Parents speak out on 'school choice' bill with lawmakers set to vote Monday
For two weeks, parents have packed the state house to speak about the governor's plan to use taxpayer money to pay private school tuition.
Iowa House and Senate lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Governor Kim Reynolds' "school choice" bill Monday.
Waukee parents spent their Sunday afternoon writing letters to House lawmakers, in hopes of swaying some to block the bill. They plan to drop their messages off at the statehouse Monday morning before lawmakers vote.
Among the crowd was Jessica Rieper, a Waukee mom whose 10-year-old son has autism. Rieper says she's particularly concerned about the bill, knowing that private schools can legally choose not to accept him because of his special needs.
"Private schools being allowed to turn away any student is open discrimination and Iowa taxpayers should not be supporting anything to that degree," Rieper said.
specifically notes that the state cannot force private schools to accept all students:
"This section shall not be construed to authorize the state to exercise authority over any nonpublic school or construed to require a nonpublic school to modify its academic standards for admission or educational program in order to receive payment from a parent or guardian using funds from a pupil's account in the education savings account fund."
Rieper worries her son will be left behind in a public school with fewer resources.
"Everything from electronics to staffing, support staff, teachers, even the building cost, the overhead, everything would be impacted for my son and every public school student," Rieper said.
However, Miquel Hadsall, a mother of six kids that are all in or graduated from private school, believes the plan will not have a major impact on the public school system.
"I do think there will be an impact. I do not think it will be as significant as many opponents of the plan are saying," Hadsall said. "It's time we give the power back to parents to make the decisions that are in the best interest of their children."
Hadsall says private school has been a great experience for her kids. She encourages lawmakers to stay focused on helping all kids thrive and empowering parents to select the best environment for their children.
"That is where our focus should be: on Iowa students. Regardless of their income, regardless of their zip code, regardless of their faith. It's Iowa students and it should be all of them. Unfortunately, [a] one-size-fits-all public school setting is not for everyone," Hadsall said.
Both the House and Senate plan to vote Monday afternoon. If passed, the measure could be on Governor Reynolds' desk by Tuesday.
