Kids are back to school, but for Iowa's public schools, things have gotten more challenging. Public school funding hasn't kept pace with inflation, and many districts are losing students and the funds that come with them. On this episode, we check in with school districts around the state — Des Moines, Creston, Cedar Rapids and Sumner-Fredericksburg. We discuss how these school districts have been navigating the strained budget and their plans moving forward.
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The Cedar Rapids school board voted to close six schools in an effort to right-size the district’s finances. District officials said they see it as an opportunity to give students the best chance at a high-quality public education as the district faces pressure from state-funded education savings accounts and new charter schools opening nearby. -
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican running for governor, said private schools should accept all students who want to attend, as Iowa continues providing state funding to help Iowans pay for private school tuition. -
State Auditor Rob Sand — the only Democrat running for governor — is proposing term limits and cognitive tests for elected officials, along with changes to Iowa’s elections, as part of his plan to promote accountability in the state’s political system.
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Des Moines Prep is one of the state's newest charter schools to open, now raising the state's total open charter schools to 10. The school is operated by Omaha-based nonprofit Opportunity Education, an organization founded by billionaire Joe Ricketts. -
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued decisions concerning gender-affirming care, birthright citizenship, religious charter schools and more. Legal experts discuss the rulings and their implications. -
School districts must restrict student cellphone usage during class time starting this upcoming school year, under a bill signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The legislation is aimed at reducing distractions and boosting student engagement in the classroom.
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Public, private and charter schools in Iowa would be required to show fetal development videos to students starting in fifth grade under a bill passed Thursday by Republicans in the Iowa House. -
After achieving accreditation from a global nonprofit, the Iowa City school can now offer independent instruction, teach international students and accept tuition from state tax-funded ESAs. -
State Auditor Rob Sand said the Iowa Department of Education denied him access to information about the state’s education savings accounts. Gov. Kim Reynolds said Sand used the wrong process to seek information and accused him of trying to score political points.
