Education Funding

A longtime northwest Iowa educator who worried he would lose students to private schools didn’t see any change in enrollment this school year.

Funding for higher ed would increase for community colleges, but not in general state funding for public universities. Lawmakers also want to know about their diversity initiatives.

After 181 years in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Wesleyan University will close at the end of May. Local residents are mourning the loss and considering an uncertain future.

Also, likely 2024 presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence visited Iowa this week and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley will visit this weekend on the heels of her official campaign launch.

Almost a month into the 2023 legislative session, Republicans who control both chambers of the Legislature are continuing to push their education priorities. They’re also rushing to prevent a property tax increase as cities and counties worry about getting some certainty for their budgets.

The increase amounts to about $107 million more in base K-12 funding compared to last year, for total public school state aid of nearly $3.7 billion.

Iowa political analysts discuss the recently signed school choice bill, confidential documents found in President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence's homes, Jan. 6 convictions and more.

Also, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill that allocates up to $7,598 of state funding per child per year for private school tuition.

Iowa lawmakers are preparing to vote on a bill that would allow students to use their state-funded per-pupil funding as a scholarship to attend a private institution.

The subcommittee was the public’s first chance to comment on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to create state-funded accounts that families could use to pay for private school.