Des Moines and surrounding area, among many more stories, for IPR, NPR and other media organizations. Gerlock is a graduate of Miami University (Ohio).
Matthew Alvarez
Matthew was a producer for IPR's River to River and Talk of Iowa