Des Moines, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds is not revealing details, but she says she may agree to adjustments in her plan to provide state scholarships to some parents who enroll their child in private or religious schools.
All but one Republican in the state senate has endorsed the idea of providing 10-thousand of these scholarships for private schooling, but it currently lacks the votes to pass the Republican led Iowa House.
Reynolds says she has meetings every single day as she tries to round up votes.
Reynolds says as she meets with superintendents who oppose state scholarships for private schooling, she’s been expressing support for public schools and explaining how other states are spending tax dollars on charter schools as well as private and religious schools.
A formula originally established in state law in the 1970’s is used to distribute state tax dollars to public schools on a per pupil basis. Reynolds had a private meeting with parents in Marion this week to talk about a Linn-Mar School District policy for transgender students. Reynolds says those parents feel trapped in the public school system and her idea for state-funded scholarships for private schools would help them.
Linn-Mar officials say the transgender support plan the school board adopted last week aligns with federal requirements the district has been following for years. Reynolds says the district is “way off track” and after meeting with upset Linn-Mar parents she’d consider legislation that would require all Iowa students to use the bathroom in their school that matches the gender listed on their birth certificate.
Reynolds made her comments during a brief question and answer session with reporters in her statehouse office.
