Public feedback indicates Iowa school choice bill is widely unpopular
New numbers came in Tuesday evening after a public hearing was held to discuss Gov. Reynolds' controversial new school choice bill in Des Moines.
73% of Iowans who gave feedback came out against the Students First Act; more than 1,200 Iowans who said they don't want their taxpayer dollars going to private schools.
The other 27%, around 440 people, indicated they were in favor of the plan.
Republican lawmakers want to put taxpayer dollars into an education savings account for eligible families who want to send their kids to private schools.
"We support this bill because it provides alternatives to all Iowa parents when it comes to educating their children, in the form of an education savings account," said Trish Wilger, executive director of The Iowa Alliance For Choice In Education.
A big argument for opponents on Tuesday centered around students with special needs.
Those students are unlikely to get the same choice other families would under the proposed plan because private schools aren't obligated to enroll them the way public schools are.
"We love public schools. But we also know public schools are our only option," Mother Jazlyn Fitz said. "My son and other kids like him will have no choice to attend a private school, because private schools can and will choose not to accept him and his specialized needs. Public schools accept and care for all children. In my mind, vouchers are discriminatory towards disabled children because there is no guarantee or mandate that they will be accepted or properly supported in private schools."
The Students First Act passed out of the Senate subcommittee last week.
It still needs to pass another committee vote before the full Senate can vote on it.
