Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — A new state law will send Iowa’s public charter schools an additional $1.3 million to boost teacher salaries in the coming school year, and it creates a revolving loan fund to provide low-interest loans for charter school facilities.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill at Des Moines Prep, a charter school for 8th and 9th graders located near the Iowa Capitol.
The law requires public school districts to pay tuition for charter school students who take community college courses.
Matt Lakis, the principal at Des Moines Prep, says every 9th grader at the school is already enrolled in community college classes.
The law also requires districts to allow all charter school students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities at their local public school if the charter school does not offer them.
Additionally, the law removes the cap on the number of unrelated children who can be homeschooled together, and a home-based instructor may now charge tuition and fees if they’re teaching kids they’re not related to.
Democrats in the legislature criticized the plan, saying it opens the door for unqualifed individuals to offer instruction for a fee, and the additional benefits for charter schools place new burdens on public school budgets..
KIWA Staff Photo
