Data from the Iowa Department of Education reveals a significant trend in the state’s education landscape: in the first two years since the passage of Iowa’s voucher law, 36 new private schools have opened while 16 public schools have closed. The legislation, passed by Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican lawmakers in 2023, aims to expand school choice for families.
House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights expressed concern over this shift, stating, “In just the first two years, the number of private schools opening is increasing dramatically while more public schools are closing. Iowans are deeply proud of their public schools and we need to keep them open. It’s time to put people over politics and end this voucher disaster before it’s too late.”
Of the newly opened private schools, only four are located in rural areas, with the majority—13—situated in the Des Moines metro. In the current school year alone, 24 private schools opened. The financial implications are significant, with Iowa’s voucher program costing over $360 million in its first two years, making it the fastest-growing expense in the state budget.
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