Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

Attendance at subcommittee meetings by lobbyists and the public is via zoom or in-person. See agenda for zoom details. Only authenticated users are permitted access.

SF 2175

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, the school start date, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 2425.)

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Green-CH, Quirmbach, Rozenboom

Date: Monday, February 16, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: Room 315

Comments Submitted:

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.

02-15-2026

Jennifer Proctor

Oppose.If state money goes to charter or private schools, then they should be held to the same standards (audits, reporting, etc) as public schools. By delaying the ESA deadline, you further challenge the public schools (who educate 92% of Iowa school children) in proper planning with already stretched budgets. Please talk to superintendents and teachers to find out what the impact is of this and other legislation on our schools.

02-16-2026

Karen Maass

I am Strongly AGAINST SF2175. I am against any tax or public money going to charter or private schools. There isn't any oversight on how they use the money nor is there any student assessments made available to the public to know if our tax money is being used wisely. If a parent chooses to send a child to private school, they should cover the cost. Private schools can pick and choose what students they want and Public schools have to take ALL students even the ones who cost them more than a student without special needs. It is discriminatory to rural schools who do not have a private school in their area. It is also discriminatory to lower income students. Once the vouchers were introduced, private schools raised their tuition making it impossible for parents with lower incomes to afford private schools. Funneling money to private schools is also threatening public schools to default on their SAVE funds.

02-16-2026

Lisa Martincik

OPPOSED. Public money for public schools. Vouchers have not worked elsewhere and will not magically work here, unless the aim is to impoverish many students at the expense of some. Scrap this, come back with reasons, studies, and data, and try again if you must. Do not proceed.

02-15-2026

Laura Brunsen

I am ABSOLUTELY AGAINST SF2175. I am against any tax/public money going to charter/private schools. There is NO oversight on how they use the money. If a parent chooses to send a child to private school, they should cover the cost. Private schools can pick and choose what students they want. Public schools cannot. Rural areas often do not have private schools so that discriminates against rural families. Funneling money to private/charters schools is threatening my towns school to default on their SAVE (Secure and Advanced Education). Our school board said 89 other Iowa rural schools will default on their SAVE funding because our Iowa government continues to take away public school funds and give them to private schools. Think twice before voting on SF2175. Do not put public schools especially, rural public school and children at further risk!!!

02-15-2026

Stacy Volmer

I strongly oppose Senate File 2175. This sweeping bill diverts critical public education dollars to charter and nonpublic schools while reducing oversight and accountability. It expands Education Savings Accounts, authorizes taxpayerbacked bonds for private facilities, and mandates public districts subsidize extracurricular access, further straining already underfunded public schools.Public funds belong in public schools that serve all students, not in systems shielded from meaningful regulation. SF 2175 weakens transparency, accelerates privatization, and shifts resources away from the majority of Iowa children.Iowa should be strengthening neighborhood public schools, not dismantling them piece by piece. Vote NO on SF 2175.