A two-month-long stalemate among House and Senate Republicans over general state funding for students in Iowa’s K-12 schools has been resolved. All but one Republican in the Iowa Senate have voted for a two percent increase in per pupil state funding for students in public and private schools. The final plan has two House GOP priorities — more money for schools with high transportation costs along with nearly a million dollars so small districts may share more staff. Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, spoke just before Monday’s vote.
House Republicans had pressed for slightly more per pupil spending, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says it was time for compromise since school districts must certify their budgets April 30th.
State spending for public schools will be nearly $8,000 per student. The same amount will be deposited in each state-funded account for private school students. Democrats like Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines say using taxpayer dollars to cover the costs of a private school education is blowing a hole in the state budget.
The 2% increase in general state spending amounts to an extra $162 per student.
