Public education advocates say school districts around Iowa are in a financial crisis.
They say that comes after years of inadequate increases in state funding for public schools.
State per-pupil spending has grown, on average, by 2 percent per year since 2012. At the same time, the state has expanded school choice programs in recent years, like Education Savings Accounts and enrollment at Iowa’s public schools has dipped.
Joshua Brown is President of the Iowa State Education Association. He school districts across the state are cutting staff and programs.
“Our status has shifted from a top tier academic performer to one in which private school vouchers define excellence and our traditional academic rankings have slipped to the middle of the pack," Brown said.
Lawmakers are nearing a self-imposed deadline to decide on a school funding plan by Thursday.
Governor Kim Reynolds is suggesting a two percent per-pupil funding increase. Senate Republicans are proposing a 1.75 percent increase. Both proposals are below current inflation rates.
