Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says if he’s elected governor, he would “consider” changes to state law tied to taxpayer funding for private school expenses.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Feenstra said he supports Iowa’s Education Savings Account program, but suggested private schools should no longer be allowed to reject student applications due to space limitations or a student’s individual education needs.
“It’s all about making sure we have a level playing field,” Feenstra said. “It’s all about making sure all schools are competing the same way.”
When state-funded Education Savings Accounts were created in 2021, Democrats argued that private schools, like public schools, should be required to accept all students who apply. Republicans, however, said the state should not impose that requirement on private institutions.
Feenstra pointed to Iowa’s past academic success as part of his broader goal.
“When we start looking at raising all boats, we have to make sure that all schools can take all kids,” Feenstra said. “If you have a child that has an IEP and you’re a parent, the parent should decide, ‘Hey, I want my child to go to that school.’”
IEPs, or Individualized Education Programs, are designed for students who need special education services.
Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler, who helped lead the House debate on the ESA program and lives in the same hometown as Feenstra, pushed back in a written statement.
“It’s not compassionate to force a student into an environment where either their needs won’t be met, or the classroom will overflow,” Wheeler said. He added that “once the state starts dictating admissions, it’s only a matter of time before it dictates curriculum, staffing, and operations.”
Feenstra made the comments after speaking yesterday at the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale, where he also addressed a range of other topics, including vaccine mandates and education policy.
During his remarks, Feenstra also referenced a newly announced two-week cease-fire in the Middle East, calling it “a great day.”
He also said that as governor, he would work to reduce bureaucracy in schools, cut back on paperwork and regulations, and shift the focus back toward teachers in the classroom.
This story is courtesy of our affiliate Radio Iowa
