Des Moines, Iowa — A bill that’s cleared the Iowa House would mandate that Iowa’s public school districts let local private school students join the district’s sports teams if the private school isn’t offering the sport.
Representative Henry Stone, a Republican from Forest City, says kids should be allowed to compete in sports, whether they’re enrolled in a public or a private school.
ESAs are state-funded Education Savings Accounts that cover private school expenses. Stone says the Clear Lake and Garner School Districts no longer allow private Clear Lake Classical School students to play sports.
The bill passed with the support of 63 House Republicans. The 33 Democrats in the House opposed it. Representative Heather Matson, a Democrat from Ankeny, says public school officials should be able to make local decisions based on serving students from families who’ve chosen to send their child to the public school.
Matson says the bill applies to middle school as well as high school students.
The mandate in the bill also applies to other extracurricular activities. If the bill becomes law, private school students would have to be allowed to join competitive groups like show choirs or marching bands if their private school doesn’t offer it.
