Dear Editor -
Education is a hot topic in Iowa. The idea of taking up to 50% of per student income away from public schools and awarding it to private entities is not a popular opinion.
The Legislature had the opportunity to truly invest in the Iowa Public School system this year, instead they chose to award corporations with tax breaks. Then to really emphasize their distaste for our public educators they are reframing the concept of vouchers to ‘educational savings accounts’ thinking it will soften the blow. We are not fooled!
Thankfully the attempts to criminalize librarians and placing cameras in classrooms has already been defeated. I cringe at what else might be in store for our schools if change is not made, not just locally but across the state.
Let’s talk a bit more about education. Today at the Legislative Luncheon, when Senator Reichman was asked about the education initiatives, aka vouchers, coming out of the Republican held legislature he proceeded to cite the alleged 755 kids who dropped out of the Des Moines public school system. I am sure you are just as confused as I was. I believe he was trying to imply that a voucher aka educational savings account, would somehow solve that dilemma for the Des Moines Public School (DMPS)system. Although, I am not sure how.
As a side note the DMPS reports the dropout rate has hit an all-time low at just 3.38%. So is it a problem or not? Again an explanation will be required as to how the vouchers are supposed to make this number lower. Beside educational research indicates when you remove socioeconomic factors “There was also no evidence to suggest that low-income children or children enrolled in urban schools benefited more from private school enrollment”.( https://doi.org/10.3102%2F0013189X18785632)
By the way, the the combined drop out rate for Fort Madison and Keokuk public schools (https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/DR712_2021_District.xlsx) is 6.1%. A targeted approach would benefit Lee County more then worrying about vouchers. Perhaps investing in our schools with more teachers, teacher assistants, social workers and mental health support would make a significant impact for our youth and reduce this alarming number. By investing I mean funding. We cannot expect miracles out of educators who are underfunded and understaffed.
Rebecca Bowker
Candidate for House District 100
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