Washington, DC — Governor Kim Reynolds was at the White House Thursday as President Trump signed an executive order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled.
Reynolds called the event “historic” and she posted a message on social media thanking Trump for his leadership and commitment to education freedom. Reynolds also wrote an opinion piece for a Washington, D.C. publication called The Hill. She announced Iowa is the first state to submit a plan to have federal education dollars delivered as a block grant. Reynolds said state officials would be able to tie federal block grant funding to student outcomes. The money’s currently divided among nine programs. Reynolds says it amounts to small dollar investments that fail to move the needle for Iolowa students or teachers.
The president of the Iowa State Education Association says the US Department of Education was created to ensure every student has access to education and the agency’s demise puts students at risk. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart says the executive order puts rural schools and special education programs at risk.
KIWA Staff Photo
