Action alert from Iowa House Democrats’ Monday update:

FUNDING FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS: DEBATE TUESDAY MORNING (2/7)

Iowa Democrats believe in strong public schools for every kid. This session, Democratic lawmakers are proposing a new $267 million investment in public schools for the 2023-24 school year. This new investment in public education will:

• Reduce class sizes
• Provide more mental health support for students
• Prevent budget cuts, layoffs and loss of academic programs and services
• Raise pay for teachers & keep them in the classroom

Over the last decade under GOP control, 134 public schools in Iowa closed their doors. According to the National Education Association, Iowa ranks 40th out of 50 for the increase in education funding from 2014 to 2019, which is well below the national average.

Governor Reynolds and Republican lawmakers have already given $267 million to the biggest corporations in Iowa and private school vouchers. It’s only fair that the 485,000 kids in public schools get at least the same.

Debate on public school funding is scheduled to start on Tuesday morning. Watch live at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/dashboard?view=videoLive&chamber=H