Meeting Public Comments

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SSB 3080

A bill for an act relating to education, including establishing a student first scholarship program and a student first enrollment supplement fund, requiring the boards of directors of school districts to publish certain specified information, modifying provisions related to required social studies instruction, open enrollment, teacher librarian endorsements, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 2349, SF 2369.)

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Sinclair-CH, Celsi, Rozenboom

Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Room G15

Comments Submitted:

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The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

01-31-2022

Sandy Wilson [Citizen Engagement]

Citizen Engagement declares regarding SSB 3080: Division I Must address obscene materials present in schools; Division 2 Money should follow ALL students; Division 3 We would like to see a requirement that any unit on slavery also require the study of human slavery throughout the world and including a study of They Were White and They Were Slaves by Michael A. Hoffman, II, which is available for free online by pdf. , or a similar history book. We believe it is important to study slavery throughout history and not limit it to one historical era.http://jrbooksonline.com/PDFBooks/theywereslaves.pdf; Divisions 46 No Declarations

01-31-2022

Smith Marilyn []

Public money for our great public schools systems. This governor has cut funding for years as she has done with preschool fundingTime for new governor as schools I'm iowa in top 50 in national codes. Vote no to charter

01-31-2022

Randy Haugen [Randy]

NO Public money for private and religious Schools,,Pay the Teachers more and treat them decent for once and You Will have a better Education system..Kim Reynolds wants to turn Iowa into a bible belt State! covid Kim!

01-31-2022

Mary Kay Pence []

Public money should be ONLY for public schools. Strong public schools that answer to local school boards and parents are what previously gave IA schools that were the envy of the nation. The Radical Rights war on public education hurts all of us. Diverting public tax dollars to private schools weakens are public school system.

01-31-2022

Barbara Jo Matson [abject poverty and permanent disability]

I lived in Detroit for five years in the inner city. Allowing public money to go to elite charter schools leaves NO MONEY for the inner city decaying public schools! Betsy De Voss is from that area and she was part of that whole movement. I saw elementary schools with rain pouring through the ceilings with walls and floors black with mold, no air conditioning, insufficient heat and lead levels so high that the children could not drink the water. Not just one school. Hundreds of them in the inner city. What are you people thinking?!

01-31-2022

Elinor Levin []

Quality education is not only what we owe to every child, but also what we owe to ourselves, to build communities full of people with different interests, skills, and areas of expertise. People who know their options and go after their dreams.To me, this means fully supporting public schools with public dollars, and fully supporting the expertise of those who work in the education system to set curriculum. Instead of encouraging folks fleeing public schools, we must put taxpayer funds into building the BEST schools for every kid, and utilize new creative and technological assets to give students the opportunities they crave. And we need to stop the brain drain from Iowa and show young people that theres a future for them here.

01-31-2022

Samuel Daines []

Public money for public schools only. Public money should be used to provide adequate resources for our public schools. Parents already have choice.I support public education and want to see it strengthened, not weakened.

02-01-2022

Charles Kimpston [- Select -retired]

Why are you republicans ( I can not capitalize as you are not the old GOP) so against public education? You have been ever since the Brat became governor. We u8se to be one of the leading states in education and are now at the bottom with the likes of Mississippi.

02-01-2022

Scott Helmers []

Please keep public money for public schools. Please stop insulting teachers, threatening to jail teachers, banning books. Public education is the backbone of advancement in America. Please make up the funding lacking for public education. Please support good teachers, not force them to leave Iowa. No public money for private education.

02-01-2022

Laura Sherwin []

I oppose this bill. Public funds should be used for public schools only no vouchers!Schools already have a process in place for reviewing materials. Division 1 of this bill is unnecessary and is dangerous.

02-01-2022

Senator Celsi [Iowa Senate]

Iowa's public schools and public school teachers were already underfunded before the pandemic. Now, the problems faced by students and faculty are ever more acute. Workforce shortages, learning loss, mental health concerns, parental anger and Republicanled demeaning of the role of public schools and educators have converged to create a very hostile environment in Iowa's public schools.Governor Reynolds and her Department of Education have taken an adversarial position with Iowa's public school districts. They've proven to be willing to listen only to their fringe supporters who share the Governor's political positions. Nevermind the health of students and educators. There has never been a simple solution to the challenges public schools face. But instead of working together on the same team, the Governor and her politicized Department of Education director support new divisive legislation that would further erode support for Iowa's public schools. These schools are the absolute best way to keep kids safe, fed and educated. Graduating from high school is absolutely essential to any sort of economic future.This bill is not the solution for the multiple challenges faced by Iowa's public schools. It only seeks to further divide parents and teachers, administrators and Dept of Education staff, school boards and parents.Shame on Republican legislators and Governor Reynolds for taking this divisive approach to Iowa's public education system. We can do better.

02-01-2022

Patsy Weldin []

I oppose this bill for several reasons, first because I oppose censorship of books and materials and ideas, second because it is a terrible idea to funnel public funds to private schools, third downgrading professional requirements for school librarians weakens schools and their mission to provide an excellent education for our students. Iowa education has fallen far already and this bill will make it much worse.

02-01-2022

Julia Rendon []

This is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. Instead of diverting public money to private schools, we should be investing more robustly in our public schools. This is profoundly dishonest.

02-01-2022

Elaine Baughman []

Public tax dollars are for public education. Period. If ever these public ax dollars would be used for private education, said private schools would have to adhere by public rules and accept all students and abide by public rules. How would vouchers benefit IEP students, since most private schools dont provide special education teachers unless they contract with public schools? Almost $54 million would be diverted from public schools, which will weaken them. Rural schools would not be able to benefit as much as urban/suburban schools, because few quality private schools are available. The small amount of money being thrown to the smallest rural schools will not be enough to really make a difference for them. Most importantly, vouchers do not guarantee a better education. Iowa has had strong public schools; please strive to keep them strong and not attempt to weaken them.

02-01-2022

Jaime Kroeger [Muscatine Community School District]

Public education is the cornerstone from which everything else is built. Iowa students and families deserve full funding for public education. Public funds should not be allowed for anything other than public schools. Parents are free to have a choice in their students' educations, however never at the expense of public dollars. Iowa is struggling year after year to recruit and retain quality educators because of moves like this to all but kill public education. It is vital to the longterm success of Iowa to keep public funds public. Private, charter, and parochial schools make the choice to operate as they do; taxpayers of Iowa should not have to pay for someone else's choice to send their child outside of public education. This bill is the beginning of the end to the robust public education Iowa was historically known for.

02-01-2022

Amber Evans []

I teach in a public school and its time to start funding our schools appropriately. Giving public funds to private schools is NOT what is good for Iowa. Public schools are the backbone of our state and they need to start getting the funding they deserve. Additionally, public schools serve ALL students and private institutions can pick and choose the students they want. Funding schools that can pick and choose who the students they want to educate is not where our public dollars should be sent.

02-01-2022

Lisa West []

When I was young, Iowa was proud of being first in the country for educating our youth. The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were used around the country as a benchmark for our educational expertise. The Iowa educational system has been repeatedly defunded during the last decade, so much so that we are doing a poor job of educating our children. Defunding public schools by giving the money via vouchers to private schools will only exacerbate this problem, and make for a wider gap between the "haves" and the "have nots". Please give our public schools the funding and help they need to educate our young people, so they may become a shining example for our state. Passing this bill will not achieve this goal.

02-01-2022

Michael House []

I'm a school board member in Clinton, Iowa. I strongly oppose this bill. Much more transparency, and the elimination of the ability to pick and choose students would have to happen with private and charter schools before I would ever approve of this. I'm all for parents choice, but not with public tax payer dollars. When these private and charter schools find an athlete they want they always find a way to fund that student, so why not make them come up with options for all? Public school has been the backbone of education for a long time. We should be taking this money to help the failing public schools. Not funding these private and charter schools who don't play by the same rules.

02-01-2022

Kris Mesicek Anderson []

Iowa once had one of the top public education systems in the nation, but as our schools have been woefully underfunded for years, we have slid to 25th in the nation! This "student first scholarship" is just another name for vouchers. Vouchers systematically siphon public tax dollars away from public schools. Public money should ONLY be used for public schools. Please put Iowa students first by fully funding public schools. Please vote NO on the illadvised "Student First Scholarship" plan and supplement funding. Thank you.

02-01-2022

Katie McNichols []

I am opposed to school vouchers and charter schools. Research shows charter schools don't work. We need to increase funding for our public schools, and make kids and teachers a priority. If you want Iowa to be a great state and attract people to move here, then we need to have the best public schools. Our kids and teachers should be a top priority.

02-01-2022

Allison Carr []

I am writing to register my strong opposition to SSB 3080, which undermines the purpose and operations of public schools as institutions and their staff. The bill will make it more difficult for public schools to serve their communities effectively, transferring dollars to inferior charter schools which, according to abundant research in other states, fail in comparison to public schools in preparing students for upper level assessments. As an educator and parent of a child who I plan to send to the neighborhood school, I can see that this bill weakens education statewide and harms those families who most stand to benefit from public education.

02-01-2022

Denise Starry []

I am a retired public school employee. Call them scholarships, call them vouchers, either way, they and Bill SSB 3080 would be devastating to small rural schools like mine. We need our public schools and we need them fully funded. Public tax dollars belong in PUBLIC schools.

02-01-2022

Chelsea Sims []

After reviewing the Governor's proposed Education bill, SB3080, I would like to offer some feedback from a practicing school librarian.Page 2, item c requiring every video, article, or website that students may use in class be posted would require constant updates. Effective teachers will alter their instruction and supplement materials based on the daily learning of their students. Requiring that the school board send a notice each time a new material is listed would be absurd. Page 2, item e comprehensive lists of all books available in libraries are called library catalogs and they are already online and accessible to the public. Page 3, Section 3, 279.77 the protocols this section is requiring are already required in board policy 600 series under mandated board policies by the state of Iowa. A 10 day turnaround time is likely to be too restrictive as committees making decisions are required to read/view the entire work before a decision is made.Page 20, line 89 Currently, the Iowa BOEE only requires a masters degree for K12 Teacher Librarian endorsements. Teacher Librarians may receive a K8 or 512 endorsement without a masters degree but with certain graduate level coursework. There is already a pathway to licensure that does not require a masters degree, so this is unnecessary to include.Also, public tax funding should not be siphoned to private schools.

02-01-2022

Debra Dorzweiler []

Public money should be for public schools, period. Iowa has been underfunding public schools for many years now, as shown by the increasing teacher shortage, class sizes, and low morale. Allowing these funds to follow those students who are choosing a private education will further erode public education in Iowa, once a hallmark of our state.

02-01-2022

Anita Christensen [Parent and Citizen]

Rules and transparency must follow public money. There are no provisions asking the schools that receive these funds from students to abide by the same rules as public schools.Studies show there are no significant educational benefits to students attending schools outside of the public system. National ranking show Iowa schools already outperform those who have vouchers.We would be better off to adequately fund and make sure all Iowa students are getting the best education. Save our schools and vote no.

02-01-2022

Kathryn Hall []

Dear Committee Members,I attended private schools from K12. And if my parents were alive today they would be appalled by state interference into private schools. They always said that they never wanted the state to pay our way. Choosing private education for us was their choice and so their responsibility to pay the bill. Now, as a parent of partially private educated/public educated adult children it is clear that our children benefited greatly by the diversity, variety of subjects and exposure to top notch teaching methods provided by the public education system. No amount of extra funding towards their private schools would have leveled up to the great experiences afforded them in their public schools.Public schools are the bedrock of a healthy and functioning society. They don't refuse to teach a child if they don't fit into prescribed parameters. They are overseen by school boards made up by members of the local community. Parents may attend these open meetings and express their views on everything from curriculum to how the district handles sports teams.I urge you to stop this bill from coming to a vote. It is harmful to the very thing that brought us back to Iowa: public education.Sincerely,Kathryn Hall

02-01-2022

James Cacciatore []

I do not support making public monies raised through citizen taxation available to Iowans to use to pay for the cost of educating their children at a private school. Public education continues to be severely underfunded by the Iowa Legislature. This bill will result in making even less money available to fund public schools and will not result in giving parents of the poorest Iowans nor parents of rural Iowans, nor parents of disabled Iowans any greater opportunity to enroll their children in private institutions of learning.Public money must only be used to support public entities. Taxpayer dollars should not be diverted to religious institutions or private forprofit institutions. Iowa's steep decline in its rating as a leader in public education is directly related to the decline of financial support for its public schools as well as legislation that, for all intents and purposes, took away collective bargaining rights for educators. Iowa's labor force will only continue to lose its competitiveness with other states as long as support for public education continues to erode. This legislation is bad for students, bad for public schools, and bad for Iowans.

02-01-2022

Maureen Lyons []

I am opposed to this bill. I raised four children in our public school system and do not want tax dollars to go for private and for profit schools. Free public education is the backbone of an educated democracy and this bill would harm Iowas education system.

02-01-2022

Leslie Goldsmith [Na]

Public schools are the backbone of our nation. We sent our kids to parochial school and sacrificed to do it. Scholarships to private schools with tax $ will shortchange public schools. Dont defund public schools!

02-01-2022

Patricia Benson []

Public schools in Iowa used to be rated very highly. Because the state has reduced spending for schools over the past few years this has had an adverse effect on the quality of education. It would be additionally detrimental to support any legislation that takes money from public schools and sends it with students if they opt to enroll in private schools. Private schools have their own funding sources. Students from families with lower income, and students with disabilities will be adversely affected by this voucher concept. Private schools don't have to accept every student who applies; they usually don't have special education supports in place, nor are they required to. They don't have to offer free & reduced lunch options or breakfasts, etc. They may not have auxiliaries who support the cost of music instruments or sports wear & equipment for economically disadvantaged students.Our family sent one child to private school and 2 to public school and did so for personal reasons. We funded the cost of private school tuition ourselves, expecting no assistance from the state. While all 3 graduated from high school, I believe the public offered a wider curriculum & stronger academic programming that allowed those two children to flourish in college, whereas the other child has not yet opted to enroll in college & has not secured employment either. This child was not able to access some assistance services which community colleges offer because they came from a private high school that didn't provide IEPs. We still would have sent this child to private school, but were unaware until after graduation of potential services available to those who attend public schools with full federal special education support that they were therefore not eligible to receive.Please support Iowa's public schools and fund them fully so they can again achieve their former level of providing quality education. Please vote against any voucher programs for the state of Iowa.Maintain high standards for teachers & substitute teachers. Teaching is a profession & thus requires high standards.Curriculum material lists & library material lists are readily available at most schools if parents make the effort to communicate with the school to obtain them.

02-01-2022

Donald Campbell [-- Year --]

My tax dollars should not go to fund a parents choice to send their kid to a private school. Public tax dollars should go to public schools. Also, our legislatures all out attack on public schools and their teachers is wrong and embarrassing. It is a joke that the government officials are trying to push bills through that don't represent their constituents as a majority, but rather represent said officials financial gain.

02-01-2022

Susan Stoefen []

I am against all the items in this bill. Teachers should have degrees in their subject matter they are teaching and certification to teach. Public money is to be used for public schools. Administration of schools should be left up to the school boards under local control of the voters. Not the state.

02-01-2022

Wendy Blake []

Our taxes should NOT pay for private school vouchers. If you allow vouchers to go to these private schools then they need to be held accountable for student progress exactly the same as public schools. Quit trying to damage public education in Iowa. You are making this state a laughingstock.

02-01-2022

Ai Wen []

Public education is the foundation of the stability of the society. Parents can have their free choice for the school their kids go to, but the tax money for public education should not be used for private schools; the same logic that I cannot, and should not, demand my tax dollars to be used to pave my own driveway. With the already very limited resource for public education, another voucher program, regardless it's called a voucher or a student scholarship, can only further reduce the bare minimum support the public schools are receiving. I strongly oppose this bill.

02-01-2022

Jolene Teske [Des Moines Public Schools]

Education should not be a partisan issue. Please, please make our Iowa public schools, teachers, and students a priority.A few thoughts on SSB3080 Transparency & Banning Books: Parents have always had the right to review curriculum and materials being taught in public schools. Everything is open access, even library books. Parents have always been able to be involved through partnerships and volunteering. Parents have always been able to run for school board. If parents have questions, they can talk with the teachers and administrator. There should be a relationship between parents and school officials. Unfunded legislation like this creates a barrier and a burden instead of open and transparent conversation.Scholarships (vouchers): Parents have significant choice in Iowa with openenrollment options. Parents can choose a different school for their child. Public funding should not be used to pay for private instruction. A free public education program should be guaranteed for all kids in America. Why is the emphasis not on making our public schools better and stronger as we did in the past? Iowa used to be so proud of its educational system, but now it feels like our state government has nothing but disdain for public educators and public education. Charter and private schools with public funding will increase inequity for two reasons 1) Without requirements for enrollment, these schools will be able to cater to whatever population they want to serve. They will not be required to accept every student who applies. Without public schools, our most marginalized Iowa students will not have a school to attend. 2) Without limitations on fee requirements for charter and private schools, there is no limit to what they can charge for students to attend. Even with the voucher money from the state, which will bankrupt the public schools, our marginalized Iowa students will not be able to attend because they won't be able to afford it. The charter and private schools can simply price out the students they deem to be undesirable.School Enrollment Supplement: Declining enrollment is a problem for all districts, all sizes.Citizenship Test: I think it's great when social studies teachers administer the citizenship tests to our students. It's important for them to see what it takes for immigrants to become American citizens. I worry about it being a graduation requirement, especially for our students who struggle with English as well as those who struggle with learning. Are legislators required to pass the citizenship test before they are sworn in for office?Special Education: The requirements, especially paperwork, for special education are already so restrictive that it's hard to keep up and serve the students effectively. I'm unsure how this legislation would benefit the student, and I'm guessing these changes would be cost prohibitive for districts.

02-01-2022

Linzy Martin [None/Individual]

I am totally opposed to SSB3080. It would be devastating to Rural Iowa and our schools. Private Schools in Metro Iowa are doing well, we need to protect our Public Education System. I am old enough to remember when Iowa was the Number 1 Public School System in the nation. I am embarrassed to repeat where are ranked now.

02-01-2022

Steven Martens []

This is nothing more than an attempt to destroy public education in Iowa. My wife and I sent our children to our local K8 Catholic school. That was our choice. It wasn't always easy, but we paid their tuition because it was important to us. At the same time, we paid our taxes to support our public school because the future success of our community and our state depends on having quality public schools to educate future generations of community leaders, business owners and voters.

02-01-2022

Erik Charter []

This is a good idea. We need to shake up the system by introducing more competition. No one gets better unless theyre pushed. A public school system that has to compete will police itself better and be more responsive to parent concerns.

02-01-2022

Kathleen Tandy []

This "scholarship" bill is another attempt at a voucher system. Taxpayer money should not be spent on private education. Passage of this bill will create larger inequities for our most inneed students, will move funding away from our already chronically underfunded public schools, and will cause more educators to leave the profession and the state.

02-01-2022

Gordon Dahlby []

It is unconstitutional to transfer public community school revenues from student enrollment to the parent or and churchfunding parochial school or forprofits as the fake scholarship does not represent a household contribution to the community school in any proportion to all contributions. Additionally, rebating any part of the community burden expected by that household shifts burden to pay unfairly to other households and businesses, unconstitutional on many fronts.Abstaining from utilizing community schools for child's education is a choice, but paying fair share to the community cannot be absolved by State. Recall Iowa's earliest constitution commanded public community schools. The bill is unacceptable to voters and our communities including their public schools.Firmly against this bill on all points.

02-01-2022

Joe Carter [Algona Community School District]

Public schools are overseen by a publicly elected citizen governing board, are required to report academic results to the general public, have an annual public financial audit, and be transparent with all expenditures and decisionmaking. Private and religious school are not held to that same public standard. Taxpayers have a right to know how their funds are being used, but are left in the dark about the use and impact of voucher funds.Secondly, private schools do not have to accept all students, do not participate in state testing or reporting, do not have to follow all of the same rules and regulations as public schools. All of which creates an uneven playing field for schools.Finally, Iowa has significant parent choice. Open enrollment within district, virtual program within district, open enrollment to another publicschool district, good nonpublic schools (with significant tuition assistance for lowincome families provided by school tuition organizations and expanded tuition and textbook tax credits last session), competent private instruction (home school with support) or independent private instruction (home school without support). The additional benefit of one more choice for a few parents has larger negative consequences for students who remain in the school, for taxpayers and for the rest of the community.

02-01-2022

Grant Elsbernd []

Public dollars are for public schools. Public money should not be going to Private institutions, invest in Public education for the good of all Iowans. We have a schoolhouse on our state quarter, I'm not sure exactly when so many republicans decided public schools are the enemy, but this is very upsetting. Stop demonizing public schools, and hard working Iowa educators

02-01-2022

Jonathan Sims []

Public tax money should not go to fund private schools. Governor Reynolds wants to put harsher restrictions on public schools but also give tax money to private schools that aren't beholden to the same scrutiny. That's just foolish. I also oppose the section removing the requirement for a master's degree for teacher librarians. The proposed requirement for "teachers to submit all materials that students may use in the classroom" is impractical, draconian, needlessly restrictive, and shortsighted. It's a waste of time and effort. Teachers have enough on their plates and any parent with the time to comprehensively review these lists of materials could better spend that time talking to their kids. Reynolds is once again trying to dilute the strength of our public schooling system in Iowa when no one is asking for this. Who is she really serving.

02-01-2022

Mary Jane Croll []

Establishing a student first scholarship program is very detrimental for small rural schools who are struggling to keep enrollment figures and to provide topnotch education for students. The department of education should be helping schools to obtain high educational goals. Iowa needs to build the system to where it once was, one of the top rated states. If this scholarship program is approved, students in our area would have only parochial private schools, 50 to 60 miles round trip, to attend. This bill is only for city schools. Keep in mind Iowa is a rural state.

02-01-2022

Bob Brown []

As an Iowa taxpayer, I am opposed to the following:257.17, paragraph 3New section, 279.76 Transparency and State standardsThese expectations are unrealistic for educators. The time that it will take for educators to meet this standard will go unpaid by District and educators will be forced to do this on their own time. Please remove this from the bill as it is these types of legislative requirements that will drive educators out of the classroom. Division II Student First Scholarship program.As a Catholic, I oppose the use of my tax dollars to be used to support private schools through vouchers. Private schools are not required to enroll any student that comes through the door as they are allowed to pickandchoose which students to allow in. The Private School school boards are not elected by the general public and therefore are not representing the taxpayers.Division III Social Studies instruction, paragraph b the use of the civics test developed by US citizenship and immigration service.This is another unnecessary mandated test and should not be implemented. If this is passed then all Iowa Legislators should be required to pass this test before they can run for office and their scores should be made public.

02-01-2022

Mary Kenyon []

Regarding Division I: It takes extreme hubris for any parent or legislator to believe that their view of a book or piece of curriculum as problematic should result in its removal for ALL students. I want my children's curricular materials to be selected by educational professionalsthat is, teachers and curriculum specialists. I want my children to be challenged to think and grow and learn about things that may be outside their direct life experience. I take the time to become engaged with the materials my children are learning and discussing in their classrooms. I relish the opportunity to continue the conversation they started in the classroom and to see them learn and grow from exposure to new and challenging material. I am under no illusion that keeping certain materials out of classrooms and libraries will mean my children are never exposed to it. I would rather have them armed with knowledge than wallowing in ignorance. Anyone who doesn't want that for their child is welcome to address it as an individual and seek alternatives in cooperation with their child's teacher. They are NOT welcome to interfere with my children's education.Regarding Division II: There is no other area of taxation where it is suggested that the state should return tax dollars to individuals to spend as they wish. This is just ludicrous from a public policy standpoint. Public money must be spent for public services that are available to all, equally, and for which public oversight is established. We have locallyelected school boards to oversee public schools and to be stewards of the public funds. If we believe they are inadequate to the task, we have a process for removing themlocal elections. When it is not election season, we can speak to them directly at local public meetings and via email and telephone at a publiclyposted address or number. Private entities, including private schools, are not subject to public oversight of their finances, so they should not receive public money.

02-01-2022

Erin Elgin []

Please reconsider funding voucher programs and promoting charter schools. Iowa should reclaim its reputation for exemplary education by increasing funding to all public schools, allowing all our children to excel. Voucher programs and charter schools exclude others and favor the already privileged. Historically, they were used as tools to create an alternative to integration in schools. Let's not add "racist" to Iowa's legislative agenda. Instead, please pivot to a more progressive positionlet all our children learn and grow in well funded, top tier institutions.

02-01-2022

Cynthia Turner [Several]

To whom it may concern:This is unnecessary. This information already exists. Anyone can get this information by contacting local schools. Those paying taxes those taxes should go only to public schools. Other schools within the district do not have to provide all programming public schools have to and private schools get $ and programming from public schools already. Communities work together to support private schools already with community fundraisers by the entire community. Maybe Congress needs to quit thinking about taxpayers paying their kids private education or their rich friend's kids education. Don't take $ from programming from middle and lower income families to support rich families who can pay for their family's fancy school's tuition.

02-01-2022

Michelle Barker []

I am a Clive resident and my child attends the Waukee School District. Please increase in the State Supplemental Aid and do not use public funds for private schools. Iowa must prioritize fully funding our public schools, which we have not been doing for quite some time now. Iowas public schools have been funded beneath the rate of inflation every year for more than a decade. Iowa must step up its investment in our public schools for the future of our state and workforce!

02-01-2022

Cynthia Schaus []

Please recognize my objection to Bill 3080; including taxpayer funded student first scholarship to private schools and micromanagement of educators in the classroom.A better use of taxpayer funds would be increasing funding for public schools and our students and educators. Please focus on these needs for the State of Iowa.

02-01-2022

Esther Kauffeld-hoffa []

I strongly oppose this bill. One of the reasons I came to Iowa years ago was because of its National standing in education. In the last ten years the legislature and governor have been turning their backs on public education by underfunding and unreasonable rules. Now Iowa has fallen from 3rd to 24 th in the nation according to US News and World Report. Passing this bill would starve a system in need of more financial support. Our public schools are democracies treasures. We must treat them as such.

02-01-2022

Julie Witthoff []

I am opposed to SSB 3080 in its entirety. Public (taxpayer) dollars should NOT follow students to private schools, which are not held to the same standards of accountability as public schools. Chronic underfunding of our public schools at a level that falls well below inflation is damaging our once great Iowa public schools. Please DO NOT support this bill.

02-01-2022

Amanda Lewis []

Public dollars should not pay for private school tuition. If I dont like the public parks, I cannot take my tax dollars and join a country club. If Im unhappy with police and firefighters, I cannot take those tax dollars to hire my own.Also, private schools are not accountable to taxpayers and they can exclude students.Taxpayer dollars belong with public schools.

02-01-2022

Dan Hoffa [Retired]

I strongly oppose this bill. Passage would exacerbate the shortage of qualified teachers as many more are likely to leave the field for opportunities where they are respected and supported. The provision barring children with an IEP from receiving the $5300 cash supplement means the public schools, severely underfunded by the provisions of the bill, will struggle to educate all students with reduced resources. I view this bill as an obvious effort to continue gutting public education in Iowa, when the exact opposite should occurincreased funding, support, and respect for the teachers and local public school system.

02-01-2022

Jessica Dagel []

I am opposed to any public tax payer funds being used for private schools, vouchers, chartere,etc. Public money is for public schools. Private schools get to pick and choose and can deny students based on disabilities, sexuality or religion.

02-01-2022

Rhiannon Ernst []

It is time that the state makes real investments in public schools. As a parent of an elementary student, I am disgusted that money would be given to encourage families to send their children to private schools. Public schools are essential and necessary, and deserve much more funding than they receive. Instead of continuing to cut school budgets, use the money proposed for this bill and invest it in public education!

02-01-2022

Michelle Bechen []

This is such a bad idea. Public schools educate 92% of our children. This bill does not take into account transportation or assurances that if a child has an IEP, that it will be honored by the private school. Our children deserve better. Also, censoring content ie book banning is just going to guarantee they will read more. Iowa needs to move forward, not back 5 squares. You wonder why young people are fleeing this state? This is one reason.

02-01-2022

Laura Hanson []

Our public schools need more funding to begin with, let alone taking some of it away via a private voucher system. And with the staffshortage we are facing already, any funds to keep and recruit highly qualified teachers in our public schools will be well worth the investment. These attacks on our public school systems do not go unnoticed by this family with young children when thinking about staying in Iowa longterm.

02-01-2022

Julie Fugenschuh [N/A]

This is a terrible idea that really takes away from our public education system. Let's fix what we have in place...FUND Public Schools. Let's make Iowa a top notch state to send your kids to school through our public education system.

02-01-2022

Corinne Annette [Advocate ]

Students with disabilities are legally required to FAPE. Free and appropriate PUBLIC. Education this voucher based program. Will become yet another unnecessary barrier To their most basic civil right. As an advocate for an accessible and universally designed learning environment .I beg the subcommittee to not agree with Governorv Reynolds

02-01-2022

Laurel Klosterboer []

As a retired teacher, I am adamantly opposed to SSB3080 and any form of financial subsidies to private and corporate schools or their students. The state of Iowa is charged with providing a sound education to its children in order to keep communities strong and citizens able to read and think for themselves in governing and being governed in a democracy. The state has the burden of adequately financing both the human resources and the physical structures and make them accessible to all. If the state uses its finite budget to finance corporate, religious, and private schools, Iowas public school students will be the losers. If the state chooses to give vouchers to private school students, parents will send their children to the schools which can sift out any children they dont wish to deal with economic classes, minorities why, they can discriminate all the day long!In addition, these privatelyrun schools are being released from standards that public schools are held to. They will only be accessible to metropolitan area students, and leave small town and rural Iowa schools unfunded and left behind. This and other bills this session seek to ease corporate schools responsibilities, requirements, and taxes, all at the expense of the neighborhood public schools.The state of Iowa in no way should be funding private, competitive schools with tax dollars.

02-01-2022

Sheryl Jensen []

I am strongly opposed to public funds being used for private schools in any manner. Tax money is public money, and should only be used to funds public schools and other things designed for public use.

02-01-2022

DANA REEDY []

Public education is the standard. Tuition is paid for private education because of the selling point that paying money is an investment in a greaterthanstandard education (i.e., you get what you pay for.) Therefore, giving ANY taxpayer money to private schools ROBS the public school students of even a standard education.

02-01-2022

Jennifer Hermsen []

I have taught in both parochial and public schools. My children have attended both parochial and public schools. Public school funds should be for public schools only, and the funding should be increased. Parochial schools do get some funding, and that is appropriate. But to use public money for tuition vouchers rather than properly fund the public schools is inappropriate.

02-01-2022

Kristin Stanford []

Public dollars should be for public schools, which have been underfunded for the past 10+ years in Iowa. If private schools choose to accept public dollars there needs to be transparency for how the funds are used, what curriculum is taught, and testing of all students through ISASP to ensure they are successful.

02-01-2022

Jennifer Gardner []

I oppose this bill. Public money needs to stay in public schools. My generation had great public education, then the state stopped fully funding schools. The burdens being placed on teachers in this bill are unbelievable. As a parent, I do have access to lessons and syllabi from teachers, if I want to look at them. We all want children to have a quality education. This bill would drive good teachers to leave the profession. Then what will we have left?

02-01-2022

Travis Gratteau-Zinnel []

I am writing in opposition of school vouchers, especially vouchers without oversight. As a tax payer, I support any taxes I pay being utilized for K12 public education. This is a slippery slope that will further put Iowa behind other states in cultivating students that are ready for college and/or career futures.

02-01-2022

Chris Rolwes []

Senate Education Committee Members:This bill will not improve education outcomes for Iowa students. There are several studies that have proven that students who receive private school vouchers performed noticeably worse on state assessments than their public school control group counterparts. These types of programs have been around for many years and the reason why is that there is a powerful group of people who want to siphon off public dollars for private gain. If you truly want to improve choice for parents it can be better accomplished by supporting and strengthening local public schools. Something this study bill should look at is the Community School Model that has been popular for many years throughout the country. These types of schools have wraparound services that can help students and families with the various issues that hinder learning. Public dollars need to go to public schools.The second part of this bill that I find troubling is Section II (279.76). I teach U.S. History, Concurrent Enrollment U.S. History (students are dualenrolled at Kirkwood Community College and Jefferson High School), and Sociology. A significant portion of instruction and lesson planning centers around trying to find relevance between what we are currently studying and the world today. My reading of this bill tells me that I would have to post every article, video, and written source to a District website. Does this mean that I would have to post Governor Reynolds Condition of the State Address or President Biden's State of the Union to this site before showing this to students? Would I have to post to the website an article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette that I plan on having students read in Sociology? What about the NPR article or audio file that I heard on my drive to school that connects to what we are studying? Would I have to post the latest lecture from CSPAN Lectures in History that expands on the lesson I'm teaching on the Constitution or Bill of Rights? The snippet from a podcast that explains a concept or theme in a way that will help our students understand a concept better? I understand and respect the idea of transparency and parental involvement, but this bill fails to treat teachers as professionals. Please trust the teachers. Every lesson I post now can be accessed by parents on Canvas or Google Classroom. Parents already have the ability to see what is happening in most of the classrooms. Students have laptops and mobile devices that can be accessed by parents to see what they are learning in all of their classes. What this bill is proposing is needless duplication. If this bill becomes law, it won't' help with retaining or recruiting prospective educators to this profession. I hope this information can help you see the impact of this bill from a teacher's perspective.

02-01-2022

Blake Rozendaal [none]

I am concerned by several of the provisions in this bill. One aspect of this bill that concerns me is the redirection of funds meant for school districts to private charter locations. This weakens our state's schools when they need our greatest support. The act of even a few scholarships to a charter school could increase class sizes and reduce the quality of the remaining students. Several provisions in this bill seem to provide undue burdens to our local schools like mandating a minimum 70% citizenship test score. Mandating more tests only encourages students to cram and dump material rather than practice good study behavior. We shouldn't turn our schools into places where the only things our kids learn is how to take a test and not focus on growing them as human beings with a love of learning.This bill has many deep flaws and I encourage you to not move this bill forward for full committee consideration.

02-01-2022

Molly Erickson []

School vouchers take money from public schools and divert those funds to private and religious schools, where they are not submitted to the same standards and spending audits as they are at public schools. It also alienates students, as those with additional needs from their schools cannot get programs such as ELL or specialized education plans for students with disabilities from private or religious schools. Additionally, many students who would use vouchers to attend private schools already do attend private schools and do not need the funding that would be diverted away from public schools that do provide more for students' individualized needs. Iowa should value and fund its public education over school vouchers.

02-01-2022

Eric Sickler []

Choice is important. My choice is to support the improvement of public education in Iowa, and that's where I'm happy to know my tax dollars are being invested. Rather than mandate that ALL Iowans support private schools via the taxes they are required to pay, why not modify the Tax Code code to allow private school families to flag their state income tax returns so their tax dollars support the private school choice they are making for their students?

02-01-2022

Meg Smith []

Sending public school money to private schools will further erode financial support for Iowa schools, which have been chronically underfunded. It will demoralize public school teachers and do nothing to increase faith in our school system. Teachers are being vilified by our government instead of supported. Why is this? Why are teachers not being supported with better pay and smaller classes instead of threatening them with jail, second guessing their expertise in curriculum and providing smaller budgets? At a time teachers are fighting to help students recover from a long shut down, Iowa should show teachers we appreciate their service and expertise, and show parents our state believes in public schools and will do what is necessary to draw the best educators in the nation to our state. Beyond that, we should prove to young Iowans that teaching is a valued profession with good pay, good benefits, and profound respect.Instead we are doing the opposite. As a retired Iowa educator, I strongly oppose this bill.

02-01-2022

Susan Kelso []

This is a terrible idea on so many levels.Public Schools in Iowa used to be the gold standard. We're sinking to the bottom of this list and this would hasten the decline.Many of these Private schools are religious in nature and taxpayer money should not be going to any religious indoctination. As to publishing curriculum. Teachers make up their lesson plans in advance, many also do a syllabi. These are available to parents. If an individual parent has an objection, that is between them and the teacher. The entire class should not be penalized on the whim of one parent or a coordinated effort among Q supporters or evangelicals.

02-01-2022

Eric Sickler []

Respectfully, the detail of this bill appears to move the awesome and noble responsibilty of educating Iowa's students from professionally trained educators to elected (partisan) and potentially uneducated community members. I can't imagine a greater insult to the skilled educators who have servedand exceededour state's educational expectations for decades. Similarly, I can't imagine the chilling effect this bill, if passed, will have on recruting the next generations (plural) of Iowa educators. If their professional judgement is allowed to be marginalized and called into question by any citizen on the street, who will want to teach in Iowa?

02-01-2022

Blake Hammond []

Iowa already has an excellent open enrollment system. This allows choice for families. The open enrollment system guarantees that education tax dollars stay within a regulated education system. The regulation comes from locally elected school boards. Public dollars need complete public oversight and education funds need to stay in public schools.

02-01-2022

Kylie Garringer []

Public money should be used for public schools, not for private and religious institutions. As a teacher at a public school, I know we do everything in our power to provide excellent education to all students, even with low funding. The past few years have been tough for teachers and students alike. We need to financially support our public schools and the staff it takes to keep them running in a way that is beneficial to students, especially in a time of need.

02-01-2022

Carol Chesterman []

I am writing in opposition to SSB 3080. I have watched the stripping of funding to the Iowa public educational system for a decade. Iowa once a state with a proud heritage of having one of the best public educational systems in the nation is once again being underfunded with a paltry 5% increase. Now by taking money from the funding for public schools to be shifted to parents to enroll their children in private schools, because the "parents know best". Our "budget surplus" is going to taxpayers instead of funding schools at a level to sustain quality education to Iowa's children who are the future of this great state. If we want to keep Iowans in Iowa, if we want companies to move to Iowa, we need quality education. That isn't going to happen if we continue to strip the public school systems and fund private education. I implore you to reject SSB 3080.

02-01-2022

Susanne Kennedy []

Please vote no on this bill, we need to strengthen public schools not take funds away. Also public funds should stay with public education not go to private schools ever. Remember when people moved to Iowa for good public education, yeah we need to get back to that and the way to do it is by increasing funding to public schools not taking it away. Vote no on this bill.

02-01-2022

Betty Salmon []

I guess this law will make a minority of Iowans happy. And it might get some lawmakers reelected. It will also devastate the state of Iowa for many years after legislators leave office because a strong democracy absolutely requires strong, wellfunded public education. All of us have benefited from our democratic way of life, including those who seek to compromise it now for very shortterm rewards. Please think about the long game and reject this bill. Thank your from a graduate of a parochial school.

02-01-2022

Stephanie Rickels []

I am stunned and disheartened on a daily basis by the insidious and horrifying attacks on public education and educators. Turning schools into a political or ideological weapon alter the core of society and the trajectory of all those young lives. Enough is enough. It is high time that our elected officials come together to give all children a chance at a bright future. Public schools have been underfunded for nearly a decade and the pandemic has only exacerbated that problem. And yet, it seems, that suddenly there is money to fund private schools at the expense of public schools? Private schools that can turn away the neediest children, those exact children that necessitate the most resources. Private schools that can pick and choose who they let in without the accountability required of public schools. How is this equitable or is the intention to perpetuate the inequities that are already in place? Please stop this insanity. Fund public schools appropriately. Public tax dollars are for public education.In addition, Division 1 of this bill has zero substance and just seeks to fan the flames of the current Republican bandwagon. Parents already have the ability to get all this information. Schools do not have sinister intentions and are not trying to hide anything from parents or the community. It is quite unclear how creating more bureaucratic requirements for districts is going to help improve education for students. It certainly is not going to help morale. It is time to stop the attacks on educators and all those that dedicate their lives to children! Vote NO on SSB 3080 and come together to support public schools rather than continuing to chip away at the future of our children and state.

02-01-2022

Tiffany DeBow []

How about instead of taking money from public schools to give to private schools that Republicans think do a better job, we properly fund public schools & losen the criteria they have to meet to prove their successfully teaching kids to what these private schools are required to do? Public money for public schools only!

02-01-2022

Sarah Hardy Scott []

Public money should remain with public schools. Parent choice already exists in Iowa through homeschooling, incredibly lax open enrollment policies, and private schooling funded by private money. Right now public schools need to be fully funded (thats 5% not 3, not 2). We need to be putting more money into our public schools, not diverting funds away from them.

02-01-2022

G Fletcher []

Please keep public funds going to public schools. This proposed legislation doesnt seem to help students with IEPsas they are often not accepted to private schools or not provided the services they need at a private school, rural students who may not even have access to a private school, or students from low income families who may not be able to afford a private school even with a scholarship and may not even have the means to get there. Please vote no on this legislation.

02-01-2022

Lois DeWaard []

Taking money from public schools will not make them better. Public dollars must go to public schools. Parents already have many options for their child's education including open enrollment and home schooling.

02-01-2022

Lindsay Amadeo []

As a lifelong private education student myself and private school parent, I encourage you to oppose SB 3080. Public education is our commitment to an intelligent future workforce. Scholarships already exist for lower income students wishing to attend private school and due to the rural nature of our state, private education is not geographically available.I also encourage you to allow school district management to be a locally controlled matter. Educators are professionals and there are appropriate checks and balances already in place. The culture war the Governor and supporting legislators has set forth is damaging and unnecessary. It does not respect teaching as a skilled profession and is trying to solve problems that simply do not exist for the majority of Iowans.Thank you for your consideration.

02-01-2022

Tambi Heiter []

Public dollars (as the name implies) are for public schools, not private schools. Parents do have a choice: they may send their children to a private school, but my tax dollars should not be funding that! Stop the dismantling of our public education system!

02-01-2022

Courtney Collier []

As a tax paying parent with 3 children in public school I support school choice and education savings accounts. Taxpayer dollars, not public dollars, should follow the students. Iowa already utilizes taxpayer funds for private institutions including the Iowa Tuition Fund. ALL Parents should be able to choose the school the best meets the educational needs of their children regardless of their zip code.

02-01-2022

Lou Willis [Select Title]

Public money for public schools only! Parents should pay the bill for private schools. Teachers should be paid more and schools should be provided more money to assure our children get the best education possible.

02-02-2022

Kevin O'Connor []

If private schools receive public funds then those private schools should be required to follow the same rules as public schools, be held to the same financial transparency and they should not be allowed to discriminate against any student. When a private school can say "no" to a special needs child, that is not school choice. Second, over regulating public schools in a voucher bill is just another attack on public schools and public school teachers.

02-02-2022

Jennifer Allen []

I oppose this bill. Public money belongs with public schools ONLY. Nonpublic schools are not required to serve all children equitably. They can reject any student they wish. Public funds should not be supporting institutions that are permitted to pick and choose which children they want to serve. This bill will cause a great deal of harm to public schools (and thus Iowa's children), and will benefit only a very few students. If we are to have any hope of restoring Iowa's once high educational standards, this bill must be rejected.

02-02-2022

Whitney Smith McIntosh []

I support this bill not only for the added transparency which is 100% necessary for parents to understand what their children are learning in schools, but also for students to be able attend the school which the parents determine to be best for their child. As iron sharpens iron, Competition breeds excellence.

02-02-2022

Mary Corsair []

As a retired public school counselor I am strongly opposed to this bill. Public education is the foundation of our communities. We cannot build a strong community or state by continuing to confine ourselves to individual silos of likeminded people. We need to learn to live in harmony with all kinds of people and this begins with strong public schools!! Siphoning more money into private and charter schools encourages further division between community members and fosters an elitist attitude, instead of a mindset of "we are all in this together". And further burdening teachers with cumbersome new rules is a slap in the face to these hardworking, conscientious and caring professionals who already do SO MUCH!! NO no no to SB3080!!

02-02-2022

Jan Klarenbeek []

No vouchers. Public money should remain that. Public money to public schools. If parents want private education for their children they should pay for it. As a tax payer, we should not pay for elite services for others.

02-02-2022

Linda Martin []

State money should go to support public schools that are accessible to all. I oppose anything that gets in the way of this. We need to respect our public schools and all who work there. One way to do this is by increasing funding for both school infrastructures as well as salaries for school employees. If Iowa doesnt have strong public education we wont be able to attract young people to live here. It used to be our winning hand, but has lost ground in recent years. Do everything you can to strengthen our public schools in our beloved state.

02-02-2022

Peggy Nelson []

Public money for public schools. There are already processes for parents to seek alternative assignments if they dont wish their students to participate in certain units or assignments. We need our libraries, librarians, and teachers free of harassment over what parents perceive too controversial to teach. We already have in place vetted curriculums, supervision, and evaluations for all educational staff. How about regulating weapons so our students dont have to take valuable learning minutes to practice safety against possible armed intruders?

02-02-2022

Kristi Bilbrey []

Please do not use public funds to allow families to choose private schools. Our state needs to focus on fully funding public schools and providing the resources necessary for our schools to be successful. If our communities are worried about the state of local schools, then it is important for communities and schools to work together for effective change. Private schools are not held to the same standards as public schools. "Scholarships" for students to attend private schools will create segregation within the school system because some families will not have the ability to access different school options. Private schools are able to choose which students they want to take and often do not have special education programs to support students that need specialized instruction. I do not want my tax dollars going to a school that I do not support or have access to their records. Please fund public schools appropriately, support teachers and make our education system the best it can be.

02-02-2022

Bridget Castelluccio []

As an Iowa public educator, I do not support this legislation. We need to fund our public schools which used to always be ranked high in the nation but continue to decrease in value due to lack of financial and legislative support from our state government. Iowa is going to lose many current teachers due to this lack of support and will continue to not make an education career valuable or desirable to our young people. Often teachers kids want to be teachers. It can be a generation thing but not any more. This bill should not be passed by our state government.

02-02-2022

Adel Kessler [former sp. needs teacher]

PUBLIC MONEY IS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION!!!!!!!!Public education was a life saver for me and there are so many children out there who do not come from poverty situations and other situations that are not at all helpful. This is their hope, their lifeline!!!WE NEED PUBLIC TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING AND SUPPORT!!!!!

02-02-2022

Heather Anderegg []

Allowing vouchers to fund private schools creates a negative impact to our public schools. It hurts rural communities and removes funding that is vitally important to our public schools. It will create a negative impact on students with special needs.

02-02-2022

Judi Kaut []

This bill is appalling. Why do Republicans hate urban Iowans? Why do rural children deserve urban childrens education money? Why should vouchers go to private school students/families? Public education is for everyone. If you want private, youve made a choice. Pay for it. And even if I desired to surround myself with such an elitist group of people, if I have a child with a disability, that private school can blackball my child. What in the world are you all doing? There are no private schools for miles and miles in rural Iowa. Are rural legislators so eager to stick it to the libs that they will vote against their own interests? What a bunch of ignorant yahoos. And yeah, thats exactly the right terminology. And then, you want to play Big Brother with schools and demand all kinds of unnecessary documents and lists. As if any of you yahoos is capable of discerning what good teaching looks like. The Iowa GOP is absolutely nuts and will cause this state to empty out. I have four kids and NONE of them will be staying in Iowa. And those are decisions that have been made since Reynolds has been governor.This bill is reprehensible. Vote it down.

02-02-2022

Gayle Murray []

Please vote no on this bill and leave public funds for public schools. Politics have no place in public education and the pandemic being politicized has accelerated political involvement in education. The party of "small government" and local control is suddenly creating countless bills and laws that are undermining school boards and districts all across our state. Creating vouchers will mostly subsidize private entities and support families who have already chose to send their students there. Keep tax dollars in public schools where they belong. Keep the Governor out of local control decisions. She is causing teachers to leave their profession with her meddling and undermining. Then her solution is to offer a one time bonus. Adequately fund education and stop putting roadblocks in the way of trained professionals.

02-02-2022

Ann Gale []

I want to express my strong opposition to this bill. I am a lifelong resident of Iowa, and I was educated in this state. I was proud of that education. I want my tax dollars to go toward the education of public schools, and not be diverted toward private schools. This is an attack on public education, at a time that we need to keep quality teachers in our schools. For shame!

02-02-2022

Shelly Northway []

Public Money for Public Schools. No to charters. If you want Iowa schools to improve you need to invest in them. If you want more families to move to Iowa, graduates to stay in iowa you must give them a reason to stay. You, the Iowa Republican leaders are not doing that. You are fighting hard to destroy our state. No to Charters. YES to fully supporting Public Schools

02-02-2022

Erin Watts []

Public schools were founded & exist to ensure we have an educated work force in order to support society as a whole. Public schools do not serve at the whim of the guardians of their students, this is not their function. Diverting money to private pockets & institutions hurts everyone, public money must only be spent on public schools.

02-02-2022

Kahri Plein []

The largest problem I see is with Division II. Along with many Iowans, I cannot get behind voting for more money to go to private schools, siphoning it away from public schools. This part of the bill does give some money back to districts with an enrollment of less than 500. This will, very obviously, not help our larger schools and it will do little to help our small rural schools as well. We know white flight is a problem our larger schools have that many of our small schools just dont face. We see it right in our own community. Vouchers incentivize that white flight, further segregating our schools and fueling inequity. Dismantling public education is the wrong cause to get behind.Other parts of the bill are problematic because problems that dont currently exist are being created and used to cause division and sew doubt and mistrust in our public education system and the people who serve our children. Division I is a prime example. Why is this necessary? State standards and curriculum are widely accessible and available. Our school district has a policy in place (policy 604.1) for parents to ask for instructional materials to be reconsidered. It has been done before and the policy was followed. I dont understand why we would need state legislation on this when you would be hardpressed to find a district that does not have a similar policy already in place. To many educators, legislation like this feels like a slap in the face that suggests we are unable to do the jobs we have been educated, trained, and hired for.Division III seems pretty flimsy, but Ill leave that to the social studies teachers. Since they are the experts in their field, they should be able to follow state standards and do their job without this bill. It doesnt seem like special education students are considered here which is interesting because Division IV is about special education. Division V appears to make open enrollment easier. This also hurts our larger schools and perpetuates our equity problem. Division VI seems quite ridiculous given the uproar over banning books. If certain legislators and governors are so worried about the choice of books on our school shelves, why would they not want the people responsible for those choices to be highly educated? It seems very counterintuitive unless the uproar isnt really about what those who are screaming say it is about. I would like to add my two cents here that those who ban books never fall on the good side of history. Many have been down that road before and its an ugly one. Fortunately, all of the hype will likely rejuvenate our kids interest in reading. Nothing screams read me quite like a book that adults have told you not to read.As a teacher, parent, and Iowa citizen, I will keep fighting for public education because I believe in it with every fiber of my being. My kids, both the two who came from me, and the many I have had the pleasure of learning alongside, are counting on it. We are also counting on you to join us.

02-02-2022

Jaqueline Giltner []

Please let this bill die. Our tax dollars should not be going to private entities who a) do not have to follow the same standards as public schools and b) are able to discriminate and not accept all students into their schools. This would harm rural schools and communities irreparably. Vote NO.

02-02-2022

Janie Owens []

No public money for private schools, please! I have seen from the inside what happens when a small school district has to suddenly absorb the students from a private school that closes. Our public schools need to be there and adequately funded when parents decide not to home school any longer or the private school doesnt meet their expectations. Our public schools need more, not less, of our tax dollars! Parents are free to choose whether or not to utilize public schools and they should pay the cost personally if they choose not to.

02-02-2022

Tony McDowell []

I oppose this bill primarily for the voucher program being established. Public funds are for public programs. If you choose to send your kids to a private school you fund it. That is not the responsibility of the public and it is a disservice to remove public funds from the public education system which is already underfunded and has been for at least the last decade.I also oppose this bill for section 2. It is unnecessarily bureaucratic and does not benefit the majority. Requiring all this searchable information will only increase costs on the underfunded education system and further drain dollars away from our students.In all this is a poor bill being established to pander to a small number of Iowans who feel they should not have to pay for a privilege and to unnecessarily burden an already overburdened and underfunded service to Iowans. Please do not push this through.

02-02-2022

Melissa Owen []

Public money should only be used for public schools. This bill creates further disparities rather than a choice. Inequities would grow in rural areas with no options and in urban and suburban areas where private schools cannot nor have to accept all applicants. Finally, public dollars should not pay for religious teaching or ideologies. Those outcomes are dangerous, backwards, and do nothing to solve or improve education in our state.

02-02-2022

Trisha Boehm []

This legislation would divert public funds to nonpublic schools, who are not required to admit and serve students equitably. Public funds should also require accountability and transparency. Diverting public resources to nonpublic schools removes accountability and could contribute to waste and fraud of taxpayer dollars. This proposal would spend millions to benefit just 10,000 students. Especially at a time when our public schools are facing unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic, available resources should go to support the more than 484,000 public school students in all 99 counties.

02-02-2022

Joan Marttila []

If families want to control what their children learn, they already have two options; private schools whose vision of education aligns with the family, and home schooling. Iowa has a long and proud history of strong public education. In recent years, Iowa legislation has done much to chip away at this proud history. I dont purport to know why this is, but I suspect it has to do with a vocal subgroup of the present dominant political party which demands that all of Iowa bow down and accept its values of patriarchy, racism, and misogyny. It is time to stop this bottoming out of Iowa. I oppose SSB3080.

02-02-2022

Matt Heston []

As a professional educator for 21 years in Iowa, I have never seen an attack on public schools like the last few years. Why would anyone support a bill that hurts some of our children? Answer: The supporters of the bill don't want all Iowans to be educated.Public money should benefit all Iowans, and all Iowans are dependent on strong public schools. Our schools are dreadfully underfunded, my local elementary school has to do a fundraiser in order to buy school supplies for individual classrooms. Yet this bill is going to siphon more public money away from public schools.

02-02-2022

Aileen J Osborn []

I do not pay taxes for them to be used for private,or religious schools, or for vouchers. This is not the intent of our current laws regarding separation of church and state. It will further destroy our public school system, which I believe is the legislatures intent with some of SSB 3080. The other intent is to demoralize the teaching profession and intimidate them. This book banning is something we have dealt with in the past, and it didn't end well. Where will you stop, with the Bible, which has every much objectionable content as these books? Your children don't have to read them. What will you do when a group of parents objects to the Bible as reading or in a library? I believe you would lose that court case. Furthermore, do you know the history of book banning and burning in Nazi Germany? And what that lead to? Please rethink this and drop this offensive legislation.

02-02-2022

Lori Jorgensen []

I strongly oppose the school voucher bill. We should be doing everything in our power to build up our public schools that educate the vast majority of Iowa's children. If we want a strong foundation for our kids, don't funnel public money to private schools.NO PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS!

02-02-2022

Deb McMahon [Retired ISEA]

As a retired educator, I am appalled to see that Iowa is stealing money intended for public schools and giving it in the form of vouchers to private schools! Enough of the partisan politics and pretending to care about all Iowans.

02-02-2022

Jeffery Schafer []

Greetings,I am writing to express my opposition to SSB 3080. Iowa was once known for their fantastic and locally controlled education system. For the past 20 years, we have seen local control slowly erode and, consequently, the education system has suffered. On top of that we have a greater diversity of students with various socioeconomic backgrounds that make education even more difficult. As a teacher, this can be a rewarding job. But bills like this do nothing but complicate the process, reduce resources, and demonstrate that the bill sponsors do not actually have the best intentions in mind. Public money should go to public schools. End of story. You should spend time finding ways to help teachers, instill confidence, back them in public, and put your money where your mouth SHOULD be. With ALL kids. Not just those who can afford it.

02-02-2022

Rebekah Stewart []

I strongly oppose SSB 3080. As a former public school teacher and parent of three children who attend our public local neighborhood schools, I understand that public money should stay with public schools. Just because a private/charter school CAN accept a student with an IEP does not mean they WILL (or even have the staff to properly educate the student). There is also no oversight with private schools, meaning they don't have to prove they are successful to receive tax dollars the way public schools are required to do. Iowa's public schools have already been in decline this bill would just speed that process along.

02-02-2022

Suzanne Van Englehoven-Wedeking []

I may get to your inboxes too late, but want you all to know as a lifelong Iowan.I urge you to vote NO on SSB3080.I am for making our public schools even stronger! I believe strong public schools make for stronger communities.I do not believe private schools should receive these funds.I trust teachers. Requiring them to post their lesson plans online is absolutely ridiculous. Are you trying to force good teachers out of education??This list of banning books I am reading about also should not move forward. Literature is for study and discourse. I realize there will be more education bills coming and in case I do not catch you prior to your votes.the one with putting cameras in the classrooms why on earth would we again demonstrate we do not trust teachers use money for the expense of something that will be impossible to monitor? That kind of expenditure could be put to much better use for STUDENTS. Why not encourage these paranoid parents to get more engaged with their public schools and find ways to make them better? Banning books and policing teachers is not the avenue to get there. I am a business owner in Des Moines.I am a resident of Windsor Heights.I am a product of the public schools in Pella and West Des Moines.My child is a product of the public schools in Des Moines.Strengthen our public schools, please for ALL CHILDREN.

02-02-2022

Cherie Miner []

This bill continues the long term effort to gut public schools in Iowa. It is not about choice. It's about destroying an institution that works to educate voters, build community, and efficiently use common resources. It also destroys our state. Schools are often the largest employer in rural communities, and this bill will destroy those schools, further impoverishing rural areas. Is this really your vision for Iowa? I encourage you all to read this essay, which outlines perfectly the consequences of this bill:https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/02/01/themythofschoolchoice/Please think deeply about what you really want for this state before you vote on this horrendous legislation.

02-02-2022

Jan Evans []

I am voicing my opposition to SSB 3080. Use public money to fund public schools where there is transparency and oversight. This march toward privatization will not serve us well. Let our public schools flourish by funding them more fully and respecting teachers, counselors, and librarians for their professionalism.

02-02-2022

Allen Cordes []

Please do not use public tax dollars to fund private education/schools. Private schools have been around for a long time, they should be paid for with the personal funds of the people that choose that source for education. Using public taxpayer dollars for anything other than a public education system has a negative impact to the public education system. The focus of legislation should be using more taxpayer dollars to increase public teacher pay, which should have a positive impact to the improvement of public education. Based on the public comments I read on this site that are against this legislation, I would not be able to understand any forward movement with this legislation. Thank you for your consideration of this comment as you discuss the proposed legislation.

02-02-2022

Maria Van Der Maaten []

I am opposed to the proposed bill and encourage you to consider how funding private schools best serves the public interest. We are only as strong as our weakest citizens, thus we are only as educated as the least educated Iowans. We know that families will only stay in our state when there are investments in things like highquality services, including, and perhaps most importantly, a quality public education system. Underfunding the public education system, which is the only accessible option for many students in Iowa, is not a longterm plan for our children or families. This bill risks our state's children, families, and future. As constituents, we implore you, our public servants, to choose the public good and the greater good for all of us.

02-02-2022

Brent Hoesing []

Please do not advance this bill. Public tax dollars are for public entities (parks, roads, schools, etc...). We do not allow public tax dollars to fund private drives or private golf courses, why would we allow the money to fund private schools. Competition already exists with OpenEnrollment. Having two entities share funding but only requiring one (public schools) to follow state mandates (including these new mandates) creates disparity, not competition. If the point is competition, even the playing field, require ALL entities that accept public dollars follow the same rules and mandates. For instance, why should public school teachers spend much more time posting lessons and materials online to receive funding when private school teachers do not? Transparency already exists. Talk to any school district, teacher, or administrator and they will tell you how they allow for parent feedback and transparency. Unfortunately, some parents have requests that are not possible, and they are using their experience to say the school/employee did not listen to them. Most of the time, that is simply not true. Please stop using individual issues from an incredibly small sample size to affect change where it is not needed. Address those issues at the local level. Requiring all staff members to post their instructional materials online is impossible and the extra work will drive them from education. Good teachers will adapt their lessons daily to meet the needs of students and that preparation already takes time that is above and beyond their paid work day. Allow teachers, who the state require to be highly trained and educated (which our staff pays for out of their own pockets) to have the autonomy to teach their subject area. 99% of teachers are doing a tremendous job and need to be allowed to continue to do a tremendous job. In summary, it seems the legislators are working to provide more opportunities for teachers to enter the field but are also making the field much less desirable to work in. Any leadership book will tell you that compensation is important, but autonomy in the job, support, and a sense of appreciation and selfworth will keep people employed. Right now, the state legislators are providing none of these. Taking away funding, removing autonomy, and daily attacks on our schools and teachers will finish them off, and that's the reality of the situation.

02-02-2022

Kathy Graeve []

Taxpayer money is public money which is to be used for public schools. Iowa schools were once the example for other states. Sadly, due to inadequate funding and use of taxpayer money by the Republican controlled legislature of Iowa, we are a shell of an educational system. Curriculum is already online in school districts. Parents have access to syllabus and books already. If a parent is unhappy there are private school options but not on the PUBLIC dime. This will also harm funding of rural schools.

02-02-2022

Jessica Anderson []

SSB 3080 is an awful bill and I am vehemently opposed to public education dollars going to private schools. Supporting and fully funding our Iowa public schools didn't use to be a partisan undertaking. The attack by so many republicans (including our governor) on our public schools and educators is disgusting and must stop. Private schools do not have to follow the same rules as public schools. They do not have to accept a student that might be "more expensive" or "more difficult" to educate. What transparency will there be with the public monies that go to private schools? Will private schools be required to provide an equal education to everyone or will they be allowed to pick and choose who they will educate with OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS? What annual audit requirements will there be for private schools? What sort of public budget scrutiny will there be for private schools receiving our public schools' dollars? Stop hurting our public schools. By the chronic under funding these past 10+ years, republicans are holding Iowa public schools' heads under water and then complaining that they aren't breathing the way they should be. You cannot take away 50+ million dollars from public schools and act as if they will be unharmed. You cannot attract young families to Iowa by WEAKENING public schools. You cannot attract teachers to Iowa or young people into the teaching profession by vilifying educators! Stop this nonsense and end the constant attacks on public education. Vote no on SSB 3080.

02-02-2022

Barb Nicol []

There is so much in here that causes me much concern for our public schools. Why would anyone want to become, or stay, a teacher? Public monies should go to public schools. No student first scholarships.

02-02-2022

Sally Nellis []

I am a retired teacher that taught for over forty years and I am opposed to Bill SSB 3080. Our public tax dollars are meant to stay in our public schools. Have any of you stopped to think of the harm you will do to thousands of children in our schools if you pass this bill? The help you have been giving school districts continues in a downward trend every year and now you want to take more money away from these schools? How would you like it if all your budgets and donations were cut way back and you had to pay for all your supplies, meals , travel etc. out of your own pocket. In your jobs if you didnt even get a cost of living raise. Yet our teachers are in that spot and still dig into their pockets to make sure every kid has the supplies they need. Some even make sure they have things like a winter coat or other clothes they may not have because hardship has fallen on their parents. A lot of our teachers have thousands of dollars of debt because they worked hard to become an educator to help out our students, your children, your grandchildren and you want to take more funding away from them. Any parent already has the right to go into a classroom and speak with the teacher on what is being taught in that room. Most post a syllabus for their class. Why are you trying to put more demands in our educators ? Parents need to do their jobs. We need to put away our political divides , which are tearing our communities apart, and start working together as people in our communities. We need to work together to support our children, they deserve better then this, and I mean all children. Please do not pass this bill. Show the State of Iowa a little Iowa Nice that we hear so much about from certain people! Thank you.

02-02-2022

Barb Nicol []

This portion is particularly concerning to me: Moneys remaining in a pupils account when the pupil3graduates from high school or turns twentyone years of age,4whichever occurs first, shall be transferred by the department5of education for deposit in the general fund of the state. 21????

02-02-2022

Nancy Halls []

Public monies should support public schools! I am strongly opposed to this effort to further defund public education in Iowa and will support political candidates who work for, and not against, Iowa's public education system. I will likewise support those candidates who recognize that banning books from our classrooms and school libraries undermines the education professionals who dedicate their lives to our children's education, and that the proposed legislation places an undue burden on our public schools, both in terms of administration and of practical application of these needlessly onerous requirements concerning curriculum and school libraries.This legislation appears designed to undermine both teachers and public schools in Iowa, and would have devastating longterm impacts on our families, communities, workforce and economy.Let me state again, emphatically: As a taxpayer I strongly oppose this legislation, and as a voter I will work to defeat those elected representatives who support it.

02-02-2022

Laura Sands [retired]

I am writing to oppose SSB3080. As a former public school board member, I oppose the proposed the Student First Scholarship Program that funnels $53,000,000 away from public schools. Public funding should remain with the public schools. Attendance at a private elementary, middle or high school is a private choice made by parents, a choice that taxpayers should not have to support. I oppose draining tax dollars from our publicly funded schools.The proposal gives qualified parents a taxpayerfunded debit card loaded with state taxpayer dollars to use for a long list of items, some of which have nothing to do with paying tuition to a private school.I urge you to vote against sending this bill out of subcommittee.

02-02-2022

Barb Nessa []

I am writing to express my thought on proposed legislation (SSB3080). I do not believe public tax dollars should be spent on private education. There are currently other options for families that want to have choices in regard to their childs education (open enrollment, charter schools, private schools, and two different types of homeschooling avenues). I do not believe tax dollars should be spent without any accountability requirements. Around 93% of Iowa students are educated in the public school system, we should put state money where we can get the best bang for our buck and that is through improving our public education system. I ask that you vote NO on SSB 3080.A concerned grandmother,Barb Nessa1918 NE Lancaster DriveAnkeny, IA 50021

02-02-2022

Donna Kreamer [School Board member]

Public money should absolutely not be used to fund private education. They have their own funding source. This legislature is contributing in so many ways to the dumbing down of Iowa. The entire Republican and governors agenda is shameful. If this agenda continues no one will want to teach.. the $1000. 00 proposal for teachers who remain is a slap in the face. Teachers want a living wage and respect for what they do.

02-02-2022

Angela Gronborg-Harder []

I strongly oppose this bill. I hope you abandon this effort to do more harm to our kids, families, teachers and public schools and instead decide to increase funding to public schools and start taking steps to return Iowa to a state with a strong public education system.

02-02-2022

Lori Mullin []

Vote no to sending public funds to private schools...those who want their children to attend private schools must pay their own way for that, not use my tax dollars. Vote yes to funding public schools at a rate higher than 2.5%. Education has not been funded to the level it needs to be for years. The state has a billion dollar surplus, lets fund education and be number 1 again. We all know everything costs more, public schools need more money not less.

02-02-2022

Robert Tomow []

This bill encourages inequity within our school system. This creates a divide which does not currently exist. The MAJORITY of the people you represent do not support this. This is detrimental to larger schools, while offering almost nothing to smaller schools. This is a slap in the face to people who have dedicated their lives to the education of most of the children in this state. Year after year public education seems to be under attack. Stop this nonsense

02-02-2022

Kim Callahan []

I oppose this legislation and any attempt to take public money out of public schools. I am a proud public school parent who was educated in parochial schools in Iowa. My parents made the choice to pay private school tuition for myself and my siblings. That was their choice. School vouchers eliminate choice by defunding public education which leads to school closures. This bill is not about parental choice. Its about continuing to destroy public education in the state of Iowa. Its about punishing Iowa kids and families which ultimately damages the state. Do not pass this bill.

02-02-2022

Gabrielle Eaton []

Tax money meant for public education should not be used to fund private schools. Take that money and provide public schools what they need to give all students a quality education. Private schools are not held accountable for educational benchmarks placed on public schools and do not have to show that funds are being used responsibly. Quit trying to privatize education and instead pay for equitable education at public schools.

02-02-2022

Rebecca Lachenmaier []

I DO NOT want my tax dollars used for private education! This bill is nothing but another way to provide school vouchers, just by another name.We would all be better served by using our huge state surplus to actually adequately fund our public education programs and pay teachers well.

02-02-2022

Amber Dwyer [Parent/taxpayer]

Public funds should be used for public schools to increase teacher wages, resources and student experiences. Educators who are properly compensated, valued and given necessary tools will excel, therefore the scholars will excel. If funds are used to improve public education the disparities between public and private education become a moot point. Keep public funds public and accessible to all.

02-02-2022

Teri Patrick []

Taxpayer "public" dollars already go to private schools/institutions through the Iowa Tutition grant so this is nothing new. As a tax paying parent with a child in public school I support school choice and education savings accounts. Taxpayer dollars, not public dollars, should follow the students. ALL Parents should be able to choose the school that best meets the educational needs of their children regardless of their zip code.

02-02-2022

Laura Oliver [--None--]

I write in opposition to SSB 3080 and urge you to reject this attempt to further weaken our system of public education in Iowa.Among other things, it would funnel money to private schools (that dont have to accept everyone) and would unfairly redistribute money to the smallest school districts in Iowa while taking funds away from the others. This is the opposite of the progress Iowa has made in achieving funding equity.This bill also requires educators to post all curricular materials online in advance and to make them searchable, in the guise of "putting parents in control of their children's education." Hmm...curriculum has NEVER been hidden from parents. In my 30 years as a teacher, I posted my phone number, wrote letters, emailed parents, sent notes home, and was present for more than 100 fourhourlong parentteacher conference eveningswith about 10% of the parents caring enough about my curricular decisions to speak to me about them. The dynamic, soulsearching class discussions we had about those "dangerous, uncomfortable" books helped my students examine their own values and grow into responsible, caring adults (at least some of them). To vilify teachers as having some "sinister agenda" and to needlessly mandate additional, redundant curriculum review despite the cost to districts and the extra time this will take will drive already overwhelmed educators from teaching. We should trust educators to curate their own content, unrestrained by a contrived approval process.The scholarship provision in this bill would accept kids who are up to 400% of poverty level income only if they are first enrolled in a private school. This process would exclude lower income students who do not have the means to enroll and pay tuition the entire year previous to applying for the grant. It blatantly discriminates in favor of exclusive private schools and those who can afford to enroll in the first place. My tax dollars should not go to institutions that discriminate against lessprivileged families.The bill specifically excludes the student first scholarship money from being used for clothing, supplies, or transportationit is a direct subsidy of private schools, using taxpayer money which is for public schools.For these reasons, I ask you to reject this antiteacher, antipublic education bill. Thank you for your time and your consideration.Laura OliverMilo, Iowa (Warren County)

02-02-2022

David Langer []

I'm in complete opposition to this proposed bill. Tax dollars are to be spent for public consumption such as public schools. If people want to send their kids to private school, they should pay for it themselves. Iowa has been underfunding public schools for years and thus our slip from being top five in education to now just barely being in the top 20. This bill would take more away from our public schools and put money into schools that aren't required to meet standards established by the state. This bill would drive teachers out of their profession and quite possibly out of the state of Iowa. This bill is another example of the state legislature saying one thing and doing another, no to federal mandates but we have some bizarre mandates that we as a state would like to instill on our public schools. DO NOT move this bill forward.

02-02-2022

JILL PURCELL []

Public funds should be spent to strengthen public schools, which educate all kids, including those private schools will not admit. There is nothing stopping parents from sending their kids to private schools or seeking financial aid if needed. If I dont like the parks in my city, do they send my tax dollars to another city with parks I prefer?

02-02-2022

Lisa Stange []

This should not be a politcal argument, public education is the foundation of our society. It builds and connects us as communities that strive for the best for ALL people. State dollars provided to education have not kept up with inflation and societal needs, especially hurting our larger inner city districts and our rural schools. This has hurt the ability for our public schools to keep our state at the top of the nation when it comees to education. NOW is the time to step up and invest in PUBLIC eduation appropriately, not drain dollars from it. Public dollars should be used to adequately fund our public institutions. Parents already have choice. Diverting public dollars to private schools that do not have to accept every student, provide transportation, follow the same rules and meet mandated testing is not where public dollars belong. As a lifelong Republican and educator, I am appalled that my state has not stayed in the lead as a strong education state by investing public education for all of our communities and supporting the very professionals that helped us once be at top in the nation. NOw is the time to step up and do what is right, not siphon dollars away.

02-02-2022

Patricia Stalter []

Please fully fund public education. Families who prefer a different education for their students must pay for that or use Iowa's open enrollment option. Private schools already receive more public dollars than they should.Fund Iowa's excellent public schools.

02-02-2022

Krystal Galles []

02-02-2022

Pamela Mohr []

I am opposed to SSB3080. Public funds are for public schools. Public dollars need to go to public education. Public schools are required to admit and serve all students. This legislation would divert public funds to nonpublic schools, who are not required to adhere to this principle of equity.This proposal could cost as much as $54 million to benefit just 10,000 students. At a time when our public schools are facing unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic, available resources should go to support the more than 484,000 public school students in all 99 counties.Public funds should require accountability and transparency. Nonpublic schools are not held to the same standard as public schools. The absence of public accountability for public funds could contribute to waste and fraud of taxpayer dollars.

02-02-2022

Diane Mason []

Public schools area a bedrock for an educated workforce. Differing views and opinions need to work TOGETHER to bring Iowa's public schools back to the stellar tradition of being top in the nation! We have diminished all aspects of our system by severely underfunding our schools for years. Stop the educational loss by refunding our public schools. Teachers need to have resources, to make learning meaningful and exciting, instead of reaching into their own pockets to purchase what they need. Teachers are passionate about their classes learning adventures and successes. They are also tired of the lack of resources and lack of respect from mostly everyone. Budgeting a realistic amount of tax dollars to rebuild Iowa's academic excellence in all areas for ALL children should be a priority for Iowa. These children are our future leaders and innovators.Please vote against any "voucher" or "scholarship" programs that would dilute the tax dollars received by public schools. Private or for profit schools do not guarantee a better education. They also can expel any student they want to. What happens to those students that return to a depleted public school experience? Probably nothing good!Let's have pride in our teachers, staff and local school boards. Give them support and work together to maintain the highest of standards for all. Parents should be working with every aspect of the public schools to make the best decisions for ALL students. If that's not what they want then let them choose private schools and pay for it themselves.IOWA TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT FUND PRIVATE EDUCATION PERIOD!!

02-02-2022

Leah Howard []

Public money should be given to public schools ONLY!Curricular decisions should be made by educational professionals NOT by uneducated, uninformed legislators or community members. Kill this awful bill, NOT Iowas public schools.

02-02-2022

Mary Helen Stefaniak [Pacific University M.F.A. in Writing]

I strongly oppose SSB3080. Public money is for public schools. As a taxpayer, I object vehemently to being forced to support private schools. Each of my three children received an excellent education in the Iowa City public schools. We moved to Iowa City so that I could attend graduate school at the University of Iowa. Through the years that my children were in school here,from 1982 through 1999, I sang the praises of the Iowa City public schools to my extended family back in Milwaukee, where my brothers and sister felt they needed to send their children to private schools in order to come close to the kind of education my children were receiving in Iowa. As a former teacher at two Catholic high schools in Milwaukeeand as a former substitute teacher in the Iowa City school districtI know how demanding a career in teaching is. (Frankly, if you have never been an elementary or high school teacher, you have no idea.) To burden teachers with extra demands like posting their lesson plans is not only unreasonable and unnecessary, it is likely to reduce the quality of education our already overwhelmed teachers can provide.Legislators who value education, teachers, and Iowa children in our public schools will vote against SSB3080.

02-02-2022

Adel Kessler [Retired sp. needs teacher]

PUBLIC MONEY IS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLSThe Iowa Legislature would benefit by understanding that there are many students in poverty, who are not "advantaged" and need the hope and the life line of the public schools to succeed in life.This is what helped me!!!!Support Iowa Public School teachers, Public Education and Students!!

02-02-2022

Victoria Barnidge []

Im writing to express my opposition to SSB 3080 for multiple reasons. First, public funds belong with public schools period end of sentence! There is no justification for siphoning public funds away to private schools ever. The legislature continually underfunds our public school year after year and then tries to pander to a minority of families in this state by proposing this legislation!We came to Iowa for the great schools and now our district and many across the state are facing dire financial outlooks for the future due to the lack of funding from the state. Public funds are for public schools.Second, the idea of transparency of curriculum is laughable because any parent who wishes to be included in their childs education can meet oneonone with their childs teacher, principal, para educator and more to create an individualized approach to their education. The entire curriculum is already made available to every parent in Iowa if they just take the time to invest in their child instead of spreading misinformation about what they think is being taught in the classroom. The proposal for teachers to give multiple days of advance notice of curriculum changes is also ludicrous and will only further alienate teachers from their passion which is educating children!Finally, the thought and idea of proposing to ban books from any of our school libraries and curriculum goes in complete opposition to what this nation stands for. There is no reason any state should want to ban the written word its reading a wide variety of text written from a diverse experience that will mold our children into critical thinkers for the betterment of this state and this country. If a parent is in opposition to their child reading a certain piece of literature they can again direct that conversation in a oneonone meeting with their childs teacher. Every child suffers if even one child is kept from their full learning potential.Stop this bill immediately and begin doing whats right for Iowas public schools and public school educators and maybe that will reverse the direction this state is headed.

02-02-2022

Joel Hade []

Tax dollars should not be taken from the public school system and given to private schools which are often religiously based and allowed to reject candidates. This will continue to push us toward being a society of haves and have nots with the poor and minorities not having the same opportunities.

02-02-2022

Ann Taylor []

Public funds for public schools. Tax dollars are not intended to follow individual students, they are intended to be used for the common good. Vouchers hurt rural schools in particular and create racial and class based segregation. Do not advance this bill.

02-02-2022

Angie Sylling [Title]

I strongly oppose SSB 3080 as a former public school student in Iowa, and as a current public school parent. Regarding Divison I, School Transparency, Parents have access to information from their school districts if they take the time to communicate with their teachers/staff, locally elected board, and Superintendent. I trust our educators as qualified, trained professionals to create a safe and effective learning environment for our children. I also trust that our teachers/staff/board/Superintendent are open to discuss any questions I/any parent may have, and are willing to discuss alternative options if necessary. An individual parent should not be able to make curriculum/material/book decisions for ALL parents based on their personal beliefs, and what they believe is best for their individual child. Regarding Division II, Student First Scholarship Program, public money should go to public schools. Parents already have the choice to send their kids to private schools, but public money should not pay for this personal choice. Public schools are required to admit/serve ALL students. This legislation would divert public funds to nonpublic schools, who are not required to adhere to this principle of equity. Public funds should also require accountability and transparency. Nonpublic schools are not held to the same standard as public schools. The absence of public accountability for public funds could contribute to the misuse of taxpayer dollars. During the pandemic our public schools have faced many challenges, we should be focusing available resources on supporting our amazing public schools/teachers/staff in Iowa. Our public schools are transparent, accountable, and serve ALL students. Public dollars should be used to support public schools. Student First Scholarships are not the direction Iowa should go. Thank you for your time, please vote NO for SSB 3080.

02-02-2022

Linda Lemons [Iowa Unitarian Universalist Witness Advocacy Board Member]

Although the description of the bill implies it a beneficial bill that will meet the needs of our communities and general public, the underlying impact of what I truly believe is being proposed is unethical and immoral. I understand this bill will take money away from public schools and give money to private schools. The role of government is to meet the needs of the people, and a good public education is essential as people are our greatest resource. This bill will foster classism, superiority, and a deep divide between those who have access to resources and those who do no. I urge you to vote against this bill.

02-02-2022

Dayrel Gates []

Completely unnecessary legislation. Further weakening of our education system in Iowa. Who would want to teach in our state with these restrictions? No wonder our young people move away and never return.

02-02-2022

Mary OHearn []

I do not believe my tax dollars should go to private education. My family has a long history of choosing both public and private education knowing private was a choice we paid for. Public money for public schools.

02-02-2022

Michael Tilley []

This is a horrendous bill that will have a profound and negative impact on education in the state of Iowa. The point of public education is to ensure that all children have access to a highquality public education. This diminish Iowa's ability to do that and will hurt our state. I moved to Iowa from another state partly because it is a great place to raise a family and because of the public education opportunities. Bills like this make me reconsider why I came to Iowa.

02-02-2022

Kaycee Schippers []

PUBLIC MONEY IS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I do not want my tax dollars going to religious schools, which are not held to the same standards as public schools!! Vouchers will hurt public schools. You need to FULLY FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW. Stop trying to cater to your campaign donors and do the right thing. Iowans are not as stupid as you think they are.

02-02-2022

Melissa Schettler []

As a mother of children in public education, as a former public education teacher, a former private school teacher, and a current professor in a Teacher Education Program I have serious concerns about this bill as it pertains to private school funds. Public funds should be utilized for public education and not for private school vouchers. Numerous private schools have scholarship programs available to support students who cannot afford tuition if that is something they choose to do. But again, that's an individual choice for individuals families and not one that concerns the majority of students. The vast majority of our students in the state attend public schools. If the state wants to invest in our children and their futures then we need more public funds for public education. This bill inherently removes funds from public education and funnels it to private education. I believe this to be an inappropriate use of public funds that is harmful to the majority of students in our state who attend public institutions.

02-02-2022

Mary Gillman []

Public monies, taxes, revenue are for PUBLIC schools. I am so very offended that a state like Iowa would even consider this action. Our PUBLiC schools are one of the building blocks of this great nation, where people first learn about people different from themselves, that in itself is enriching. Treat the teachers with respect, pay them accordingly, and support our PUBLiC schools.

02-02-2022

Jenn Turner []

While I support many parts of this bill I believe that the Student First Scholarship program should not be limited to students beginning in 2022. I also think this should be available to all. Families that have chosen a different route in education in the last few years have made the decision because of the state of our Public schools. Iowa Common Core and certain curriculums have forced families to move to homeschool or private education much sooner than July of 2022. Families are making huge sacrifices to get their children, what they feel is best and safest for their children taking second jobs, selling homes, etc. What Senator Celsi and others continually say to the public that we are trying to "defund public education" However, the opponents of this bill will not speak to or listen to why so many want out. I am not wealthy. I am a single mother that will be draining my son's college savings in order to provide a good education. I am a product of public education and had no intention of ever leaving. There are no other options at this point. ESA's for all. If the state of Iowa would do an overhaul on education to put us back at the top maybe more of us would stay. "Transparency" is apparently now a trigger word now but that is what we ask for in public education. While I support may factors this can only be a starting point.

02-02-2022

Elizabeth Wartick []

As a parent and as an Iowan, I oppose this bill. Public money is for public schools. Teachers are already accountable to state standards, school boards, and superintendents. They don't need another hoop to jump through in order to educate our kids. Say no to SSB 3080.

02-02-2022

Jenn Dreier []

Public money belongs to funding public schools. If our public schools are not "doing well enough" then let's fund them the way they need to be funded in order to do so, not remove money and filter it to private schools.

02-02-2022

Vicki Nolton []

Please do NOT pass this bill because it will cause irreparable damage to Iowas once robust public educational system. I know many public school teachers who go above & beyond who will be pushed out of the profession and their calling because of how our legislators are undermining their expertise and hard and underpaid work, when these legislators have no real experience or nuanced knowledge of educational work and systems. If our lawmakers continue to lead Iowa in a race to the bottom in education and health I will encourage our children to move out of state and would see no reason in staying here in retirement. I register as an Independent, and have often voted R in the past, but no longer trust the Republicans of this state, who are more concerned with privileging their special interests at the cost of everyday Iowans, who are the true backbone of our state and who deserve to be supported by our tax dollars. I am so disappointed in the direction our state is going.

02-02-2022

Mallory Oliver []

As a resident of Iowa, I have long been proud of our public education system and the status we have enjoyed as compared to the rest of the U.S. It was a deciding factor in my decision to remain living in Iowa after becoming an adult with children of my own. As a grandparent, I am becoming less and less enamored of Iowa's failing education system.Since 2018, when the Iowa Department of Education started publishing data on their Iowa School Performance Profiles, the number of schools obtaining the Excellent rating has decrease from 27 to 19. Conversely, the number of schools in the Priority rating, the lowest possible performance rating, has increased from 44 to 67. This is a significant and disturbing increase. I believe that this increase is directly related to the stagnated amount of funding being allocated to our public schools over this same time frame. So, to my point, diverting taxpayer dollars to the Student First Scholarshipfund so that students may attend private schools using taxpayer monies would thereby decrease the amount of funding available for public schools. Funding that desperately needs to go to Iowa public schools if we ever hope to reverse the unsettling trend of more schools being classified as Priority schools. One of the best ways to repair our school system is to retain and recruit quality educators as evidenced by Governor Kim Reynolds' recent announcement of a $1000.00retention bonus for teachers. Increased funding so that educator wages can be increased would also help in this effort. Taxpayer funds should be limited to paying for public schools notdiverted to private schools.

02-02-2022

Carolyb Brockman []

In terms of saying the governor wants transparency, this bill is a blatant attempt to confuse the public. Any person with critical thinking will recognize the bill for what it really is....to provide PUBLIC money for schools being spent for PRIVATE schols I would hope the whole legislature would vote a resounding NO on this bill.This bill could not be more obvious and I hope it will be recognized for what it really is. Carolyn Brockman

02-02-2022

Teresa Whitaker []

Please DO NOT pass SSB 3080. I am a recently retired public employee and I have seen the need for funding. Our public funds should go to PUBLIC schools not private schools. This would be truly damaging to Iowas public education. They serve ALL, especially those in most need. Please do the right thing by Iowas children.

02-02-2022

Tania Schramm []

Vote no on this horrendous bill. Public schools and teachers need our support and investment!! This bill would continue to erode our public schools through inadequate funding, siphoning money off to private schools, and creating an atmosphere of distrust. Public money from the taxpayers of Iowa should be used to fund PUBLIC schools. No vouchers. No "scholarships" for private or charter schools. Private schools arent required to comply with discrimination laws, and thus get to pick and choose which students can attend. Because of these protections, private and religious schools can reject students for any reason. Schools and teachers are already open and transparent. If parents want to know what's being taught in the classroom, they can get involved, ask questions, open a dialogue and communicate with the school and with teachers. This bill's concept of "transparency" is just a ruse to impose restrictions and censorship. This is a very bad bill.

02-02-2022

Scherr Cheryl []

Public funds should not be used for private schools. Doing a regulation so that money is paid to students and not schools is just a not so sneaky way of funding private schools and home schoolers. Since there are no regulations for home schoolers, that is just wrong.

02-02-2022

Stephen Whitaker []

Ill keep this simple. If someone wants to send their child to a private school, thats a choice. I dont think its fair to those folks who choose public schools to help foot the bill for private schooled kids. We have enough budget shortages in the public school system that need to be addressed without diverting public school tax dollars to pay for someone elses choice.

02-02-2022

M K []

Thank you for standing up for what is right!!! Please consider allowing more families to qualify for financial help, no matter their income. It seems like this will benefit public schools. Instead of 0% of the funds going back to public schools if a child chooses a private school, now they will get something.

02-02-2022

Terri Fredrickson []

Tax money should not go to private schools! Sending children to private schools is a choice those parents make. Our society needs public schools. Some of these bills are downright foolish and will serve no educational purpose. Have any of these senators/representatives ever taken time to talk to teachers who are not conservative republicans? Please quit the attack on teachers and public schools! Iowa is going backwards!!

02-02-2022

Fitzgerald Becky []

Public funds are for public schools. Private schools are not held to the same standards as public schools. They do not have to provide special education services and may reject a student from enrollment at any time. Strong public schools lead to productive citizens.

02-02-2022

Paula Campbell []

I am in favor of this bill passing for the sake of my grandchildren and all the children of this generation. As a grandmother with grandchildren in the Des Moines school system, I feel that they have been let down by the school system, and more transparency needs to be made available to parents as well as medical decisions need to be made by the parents. The following reasons for comments are listed as followed: 1. To start with, the masks mandates that Des Moines is still forcing on the children in the schools. They have been proven to be ineffective and carry all types of bacteria and germs and keeps them from breathing oxygen. My grandchildren have headaches and are unable to focus, as they should as they have expressed to me. If parents want their kids to wear a mask, then they can make that choice for them. However, they should not force it on other children, especially since it is not supposed to be mandatory in Iowa's schools. 2. Next, my grandson who is in the 2nd grade, is in IEP and although during one of the IEP meetings that I attended; the teacher was saying how well he was doing. However, when I noticed his handwriting was not good, I had him sit down to practice his handwriting and he did not remember his ABC's, in which he was saying them in kindergarten. My granddaughter who is in the 5th grade and makes nothing but 3's and above on her work in school came home with her report card having nothing but 2's, when her mom talked to her teacher about it, she really did not have an answer as to why this was. She also got every single answer right on a math test and received a 3.5 instead of a 4, and the teacher said that was the highest grade they could get on the test. This caused me to think that the students are not being encouraged to reach their full potential, but instead to just get by. 3. Finally, I am very much concerned about what I am seeing and hearing about the books with porn in them. I do not believe that school is an appropriate place for children to be exposed to porn. This strips them of their childhood innocents and harms their wellbeing. I am really concerned about who would be wanting to teach my grandkids this kind of material.These are a few examples that I have concerns about as to why I believe that school choice and transparency is a must for the development and wellbeing of our children in today's generation. Thank you for your time and consideration, Paula Campbell

02-02-2022

Darin Johnston []

I would like to register as strongly opposed to this bill for a number of reasons. 1) The obvious, public money should fund public schools. There will be people who will say, "Yes, but what about", and I understand their concerns. In the end, draining one pool so another can become more full is a crazy way to work. While we are at it, call this what it is, a voucher program. 2) This will impact rural schools in a way that many of them will not be able to recover. At the same time, this will also be pulling funds away from urban schools in a time when they need more support than ever. 3) How does this make Iowa the "educational destination" that our governor talked about? Underfunding schools and creating an atmosphere where teachers are both expected to do more and yet vilified at the same time will do nothing but push good teachers out of the profession in a time when they are needed more than ever. As our state ages, we need an influx of young professionals in our state. This bill does the exact opposite, pushing young people to find a place where education is valued. I urge the committee to view the overwhelming opposition to this legislation and not allow it to advance.Thank you for your time and service.

02-02-2022

Nick Covington []

As someone who grew up in Iowa public schools, became an Iowa public school teacher, and has a child in an Iowa public school, the Republicans in our legislature have failed entirely to provide a positive vision for education in our state. Instead they've replaced real local issues and the positive, productive relationships that make our children more humane and empathetic with conspiracism, hatred, & fear of the other that are the ratings priorities of cable news pundits and talk show grifterswho don't care about us or our kids, only for securing our educational agenda as fuel for their divisive cultural forever war. This education bill is guaranteed to drive young people, young families, and young teachers out of the state and out of the classroom and put Iowa on the path toward a failing education system.

02-02-2022

D F []

Please support this bill. It sickens me to see what is being done to the children, and my grandchildren, in public schools. Theyre being indoctrinated thru the LGBTQ agenda, critical race theory, and far left leaning teachers. Families should be able to choose which school system best suits their morals. And the funding for each student should follow them to the place of education the parent, along with the student, chooses. I know that my grandchildren, all in grade school, want out of the public school system because of what is going on. If you open your eyes, youll see that many parents are pulling their children out of the public school system. Theyre choosing private schools or to home school. That should say something right there. I feel that funding based on the school they choose to attend is discrimination. Why cant all students be treated the same and receive a voucher to the school of their choice? What happened to the all inclusive agenda thats currently sweeping our country? Please pass this bill.

02-02-2022

Jean McMaken [AAUW]

SSB3080 is a bad bill.Iowa's public schools need to be fully funded. The Governor's reccomendation is woefully inadequate. Funding for Iowa schools has lagged for years. Iowa used to be a national leader in public education.Fully funding public education would also make Iowa more attractive to families considering moving to our state.Jean McMaken

02-02-2022

Piper Hoffman []

Public funds for public schools! Stop accusing teachers of being sinister. Only Nazis ban books. Require more science classes at every level. If parents want their children to attend privateer school, them they need to pay. Public schools need MORE funding to attract new teachers to rural Iowa.

02-02-2022

Piper Hoffman []

02-02-2022

Samantha Fett []

I can not stress enough how vitally important this bill is for the current state of our public education system in Iowa. I support this bill! I support ESA (Education Savings Accounts) which is not a voucher system (vouchers have strings attached) As a past public school board member, the state in which the district runs is in terrible need of an overhaul. Communities are struggling with obscene curriculum being used and the parents have concerns on how the material is being defended in districts all over the state. Districts have been trying to bully and intimidate parents into silence, which leads the way for a bill that covers curriculum transparency! And the need for ESAs to provide better quality public education with competition and allowing parents a choice in selecting educational model that best fits their kids. Districts will be forced to truely make improvements to keep taxpayer money.

02-02-2022

Heidi Luett []

Please vote no to the voucher bill!This is wrong for Iowa and will exclude many low income and children whose education depends on an IEP being followed. They will not have access to all education which is mandatory. I also strongldisagree with teachers being video monitored, this will drive even more teachers away from Iowa. Please vote no. Heidi Luett

02-02-2022

Frances Fessler []

I want my tax dollars to go to public schools and used to do the most good for all students. If parents make the choice to send their children to private schools, they can also figure out to pay for it. NO vouchers or scholarships!! Private schools do not abide by the same rules as public schools. As a state we have been going backwards for some time with decreased school funding, low teacher pay and the treatment of teachers. It's not hard to figure out why teachers are leaving the profession and why others are not going into the profession. I think it is only going to get worse and the kids will be the ones to suffer.This bill should not move forward. It should be defeated!

02-02-2022

Melissa Collins []

Parents should have options if they do not want their kids to read sexualized content. If the public schools are going to draw a hard line on what they consider to be their moral line, I should have the choice to enroll in a school that is better suitable for what I consider to be inappropriate.

02-02-2022

Brenda Smith []

I support this bill. Taxes are funded by THE PEOPLE who pay into them. I spent the day yesterday at the State House under the words in the building that explain our government is FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE. Well, we THE PEOPLE are the ones who find these tax dollars and a average kid gets 17000 placed on their head for education. If even half this money is given back to THE PEOPLE who can choose where their kid goes to school it would then make these schools competitive and accountable. I agree there are good teachers out working in these schools but their are also very bad admin and teachers. This would help to find those weak spots and get them fixed. DID YOU KNOW THAT ADMIN OUT NUMBERS TEACHERS RIGHT NOW? And THE CHILD/TEACHER RATIO HAS GOTTEN WORSE? This bill would help correct these problems and many more. WE THE PEOPLE WANT OUR HARD WORKING TAX DOLLARS TO FOLLOW OUR KIDS WHERE WE CHOOSE TO SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.

02-02-2022

Gloria Campbell []

Our public schools are in crises and your solution is to divert public money to private schools? Think about the staff turnover risk as a result. Families already have a private choice. Dont make it easier so the resulting two tiered school system is even more pronounced. Our state Ed rankings will sink and the tax costs will be prohibitive if you move in this direction.

02-02-2022

K A []

I support This bill. Having worked in the public school system, I have Seen how children are being left behind in educational areas. This did not change when the school received extra funds. Allowing a parent to choose where their child attends school will benefit the family, child, and school systems as well. This could lead to smaller class sizes which would have a greater impact on individual children receiving a targeted plan for their education.

02-02-2022

Michelle Veach []

Parents must have transparency from schools to know what is being taught. Curriculum must be avail for review if trust is to be established between parents and staff. Money should follow students the only way to create higher standards is to create competition and give parents options for school choice. Open enrollment must be more flexible to allow families to lea e a school once they know their kids arent learning/thriving.

02-02-2022

Katie Merulla []

Public money for public schools. Our schools are already not adequately funded. Our public school system in Iowa will fall apart if you do not fund with inflation. We have a surplususe it for Iowa schools.Also, libraries already publish the books they have in them. Its a library catalog. Any person can learn what any public school library has in it with a simple search. This bill is completely unnecessary. Please support Iowa schools with the funding and respect they need. Our future in Iowa depends on it.

02-02-2022

Charles Smith []

I believe this is a very poor bill. Public money should not be directed away from public schools to finance private schools. In fact more money should be sent to public schools to help reduce class size, pay teachers better salaries and to finance diverse programs that have had to be cut over past years due to poor funding.

02-02-2022

Brian Bruening []

I do not support this bill as it is currently written. The voucher program favors urban schools where private and charter schools are located, to the detriment of rural schools who are already struggling with flat and decreased funding schemes. Public money should go to public schools only since public schools are open to anyone, regardless of income.

02-02-2022

Sabrina Shields-Cook [Ames Community School District]

As a strong supporter of education, I oppose this bill. Public money should be for public schools. We need to invest MORE in public education in our state, not less. Fund public schools properly so we can reduce class sizes, improve outcome for students, and recruit and retain highquality teachers.

02-02-2022

Elizabeth Arnold []

Public money for public schools. As a product of Iowa public schools, a parent of public school students, a sub and a trained librarian, free educational institutions are paramount for a healthy society. Empower teachers and school staff to educate our students and select material as they are the trained professionals.

02-02-2022

Kelly Neiber []

I implore you to vote no to this bill as it is not a positive thing for education in Iowa. I beg of you to fully fund public schools and universities in Iowa to the fullest so we could possibly return to respectable institutions and highly thought of. Please explain to Iowans how you think it is ok that our educational system has gone from being first in the nation to 23rd during the current administrations reign of terror. You want transparency from educators, but the people of the state need that from their governor and law makers. I'm worried about what you're trying to do behind our backs why you are shouting about banning books and sinister teachers, or other non issues that you are wasting tax payer money on. I use to be proud to say I was from Iowa, where we had an amazing educational system, but now I don't recognize the place I grew up. Please step into the classrooms and talk with those directly involved with educating our children. All students deserve the opportunity to learn, read and have role models that reflect themselves, and to have their schools funded properly for that to happen. If you truly care about kids in Iowa this should be an easy decision.

02-02-2022

Frances Rockey []

PUBLIC funds should be spent ONLY on PUBLIC schools at a minimum any educational facility accepting public funding should be held accountable to ALL taxpayers, not just parents. Our public schools belong to all of us.And it is very overdo to restore full funding to all levels of education k12 plus higher ed. Education has been underfunded for decades the original "defunding". As the old adage says: "you get what you pay for". Please let's step up and again pay for quality education! (Smaller class sizes in particular are needed!)

02-02-2022

Peter Bissinger []

This law presents many outrages to those of us who serve in public schools. The two most outrageous to me:1) Teachers often find resources "on the fly". Students find them and share them with us. We check them out and share them with the rest of the class. To expect us to be able to take the time to make sure they are cataloged with 100% accuracy AND fulfill our other (and constantly growing) professional obligations is appalling. Most teachers put daily agendas and resources online so students AND parents or guardians can access them on a daily basis. If parents have questions or concerns about classroom materials, they can directly contact the teacher, principal, superintendent, and school board. There is no reason for the state to get involved in this level of micromanaging schools. 2) Regarding the student first scholarship. Private schools can decline enrollment to any student for any reason. If they accept this scholarship money, they should be held to the same standard as any public school. They must accept all students AND abide by a much longer set of rules, regulations, and expectations. Public money should go to public schools. IF private schools should receive public money, however, they should be held to 100% the same standards as public schools so they all compete on a level playing field. I would truly love to hear anyone vote for this bill justify the unfair competition it will create.

02-02-2022

Claire R []

I support this bill. The fact that people dont see a problem with public schools is the first problem. You have to acknowledge a problem before you can fix it. I dont support my tax money going to public schools if they keep teaching liberal and political agendas.

02-02-2022

Shalome Musignac Jordan [Parent]

As a parent of elementary, middle and high school students, I oppose this bill. Public schools need the funding and support to keep teaching kids with the world class education Iowa has been known for. This will affect all public schools, rural and urban alike, and it is an attack on public schools. We went from supporting and acknowledging the hard work of teachers and other school staff alike during the beginning of the pandemic to targeting and attacking them through legislation and other means. It is really disappointing to see that this is in response to a few parents that would like to send their kids to private schools because they do not want to have an education that includes factual historical information, critical thinking and growing diversity in our public schools. If those parents would like to send their children to private school, then that is a decision they should afford that has always been a choice but now we are being tasked to pay for this intolerance? I hope you care about the education of children in Iowa enough to support teachers and schools with more than words support them with your actions through funding, collaboration, and support. This is a bad move in many ways.

02-02-2022

Amy Rueschenberg []

I am against vouchers. Public money should not go to private schools. I also feel that asking teachers to put lesson plans and materials online for parents and community members to review is a ridiculous expectation to place on our teachers. This will most definitely cause teachers to rethink their career in public education.

02-02-2022

Mary Cecilia Thomas []

I do not support this bill. I feel it weakens our public school system and takes vital funding away from kids in my rural community. I also believe curriculum decisions should be left to the highly educated professionals that teach in the classroom. If a parent has a problem with the curriculum, they should discuss with their childs teacher. Why should my child be denied an education because it doesnt align with someone elses political ideology.

02-02-2022

Jason Arnold []

I strongly oppose SSB 3080 as a parent of public school children. With regard to Division I, School Transparency, parents already have access to all of the information already. All a parent has to do today is talk with the district or their child's teacher to get the information. The problem isn't transparency, the issue is lack of parental involvement in their child's education. I trust our highly trained teachers and staff to be open to discuss any questions I may have about my child's education. The majority of parents I would not trust to make education decisions for myself or their own child. This part of the bill will put undue strain on our teachers and staff. As for Division II, Student First Scholarship program, public money should go to public schools, period. Private schools do not have the same limitations that public schools have and do not have the kind of transparency public schools have. So to have in one part of the bill say public schools need more transparency and then in another party say we want to fund private schools who have no transparency is hypocritical.

02-02-2022

Caleb Bonjour [Voter/Parent]

Public money should go to public purposes. This shouldn't even be a debate. Iowa already has strong school choice with open enrollment, public online schools, charter schools, private education if parents so choose that for their students. Our tax payer dollars should not fund a private school. Public dollars need to go to public education. Public schools are required to admit and serve all students. This legislation would divert public funds to nonpublic schools, which are not required to adhere to this principle of equity.Available resources should go to support the most students. This proposal could cost as much as $54 million to benefit just 10,000 students. At a time when our public schools are facing unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic, available resources should go to support the more than 484,000 public school students in all 99 counties.Public funds should require accountability and transparency. Nonpublic schools are not held to the same standard as public schools. The absence of public accountability for public funds could contribute to waste and fraud of taxpayer dollars.

02-02-2022

Scott Bean []

Upon retirement I moved back to Iowa to be nearer family. My taxes should not be used to prop up private entities. It is a choice to have children attend private or home school environments. I have known several young folks leave public education as a result of the constant lack of support from the State of Iowa. Support public education, community colleges, and regency institutions.

02-02-2022

Anne McCullough Kelly []

I realize Im a little late getting this in and Ill keep it short. If these scholarship programs are vouchers to utilize public, taxacquired funds for private schools: No. Lets invest in improving our public schools first. Diverting funds paid for by taxes from public schools will give a few students access to a private school education at the expense of depleting quality of public schools for far many more children.Modifying provisions related to social studies instruction: if this is an effort to control nonexistent CRT being taught in school, first of all, its not. And United States and Iowa history is full of many unpleasant events that must be studied if we are to do better, treat others better, and build systems of equity. Trust social studies teachers to do the jobs theyve been educated and trained to do. Trust them to help students safely process any feelings of discomfort. Those who have been marginalized and attacked in the past know well the discomfort at best, and most often pain and grief that resulted from the atrocities in the past. A little discomfort studying those events now pales in comparison to the trauma these events caused others. Kids can learn this history safely and work to build better presents and futures in their communities because of what they learn.

02-02-2022

Valerie DeBates []

I heard it stated several times that "competition creates better". This isn't accurate. Education is not a sport or business with winners/losers or driven by supply/demand. Public education is the greatest opportunity for every individual IF it's made a priority of society and those in power. Public funds for public education only. Fully fund public education as a start to meeting the needs of families and communities.

02-02-2022

Connie Kolacia []

There may have been a time when I would support this bill but no longer. We continue to throw money at public schools & & continue you get less for our kids. Lower math & reading & comprehension skills. Time for change. Your Common Core experiment failed.

02-02-2022

Ann Morris [Former teacher WDM Valley HS]

Public funds were always intended for public schools. Private schools arose by choice, knowing tuition would be privately funded. To maintain, no. To regain the quality Iowa has boasted of her public schools, this is not appropriate to use public funds for private schools. It requires the government to seek other ways to fund those very schools. Each child has the right to a quality education.

02-02-2022

Severson Adam []

As a teacher, this is a problem. I have colleagues quitting. More will as class size goes up as funding doesn't keep up. Private schools can kick kids out. Public schools can't. We shouldn't fund private schools since they won't be held to the same standards. They don't have to follow IEPs. They ship kids to public schools for that. Public money should go to public schools.

02-02-2022

Jean Kaul-Brown []

Public money needs to go to public schools. Please do not pass this bill out of your subcommittee. Iowa's crown jewel was once its public education system. This bill will only continue to hollow out our public schools, and remove vital investments into Iowa's children, no matter their background, or location across the state.

02-02-2022

Theresa Munkvold []

I absolutely am opposed to 1/ vouchers used to shift money away fromPublic schools; the children, teachers, supports necessary and 2/ the ridiculous requirements to post all curriculum amd books, etc online. You are taking the focus away from supporting students and Iowa CB listen will suffer as a results. Clearly, thats your goal; uneducated youth. Iowas K12 USED TO place in in a higher tier of education but now it has fallen to the 37th or 38th in the country. Your goal it seems, is to be 50th.I firmly oppose this for IOWA and students, teachers, families. Youve lost any vision for what is best for this state.

02-02-2022

Jeanne Calkins []

Please support publications c education. We have an opportunity to strengthen publishing c education. Increase funding to schools with lower property taxes. Raise teachers salaries with state funding, make capital improvements and ensure equality for technology by providing laptops for all students and internet accessibility in their homes. This is not the time for school vouchers. Jeann Calkins

02-03-2022

Grant Wilson []

This seems like a black eye for the state and a horrible path to funnel tax dollars to private entities. I don't really understand how Parents choice only applies if its the "right" parent. I'm a parent and this looks like an utterly horrible route to go.

02-03-2022

Joyce Baker []

No public dollars to fund private education Poor access, lack of refulationfor civil rights compliance, religious based tax exempt should not get public monies fund schools in general budget. Don't care what name you give it.

02-03-2022

Sherry Borzo []

I am opposed to any of your plans to take public money away from public education. Our state already ranks last in terms of growth and your continued hacking away at equal quality education for all Iowan children will just make things worse. Please remember that all children deserve free and equal access to quality education. Support public schools.

02-03-2022

Sylvia Kroeger []

Dont use tax dollars for ANYTHING but public schools. Charter schools have proved to be ineffective at best. Quit cutting money from our public schools. Youre ruining Iowas fine education reputation and harming our childrens ability to compete.

02-03-2022

Jaxon Beliveau []

As a student, this bill will be fantastic for us by giving us more opportunity to get the best education possible and by allowing transparency with schools. I hope this body will pass this bill and that we can bring transparency to a school system that is increasingly trying to indoctrinate us.

02-03-2022

Linda Schreiber []

Sens. Sinclair, Celsi and Rozenboom Please vote NO on this proposed bill SSB 3080. School vouchers are a disservice to Iowa students and especially rural students. As a former school board member and president (10 years of service), I oppose funding private school education with public tax dollars. It isn't fair to students, communities or taxpayers. Let's not make it harder during an ongoing global pandemic to recruit and retain quality teachers. The proposed bill does not benefit Iowa students. It makes it harder to provide quality public education. If students leave their rural schools, schools and communities will decline. Parents already have opportunities to open enroll their students. Vote no on SSB 3080.Sincerely, Linda Schreiber

02-03-2022

Rhonda Chittenden []

Public dollars should never be used to support private educational entities. I trust you know better. Public schools need more funding to address the needs of students and staff, not less. You will serve students first by allocating sufficient funding to Iowas public education system where the majority of Iowas students will always be enrolled. Thank you!

02-03-2022

Lisa Lode []

Please vote against this bill. It is not good for public education and it will destroy school libraries. There are many studies that show highly trained, certified librarians have as be a positive impact on reading scores and student success. If you want to put Iowa back on top, you will vote no on SSB3080.Thank you.

02-04-2022

Carol Erban []

Public tax dollars are meant for public school education. Im happy to pay for public school even though I do not have children. I want a publicly educated Iowa to support the common community. Private education should be paid for by those who want private education.

02-05-2022

MARC SALMON []

ONE OF IOWA'S PRIMARY COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES IN THIS COUNTRY IS OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM...IE THAT IS WHAT BRINGS YOUNG PEOPLE BACK HOME TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY (LIKE ME). IF THIS BILL PASSES WE WILL LOSE POPULATION AT A GREATER RATE TO SURROUNDING STATES, NOT A DESIRED RESULT FOR EITHER PARTY.

02-06-2022

Teresa Heubner []

My tax dollars belong with public schools! My sister's family chooses to play golf, swim and play tennis at a private country club instead of at our beautiful public facilities that are paid for with tax dollars. Are you going to propose a law that allows my tax dollars to pay her country club dues next? I have no children in public schools but I never compain about paying for them. We have school choice with open enrollment. If parents want to send their children to private schools they should pay for it. I firmly believe that well funded public schools are the heart of our communities and essential for our democracy. Just say no to any bills that funnel more of my tax dollars to private schools!Thanks for you service and consideration on this issue,Teresa "Ann" Heubner

02-06-2022

Sherri Peterson []

It is time to prioritize Iowa schools again! We once the envy of other states and Iowa children could proudly attend any university and be assured that they were prepared. Our public schools and Iowa children deserve the best. Stop the voucher madness and fully fund our schools. We do not need a tax cut! We need great schools and universities so that we can again be proud of our schools!