At Tuesday’s Condition of the State Address, Governor Kim Reynolds unveiled a key priority for the upcoming Legislative Session that diverts public dollars to private schools through education savings accounts.

After similar proposals failed to garner enough support in the previous two years, Reynolds called for scholarships equivalent to per pupil funding for public schools students that could be used at any private K-12 institution in the state. Based on a 2.5% increase for state supplemental aid, it would mean approximately $7,600 for a student — phased in over three years, first with younger students and those from families earning under 300% of the federal poverty level, and eventually opening up to anyone by 2025 with no income restrictions.

“We have incredible public schools filled with amazing, dedicated teachers. My daughter is one of them,” Reynolds said. “But every child is an individual who deserves an education tailored to their unique needs, and parents are in the best position to identify the right environment.”

“Some families may want an education that conforms to their faith and moral convictions and some kids may have ambitions and abilities that require a unique educational setting; others may experience bullying or have special needs.”

The proposal will cost $106.9 million in the initial year and grow as more students potentially opt into the program. Much of the opposition to the prior two attempts for Reynolds’ education savings accounts came from rural Republicans in the Iowa House — but the GOP has expanded their majority to 64 seats, and many who were in opposition failed to win re-election after Governor Reynolds endorsed several new candidates over incumbents in the June 2022 primaries.

Both State Senator Ken Rozenboom and Representative Barb Kniff-McCulla, who now represent the majority of Marion County outside of Knoxville, have signaled full support of the bill prior to the session; Kniff-McCulla was endorsed by Governor Reynolds in a primary against former Representative Jon Thorup over the issue; Thorup was opposed to the 2021 and 2022 proposals that didn’t pass in the Iowa House.

Former Representative Dustin Hite — who represented Pella the previous two years, was the Education Committee Chair but ultimately ousted over his opposition to the issue as the Governor-endorsed Helena Hayes won the primary for the new district in Mahaska and Keokuk Counties.