‘What did we do wrong now?’: Rural Iowa schools weigh impact of ESA expansion

By: Kadin Luhmann

Outlets: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published: July 31, 2026

Words: 956

Last Updated: 2 days, 22 hours ago

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As Iowa’s Education Savings Account program continues to expand to include all K-12 families, rural public school districts are still trying to determine how the scholarships will affect their classrooms, budgets and enrollment.

Supporters argue ESAs give families more educational choices, while critics say the program diverts money away from public schools that remain the center of many rural communities.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the ESA program into law in 2023, allowing eligible families …

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