1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern over the decline of Iowa’s public education system. Once a national leader in academic achievement, Iowa now ranks near the bottom in quality. In 2022, U.S. News and World Report placed Iowa 48th out of 51 states in its ranking of best high schools. This is not because our students or teachers have failed—average student scores in reading and math have improved since the 1990s. Other states have simply invested more aggressively, while Iowa has not. For over a decade, school funding has failed to keep pace with inflation. Since 2011, state supplemental aid for K-12 education has increased only 2.60% per year on average, while inflation has averaged 3.51%. That amounts to schools being underfunded by 12.74% over 14 years. This shortfall means larger class sizes, outdated materials, fewer staff, and limited support services. Recent policy decisions have only worsened the problem. In 2023, Senate File 496 banned materials and instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in lower grades and prohibited books describing sex acts. These restrictions have undermined trust in educators and chilled open discussion in classrooms. The governor’s private school voucher program has diverted tens of millions in public funds to private institutions, already exceeding cost estimates by over $50 million. Meanwhile, $4 million in federal relief funds was rerouted to just eleven charter schools. These moves take resources away from the vast majority of Iowa students who attend public schools. Further damage was done by dismantling the Area Education Agencies (AEAs), which have served Iowa schools for 50 years. Nearly 500 AEA professionals have left, reducing critical support services for students with special needs and other learning challenges. Public education should not be a political target. It is the foundation of our future and deserves steady investment, thoughtful policy, and genuine support. I urge you to stop the attacks and reverse course. Iowa can once again lead in education—if we commit to funding and respecting our public schools.