• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Friday, March 24, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Iowa’s Charter School Laws Deemed ‘Most Improved’

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools says Iowa's charter school laws are now 18th best and the "most-improved" in the nation following changes made in 2021.

Mary StrokabyMary Stroka
February 1, 2022
in Education, State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Reynolds Signs Charter School Expansion Bill Into Law

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs HF 813, a charter school expansion bill, at Starts Right Here headquarters in Des Moines on May 19, 2021.

(The Center Square) – Iowa charter school laws are now 18th best and the “most-improved” in the nation following last year’s changes, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools announced in its annual rankings report.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

“Iowa is the most improved state, leaping from #41 to #18 after enacting an overhaul to its charter school law,” the organization’s news release said. “Major improvements included strengthened authorizing and enhanced autonomy and accountability.”

The Measuring Up to The Model report compares states’ charter school laws against the National Alliance’s preferences in 21 components focused on flexibility, accountability and equity.

Iowa received 157 out of a possible 240 points.

The Hawkeye State received full points in the following components: No Caps, A Variety of Charter Public Schools Allowed, Non-District Authorizers Available, Authorizer and Overall Program Accountability System Required, Performance-Based Charter Contracts Required, Comprehensive Charter Public School Monitoring and Data Collection Processes, Fiscally and Legally Autonomous Schools with Independent Charter Public School Boards, Automatic Collective Bargaining Exemption, and Multischool Charter Contracts and/or Multicharter Contract Boards Allowed.

“Iowa took a strong step forward by overhauling its law to enact policy that will create more high-quality public education options,” National Alliance Senior Vice President for State Advocacy and lead author of the report Todd Ziebarth said. “We urge the Iowa Legislature to continue improving its much stronger law.”

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Iowa collected zero points in Adequate Authorizer Funding, Equitable Access to Capital Funding and Facilities, Access to Relevant Employee Retirement Systems and Full-Time Virtual Charter School Provisions. The organization also docked Iowa because it does not require that authorizers close chronically low-performing charter schools unless exceptional circumstances exist.

Ziebarth said Iowa law needs to clarify public charter school students will receive equitable funding compared with other public school students. He said the law could also be clearer regarding autonomy in innovation and charter school leader licensing.

Iowa was among nine states that improved their rankings and 14 states that improved their scores from 2021. Alabama, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, West Virginia and Wyoming also improved both their rankings and scores. Indiana, which has led the pack for the past several years, Colorado, Alabama, Minnesota and Florida are the top five states for public charter schools, the report said.

Wisconsin, Virginia, Alaska, Kansas and Maryland are at the bottom of the rankings.

Tags: Charter SchoolsNational Alliance for Public Charter SchoolsSchool ChoiceTodd Ziebarth
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Iowa House Bill Limiting Presidential Executive Orders Advances

Next Post

Hendrickson & Curry: Time for Greater Accountability in Education

Mary Stroka

Mary Stroka

Mary Stoka is a freelance writer, editor, journalist, and public relations professional who lives in Chicago, Ill.

Related Posts

Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts
Opinion

Ingstad & Hendrickson: Iowa education reforms point to what’s next

February 2, 2023
Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts
State Government

Reynolds signs bill creating education savings accounts

January 24, 2023
Reynolds Signs Charter School Expansion Bill Into Law
Opinion

Reynolds: An open letter to Iowans about school choice

January 23, 2023
The Iowa House Education Reform Committee debating HSB 1 on January 18, 2023.
State Government

School choice bill advances through legislative committees

January 19, 2023
Holt: Education, Free Speech & Justice for All
Opinion

Holt: It’s time to empower parents through school choice

January 12, 2023
Reynolds Launches New Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship
Opinion

Hendrickson: Iowa Rising – Gov. Kim Reynolds Continues to Champion Conservative Policies

January 11, 2023
Next Post
Axne Urges Reynolds to Utilize Rejected COVID-19 Testing Funds for Schools

Hendrickson & Curry: Time for Greater Accountability in Education

Reynolds Launches New Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship

Reynolds Touts Proposed Tax Reform Bill

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Prichard Resigns As Iowa House Minority Leader

Prichard Resigns As Iowa House Minority Leader

June 3, 2021
Special Election in Iowa House District 29 Set for October 12

Special Election in Iowa House District 29 Set for October 12

September 15, 2021

Reynolds Sets Date for Iowa House District 37 Special Election

August 4, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise

    Horn: It’s time for employers get serious about Iowa’s untapped workforce

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ernst: Biden’s WOTUS whiplash.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sherman: Iowa can fight back against the Biden Administration’s attack on retirees and families

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.