A new refrain has emerged among school choice opponents in Iowa: education savings accounts are welfare. It is a revealing argument because it says more about how opponents view parents than it does about how Iowa’s ESA program actually works. Education savings accounts are not cash payments to parents. They are restricted-use accounts that allow […]

The Public School Strong resolution being promoted by Iowa CCI presents itself as a defense of public education, but its actual target is Iowa families who choose something different. It asks school boards to urge the Governor and Legislature to “fully fund” public schools while also keeping income caps on Education Savings Accounts, phasing the […]

Iowa’s nonpublic schools continue to show strong academic performance on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. A review of Iowa Department of Education proficiency data from the 2020-21 school year through the 2024-25 school year shows that nonpublic schools posted higher proficiency rates than public schools in every comparable subject and year. The comparison […]

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family can make. For Iowa parents, that decision may look a little different today than it did just a few years ago. With Education Savings Accounts helping more families access accredited nonpublic schools, parents have more opportunity to consider which learning environment is the […]

June has arrived, which means Iowa families have one month left to apply for a Students First Education Savings Account for the 2026–27 school year. The application window closes on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., and families who are considering an accredited nonpublic school should not wait until the final days to begin […]