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Re-Investing in Iowa’s Education System
Strategically Putting $345 Million Back Into Public Schools
Reclaiming Our Role as a Leader in Education
By Sondra Wilson. Written September 9, 2025.

Iowans deserve strong, fully funded, secular public schools. Our classrooms must be places of learning—not ideological battlegrounds shaped by partisan agendas.

This vision begins with three priorities:

  1. Redirecting $345 million per year—currently siphoned into private schools by the Reynolds administration—back into Iowa’s public schools.

  2. Listening to educators, administrators, and Iowans across generations about how those dollars should be strategically invested into public schools, and

  3. Replacing the outdated AEA model with a holistic, community-oriented approach to special education that empowers entire classrooms and communities to support all learners.

The details of this plan follow. As new solutions come forward, I will integrate them promptly. If you have proposals to strengthen Iowa’s schools, please contact me at SondraWilson4Governor@gmail.com. We the people can co-create a better platform than partisan candidates will ever present to us.

I. Strategically Divert the $345+ M/yr. back into Public Schools

In 2023, Republicans passed House File 68, which created Iowa’s Students First Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The program directs public tax dollars to families for private school tuition. Commonly known as a “school voucher program,” it functions by redirecting money that would have gone to public education and allowing families to use it for private—often religious—schools.

The ESA program, which was initially projected to cost $345 million annually by fiscal year 2027, has already cost nearly $350 million for the 2025–2026 school year, well ahead of schedule. [1] Given that 82% of Iowa’s private schools are religiously affiliated, [2] this program amounts to a massive taxpayer subsidy of religion.

But it’s not just a budgetary issue—it’s a constitutional one.

 

1. Underfunding Public Schools

  • Low allowable growth rates: Iowa sets an annual “allowable growth” percentage (the increase in per-pupil funding). For over a decade, GOP majorities have kept this rate well below inflation, meaning schools have less buying power each year.

  • Teacher pay stagnation: Iowa ranks in the bottom half of states for teacher pay, contributing to shortages and burnout.

2. Shifting Funds to Private/Religious Schools

  • ESA (voucher) program: Directs $345M/year away from public schools.

  • Tax credits for private school tuition: Even before ESAs, Iowa had tuition and textbook tax credits that advantaged private school families.

3. Cuts to Support Services

  • AEA cuts: In 2024, Gov. Reynolds and Republicans cut ~15% of Area Education Agency staff, reducing services for students with special needs (speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral supports).

  • Mental health supports: School-based mental health programs have not been expanded proportionally to need, despite student crises rising.

4. Unfunded Mandates

  • New curriculum and reporting requirements (on “parental rights,” book bans, etc.) force districts to spend time and money on compliance without extra funding.

  • Security mandates (school safety assessments, armed staff allowances) are often passed without sufficient funding.

5. Weakening Collective Bargaining & Teacher Retention

  • In 2017, Republicans passed a major rollback of collective bargaining rights for teachers (HF 291). This limited their ability to negotiate benefits, health insurance, and working conditions.

  • Result: worsened teacher shortages, especially in rural districts.

6. Tax Policy That Drains Education Revenue

  • Recent income and property tax cuts reduce the pool of funds available for education, forcing schools to do more with less.

  • By 2026, Iowa is phasing in a flat income tax, which critics warn will squeeze school budgets long term.

. diverts $345 million each year into private schools

 initially projected to cost $345 million annually by fiscal year 2027. Yet updated projections show the program will  That’s hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars diverted from public schools into private institutions—82% of which are religiously affiliated (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023).

This isn’t just a budget issue. It’s a constitutional breach.

dAnyone who works in education, or who has direct knowledge of what our schools need, will have an open line to my administration. I will listen first and foremost to the people closest to our classrooms, and every idea and consideration will be brought together and worked into the overall plan as best as can be.

I will not blindly throw funding at every idea that comes my administration’s way, however. I will seek multiple perspectives, and poke around to find out how the plan may most efficiently and effectively be implemented. 

 

  1. Restore and Improve Services for Special Education,

    • Governor Reynolds’ cuts to Iowa’s AEAs left many families struggling to find resources, particularly in special education. I have also heard from educators who believe AEAs are sometimes overhyped and inefficient—charging schools for services that could often be found online or provided more directly.

    • Iowa must move toward a holistic special education model that doesn’t isolate students, but brings classrooms and communities into the process of inclusion. That means mandatory sign language instruction for every student, universal design for learning, peer-to-peer support, and real training for teachers. Every Iowan child — deaf, neurodivergent, disabled, or not — deserves to be fully part of our schools, not cut off from them.

    • As Governor, I will ensure students get the services they need—but I will not defend bureaucracy for its own sake. I will launch a comprehensive review of AEAs, evaluating where they add value and where funds should instead be redirected into direct school-based staff or free, modern digital tools.

      My guiding principle is simple: the money should follow the student, not the bureaucracy.

  2. Teach Law in High Schools

    • Every student should graduate with a working knowledge of civil vs. criminal law, contract basics, and how to respond if their rights are violated—even by a government official.

    • Curriculum will include civil rights leaders, the Constitution, and “color of law” crimes, so students leave school ready to defend themselves and others.

  3. Keep Schools Neutral, Bully-Free Zones

    • Schools should never be used as political or religious battlegrounds.

    • I will establish restorative protocols for bullying, while ensuring schools remain safe, neutral spaces for all students.

  4. Technology Use That Makes Sense

    • Not every student in K–4 needs a personal Chromebook.

    • Instead of blanket purchases, we will use laptop carts and shared devices where appropriate, saving districts money while still giving students tech exposure.

    • Example: Ames rents Chromebooks instead of buying outright—models like this deserve expansion.

 

 

1. Mandatory Sign Language Education

  • ASL as a required course: Start in elementary school, like how we currently prioritize Spanish or French.

  • Normalize communication access: Instead of isolating deaf and hard-of-hearing students with interpreters, we empower classmates and teachers to communicate directly.

  • Cultural competency: Include Deaf history and culture, so students see it as part of Iowa’s civic fabric.

2. Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

  • Require schools to adopt curricula and teaching methods that work for all students, not just those who fit “typical” molds.

  • Examples: captions and transcripts for all classroom media, flexible assignment formats (oral, written, visual), and accessible digital platforms.

  • This helps not just deaf students, but also ESL learners, students with ADHD, and students with processing differences.

3. Peer-to-Peer Support Models

  • Buddy systems where students learn to work together across ability levels.

  • Train all students in basic disability etiquette: e.g., how to assist respectfully, how to communicate with peers using interpreters, how to support classmates with mobility devices.

  • Shifts responsibility from just the special education teacher to the entire school community.

4. Teacher Training and Incentives

  • Require all teacher certification programs in Iowa to include training on disability inclusion and communication strategies.

  • Offer stipends or loan forgiveness for teachers who earn credentials in ASL, special education, or inclusive instructional design.

5. Community Integration

  • Expand partnerships between schools and local organizations that serve people with disabilities (e.g., Deaf organizations, autism support groups, vocational rehab).

  • Create community accessibility hubs at schools where families can access interpreters, resource libraries, or adaptive technology demonstrations.

6. Rethink “Special Education” as “Inclusive Education”

  • Language matters. You could reframe Iowa’s special education mandate as Inclusive Education for All.

  • That means the whole school adapts — classrooms, peers, staff, and technology — instead of isolating the student or pushing them into separate tracks.

7. Technology Integration, But Human-Centered

  • Provide captioning software, AI note-taking for interpreters, and hearing assistive devices.

  • But emphasize: tech supplements, not replaces, human interaction and cultural competence.

 

 

II. Listening to Iowans

Beyond educators and administrators, I will poll Iowans outside the school system to hear what they believe students should be learning. Education is a public good, and parents and community members deserve input into the goals of our schools.

III. Answers to Katie’s Questions

1. What concrete steps would you take as governor to strengthen public education and bring our schools back to excellence?

  • First, I will restore the $345M/year now diverted to private schools. That money will be reinvested into teacher pay, classroom resources, special education, and infrastructure upgrades.

  • Second, I will rebuild Iowa’s AEAs to support students with disabilities and learning challenges.

  • Third, I will reduce wasteful spending (like unnecessary tech purchases) so funds go where they’re most needed.

2. Can you give a specific example of a policy or program you would implement in your first year as governor?

  • Year One Priority: Launch a “Public School Restoration Fund” to immediately return voucher money to districts. Distribution will be guided by educators and administrators, not politicians.

3. What measurable changes would families and teachers see within your term?

  • Increased teacher pay and retention.

  • Smaller class sizes in overcrowded districts.

  • Rehiring of AEA staff and improved support for special needs students.

  • Better classroom resources and reduced reliance on families to “fundraise” for basics.

4. Where would funding come from, and how would you ensure it actually reaches classrooms?

  • The funding already exists: $345M/year currently diverted to vouchers.

  • Oversight will be built in—districts must report how redirected funds are spent, with independent audits to ensure money goes to classrooms, not bloated administration.

5. How would you prioritize funding between rural and urban districts, given their different challenges?

  • Urban schools often need classroom space and staff support; rural schools often need transportation funding and specialist access.

  • Allocation will be needs-based, with advisory boards in both rural and urban areas to recommend spending priorities.

IV. On School Vouchers

  1. How do you see vouchers impacting public schools, and what’s your plan to make sure all children have access to strong education?

    • Vouchers siphon money away from already underfunded public schools. My plan is to end the voucher scheme and reinvest every dollar into public education, guaranteeing strong schools in every district.

  2. Do you believe public dollars should be used for private education?

    • No. Public dollars belong in public schools—transparent, accountable, and open to all.

  3. How will you make sure vouchers don’t drain resources from already underfunded public schools?

    • By repealing the program outright and preventing future voucher schemes.

  4. If vouchers expand, what is your plan to ensure accountability and transparency for private schools receiving public money?

    • If expansion continues before repeal, I would require private schools to follow the same transparency, testing, and anti-discrimination rules as public schools. But the real solution is ending the program and restoring constitutional neutrality.

V. Conclusion

Iowa’s voucher program is unconstitutional, fiscally reckless, and morally wrong. The $345M being siphoned away must be returned to public schools—and its use directed by those who know best: educators, administrators, parents, and students.

Our goal is simple: robust, equitable, secular, and safe public schools for every child in Iowa.

📌 References

 

1. Integrate Educator and Administrator Input — First and foremost, as Governor, I would encourage any and all educators, administrators, and persons who are closer to and who have know to this situation than I, to contact my administration a SondraWilson4Governor@gmail.com. As those who are involved in the administration and direct relation to our schools know more about this topic than anyone, that is who I would listen to first and foremost, and I would do everything in my power to ensure successful funding for any and all aspects of our public education system to make it as robust and successful (at educating) as possible. Some “under the table” ideas that have been privately shared

a.)-4: carts – laptops – k-4: not every class needs computers. – 2nd graders – one day, 3rd graders, another day.

 

every kid doesn’t need a chrome book. k=4 students – 1/4 of the computers. – ames rents chrome books.

5+ laptops

b.) 

2.) — Public Input some of the ideas

 

every kid doesn’t need a chrome book. k=4 students – 1/4 of the computers. – ames rents chrome books.

 

3.) I would put a poll out to Iowans not involve din education – what should they be learning. 1-1 computers.

 

 

 

V. Education

 

Additional planks will be added to my education plan. For now, there are the top three priorities:

 

i. Divert $345 M/year unconstitutionally siphoned into private schools back into public schools

 

By signing, House File 68, Governor Reynolds and RINO legislators decided to siphon $345 M/year in taxpayer dollars, and put it toward private, religious institutions — a direct affront to the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. My Administration will ensure that money goes back where it belongs
 READ MORE.

 

ii. Restore Iowa’s AEA’s

 

The Reynolds regime cut 15% of the workforce within Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, designed to help students with special needs (Rivers 2024).

 

iii. Teach Law in High Schools

 

Students will graduate knowing the difference between criminal and civil law. and basic step-by-step what to do if your rights are violated – including by an officer or government official (e.g. color of law crimes). Students should know how to create an effective contract, and other important aspects of law. There will be a section on civil rights leaders and the importance of respecting peoples’ civil rights
 READ MORE.

 

iv. Schools to Remain Neutral, Bully-Free Zones

 

This policy reflects that schools are not to become political arenas to exert ideological or religious influence. It also sets up a clear protocol for dealing with bullying through restorative measures
 READ MORE.

3

 

 

 

In response to first set of questions, one by one:

 

1. What concrete steps would you take as governor to strengthen public education and bring our schools back to the level of excellence they once had?

 

My response: On January 24, 2023 Governor Reynolds signed House File 68 (aka the “School Voucher Program”) into law. Once fully rolled out, it is set to divert $345 million in tax dollars per year into private, institutions. [1]

 

2. Can you give a specific example of a policy or program you would implement in your first year as governor to improve Iowa’s schools?

 

3. What measurable changes would you expect families and teachers to see within your term?

 

4. Where would funding come from, and how would you ensure it actually reaches classrooms rather than just administration?

 

5. How would you prioritize funding between rural and urban districts, given the different challenges they face?

 

 

There’s been a lot of debate about school vouchers in Iowa.

 

 

1. How do you see vouchers impacting public schools, and what’s your plan to make sure that all children—regardless of where they live or their family income—still have access to a strong education?

 

 

 

 

2. Do you believe public dollars should be used for private education?

 

 

3. How will you make sure vouchers don’t drain resources from already underfunded public schools?

 

 

 

4. If vouchers expand, what is your plan to ensure accountability and transparency for private schools receiving public money?

 

References

 

[1]: Gruber-Miller, Stephen, and Katie Akin. “Jubilant Kim Reynolds Signs Iowa’s Seismic ‘school Choice’ Bill into Law. What It Means:” The Des Moines Register, Des Moines Register, 25 Jan. 2023, www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/24/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-signs-school-choice-scholarships-education-bill-into-law/69833074007/. 

1. Underfunding Public Schools

  • Low allowable growth rates: Iowa sets an annual “allowable growth” percentage (the increase in per-pupil funding). For over a decade, GOP majorities have kept this rate well below inflation, meaning schools have less buying power each year.

  • Teacher pay stagnation: Iowa ranks in the bottom half of states for teacher pay, contributing to shortages and burnout.

2. Shifting Funds to Private/Religious Schools

  • ESA (voucher) program: Directs $345M/year away from public schools.

  • Tax credits for private school tuition: Even before ESAs, Iowa had tuition and textbook tax credits that advantaged private school families.

3. Cuts to Support Services

  • AEA cuts: In 2024, Gov. Reynolds and Republicans cut ~15% of Area Education Agency staff, reducing services for students with special needs (speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral supports).

  • Mental health supports: School-based mental health programs have not been expanded proportionally to need, despite student crises rising.

4. Unfunded Mandates

  • New curriculum and reporting requirements (on “parental rights,” book bans, etc.) force districts to spend time and money on compliance without extra funding.

  • Security mandates (school safety assessments, armed staff allowances) are often passed without sufficient funding.

5. Weakening Collective Bargaining & Teacher Retention

  • In 2017, Republicans passed a major rollback of collective bargaining rights for teachers (HF 291). This limited their ability to negotiate benefits, health insurance, and working conditions.

  • Result: worsened teacher shortages, especially in rural districts.

6. Tax Policy That Drains Education Revenue

  • Recent income and property tax cuts reduce the pool of funds available for education, forcing schools to do more with less.

  • By 2026, Iowa is phasing in a flat income tax, which critics warn will squeeze school budgets long term.

. diverts $345 million each year into private schools

 initially projected to cost $345 million annually by fiscal year 2027. Yet updated projections show the program will  That’s hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars diverted from public schools into private institutions—82% of which are religiously affiliated (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023).

This isn’t just a budget issue. It’s a constitutional breach.

dAnyone who works in education, or who has direct knowledge of what our schools need, will have an open line to my administration. I will listen first and foremost to the people closest to our classrooms, and every idea and consideration will be brought together and worked into the overall plan as best as can be.

I will not blindly throw funding at every idea that comes my administration’s way, however. I will seek multiple perspectives, and poke around to find out how the plan may most efficiently and effectively be implemented. 

 

 

 

 

💡 Strategic Reinvestment in Public Schools

This is not about randomly throwing money back at public schools. It’s about strategic reinvestment—a plan I will lay out in detail to ensure Iowa once again leads the nation in education.

I was raised in Nevada, Iowa public schools, which ranked among the top in the state when Iowa was nationally recognized for educational excellence. In the early 2000s, Iowa consistently ranked in the top 10 states for K–12 education based on student achievement and graduation rates (National Education Association, 2025; Iowa Department of Education, 2024).

I want future Iowans to have the same—and even better—opportunities than I did.

 

đŸ« A Fair Transition for Private Schools

If there are private schools that truly need support to stay afloat, my administration will not abandon them overnight. We will sunset ESA funds responsibly, ensuring no child is left behind. However, all public funds must ultimately return to secular, education-based institutions—not agenda-driven ones. That is the constitutional standard. That is the civic promise.

 

💡 Strategic Reinvestment in Public Schools

This is not about randomly throwing money back at public schools. It’s about strategic reinvestment—a plan I will lay out in detail to ensure Iowa once again leads the nation in education.

I was raised in Nevada, Iowa public schools, which ranked among the top in the state when Iowa was nationally recognized for educational excellence. In the early 2000s, Iowa consistently ranked in the top 10 states for K–12 education based on student achievement and graduation rates (National Education Association, 2025; Iowa Department of Education, 2024).

I want future Iowans to have the same—and even better—opportunities than I did.

 

đŸ« A Fair Transition for Private Schools

If there are private schools that truly need support to stay afloat, my administration will not abandon them overnight. We will sunset ESA funds responsibly, ensuring no child is left behind. However, all public funds must ultimately return to secular, education-based institutions—not agenda-driven ones. That is the constitutional standard. That is the civic promise.

 

References

[1]: Common Sense Institute. (2025, March 7). Are Iowa’s ESAs working?

[2]: National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). Private School Universe Survey.

Everson v. Bd. of Educ., 330 U.S. 1 (1947).

Iowa Department of Education. (2025). Students First Education Savings Accounts.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). Private School Universe Survey.

National Education Association. (2025). Rankings of the States 2024 and Estimates of School Statistics 2025.

Offutt v. United States, 348 U.S. 11 (1954).

The Guardian. (2020, April 28). Why has Trump appointed so many judges—and how did he do it?

Washington, G. (1796/2023). Farewell Address. In Library of Congress Presidential Papers.

 

 

In 2023 Republicans passed House File 68, which diverts $345 million each year into private, religious institutions—an affront to the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Gruber-Miller & Akin, 2023). My administration will reverse this and return those dollars to public schools where they belong.

  1. Divert $345M/year back into public schools

  2. Restore and Improve Services for Special Education,

    • Governor Reynolds’ cuts to Iowa’s AEAs left many families struggling to find resources, particularly in special education. I have also heard from educators who believe AEAs are sometimes overhyped and inefficient—charging schools for services that could often be found online or provided more directly.

    • Iowa must move toward a holistic special education model that doesn’t isolate students, but brings classrooms and communities into the process of inclusion. That means mandatory sign language instruction for every student, universal design for learning, peer-to-peer support, and real training for teachers. Every Iowan child — deaf, neurodivergent, disabled, or not — deserves to be fully part of our schools, not cut off from them.

    • As Governor, I will ensure students get the services they need—but I will not defend bureaucracy for its own sake. I will launch a comprehensive review of AEAs, evaluating where they add value and where funds should instead be redirected into direct school-based staff or free, modern digital tools.

      My guiding principle is simple: the money should follow the student, not the bureaucracy.

  4. Teach Law in High Schools

    • Every student should graduate with a working knowledge of civil vs. criminal law, contract basics, and how to respond if their rights are violated—even by a government official.

    • Curriculum will include civil rights leaders, the Constitution, and “color of law” crimes, so students leave school ready to defend themselves and others.

  5. Keep Schools Neutral, Bully-Free Zones

    • Schools should never be used as political or religious battlegrounds.

    • I will establish restorative protocols for bullying, while ensuring schools remain safe, neutral spaces for all students.

  6. Technology Use That Makes Sense

    • Not every student in K–4 needs a personal Chromebook.

    • Instead of blanket purchases, we will use laptop carts and shared devices where appropriate, saving districts money while still giving students tech exposure.

    • Example: Ames rents Chromebooks instead of buying outright—models like this deserve expansion.

 

 

1. Mandatory Sign Language Education

  • ASL as a required course: Start in elementary school, like how we currently prioritize Spanish or French.

  • Normalize communication access: Instead of isolating deaf and hard-of-hearing students with interpreters, we empower classmates and teachers to communicate directly.

  • Cultural competency: Include Deaf history and culture, so students see it as part of Iowa’s civic fabric.

2. Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

  • Require schools to adopt curricula and teaching methods that work for all students, not just those who fit “typical” molds.

  • Examples: captions and transcripts for all classroom media, flexible assignment formats (oral, written, visual), and accessible digital platforms.

  • This helps not just deaf students, but also ESL learners, students with ADHD, and students with processing differences.

3. Peer-to-Peer Support Models

  • Buddy systems where students learn to work together across ability levels.

  • Train all students in basic disability etiquette: e.g., how to assist respectfully, how to communicate with peers using interpreters, how to support classmates with mobility devices.

  • Shifts responsibility from just the special education teacher to the entire school community.

4. Teacher Training and Incentives

  • Require all teacher certification programs in Iowa to include training on disability inclusion and communication strategies.

  • Offer stipends or loan forgiveness for teachers who earn credentials in ASL, special education, or inclusive instructional design.

5. Community Integration

  • Expand partnerships between schools and local organizations that serve people with disabilities (e.g., Deaf organizations, autism support groups, vocational rehab).

  • Create community accessibility hubs at schools where families can access interpreters, resource libraries, or adaptive technology demonstrations.

6. Rethink “Special Education” as “Inclusive Education”

  • Language matters. You could reframe Iowa’s special education mandate as Inclusive Education for All.

  • That means the whole school adapts — classrooms, peers, staff, and technology — instead of isolating the student or pushing them into separate tracks.

7. Technology Integration, But Human-Centered

  • Provide captioning software, AI note-taking for interpreters, and hearing assistive devices.

  • But emphasize: tech supplements, not replaces, human interaction and cultural competence.

 

 

II. Listening to Iowans

Beyond educators and administrators, I will poll Iowans outside the school system to hear what they believe students should be learning. Education is a public good, and parents and community members deserve input into the goals of our schools.

III. Answers to Katie’s Questions

1. What concrete steps would you take as governor to strengthen public education and bring our schools back to excellence?

  • First, I will restore the $345M/year now diverted to private schools. That money will be reinvested into teacher pay, classroom resources, special education, and infrastructure upgrades.

  • Second, I will rebuild Iowa’s AEAs to support students with disabilities and learning challenges.

  • Third, I will reduce wasteful spending (like unnecessary tech purchases) so funds go where they’re most needed.

2. Can you give a specific example of a policy or program you would implement in your first year as governor?

  • Year One Priority: Launch a “Public School Restoration Fund” to immediately return voucher money to districts. Distribution will be guided by educators and administrators, not politicians.

3. What measurable changes would families and teachers see within your term?

  • Increased teacher pay and retention.

  • Smaller class sizes in overcrowded districts.

  • Rehiring of AEA staff and improved support for special needs students.

  • Better classroom resources and reduced reliance on families to “fundraise” for basics.

4. Where would funding come from, and how would you ensure it actually reaches classrooms?

  • The funding already exists: $345M/year currently diverted to vouchers.

  • Oversight will be built in—districts must report how redirected funds are spent, with independent audits to ensure money goes to classrooms, not bloated administration.

5. How would you prioritize funding between rural and urban districts, given their different challenges?

  • Urban schools often need classroom space and staff support; rural schools often need transportation funding and specialist access.

  • Allocation will be needs-based, with advisory boards in both rural and urban areas to recommend spending priorities.

IV. On School Vouchers

  1. How do you see vouchers impacting public schools, and what’s your plan to make sure all children have access to strong education?

    • Vouchers siphon money away from already underfunded public schools. My plan is to end the voucher scheme and reinvest every dollar into public education, guaranteeing strong schools in every district.

  2. Do you believe public dollars should be used for private education?

    • No. Public dollars belong in public schools—transparent, accountable, and open to all.

  3. How will you make sure vouchers don’t drain resources from already underfunded public schools?

    • By repealing the program outright and preventing future voucher schemes.

  4. If vouchers expand, what is your plan to ensure accountability and transparency for private schools receiving public money?

    • If expansion continues before repeal, I would require private schools to follow the same transparency, testing, and anti-discrimination rules as public schools. But the real solution is ending the program and restoring constitutional neutrality.

V. Conclusion

Iowa’s voucher program is unconstitutional, fiscally reckless, and morally wrong. The $345M being siphoned away must be returned to public schools—and its use directed by those who know best: educators, administrators, parents, and students.

Our goal is simple: robust, equitable, secular, and safe public schools for every child in Iowa.

📌 References

 

1. Integrate Educator and Administrator Input — First and foremost, as Governor, I would encourage any and all educators, administrators, and persons who are closer to and who have know to this situation than I, to contact my administration a SondraWilson4Governor@gmail.com. As those who are involved in the administration and direct relation to our schools know more about this topic than anyone, that is who I would listen to first and foremost, and I would do everything in my power to ensure successful funding for any and all aspects of our public education system to make it as robust and successful (at educating) as possible. Some “under the table” ideas that have been privately shared

a.)-4: carts – laptops – k-4: not every class needs computers. – 2nd graders – one day, 3rd graders, another day.

 

every kid doesn’t need a chrome book. k=4 students – 1/4 of the computers. – ames rents chrome books.

5+ laptops

b.) 

2.) — Public Input some of the ideas

 

every kid doesn’t need a chrome book. k=4 students – 1/4 of the computers. – ames rents chrome books.

 

3.) I would put a poll out to Iowans not involve din education – what should they be learning. 1-1 computers.

 

 

 

V. Education

 

Additional planks will be added to my education plan. For now, there are the top three priorities:

 

i. Divert $345 M/year unconstitutionally siphoned into private schools back into public schools

 

By signing, House File 68, Governor Reynolds and RINO legislators decided to siphon $345 M/year in taxpayer dollars, and put it toward private, religious institutions — a direct affront to the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. My Administration will ensure that money goes back where it belongs
 READ MORE.

 

ii. Restore Iowa’s AEA’s

 

The Reynolds regime cut 15% of the workforce within Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, designed to help students with special needs (Rivers 2024).

 

iii. Teach Law in High Schools

 

Students will graduate knowing the difference between criminal and civil law. and basic step-by-step what to do if your rights are violated – including by an officer or government official (e.g. color of law crimes). Students should know how to create an effective contract, and other important aspects of law. There will be a section on civil rights leaders and the importance of respecting peoples’ civil rights
 READ MORE.

 

iv. Schools to Remain Neutral, Bully-Free Zones

 

This policy reflects that schools are not to become political arenas to exert ideological or religious influence. It also sets up a clear protocol for dealing with bullying through restorative measures
 READ MORE.

3

 

 

 

In response to first set of questions, one by one:

 

1. What concrete steps would you take as governor to strengthen public education and bring our schools back to the level of excellence they once had?

 

My response: On January 24, 2023 Governor Reynolds signed House File 68 (aka the “School Voucher Program”) into law. Once fully rolled out, it is set to divert $345 million in tax dollars per year into private, institutions. [1]

 

2. Can you give a specific example of a policy or program you would implement in your first year as governor to improve Iowa’s schools?

 

3. What measurable changes would you expect families and teachers to see within your term?

 

4. Where would funding come from, and how would you ensure it actually reaches classrooms rather than just administration?

 

5. How would you prioritize funding between rural and urban districts, given the different challenges they face?

 

 

There’s been a lot of debate about school vouchers in Iowa.

 

 

1. How do you see vouchers impacting public schools, and what’s your plan to make sure that all children—regardless of where they live or their family income—still have access to a strong education?

 

 

 

 

2. Do you believe public dollars should be used for private education?

 

 

3. How will you make sure vouchers don’t drain resources from already underfunded public schools?

 

 

 

4. If vouchers expand, what is your plan to ensure accountability and transparency for private schools receiving public money?

 

References

 

[1]: Gruber-Miller, Stephen, and Katie Akin. “Jubilant Kim Reynolds Signs Iowa’s Seismic ‘school Choice’ Bill into Law. What It Means:” The Des Moines Register, Des Moines Register, 25 Jan. 2023, www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/24/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-signs-school-choice-scholarships-education-bill-into-law/69833074007/.Â