Iowa, Texas expand school voucher programs, pressuring public schools

Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program, signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds in 2023, is being expanded to cover all K‑12 families for the 2026‑27 school year. Rural districts report that the influx of scholarship money is forcing cuts to elective programs, larger class sizes and even school mergers. Iowa State Education Association president Joshua Brown cited the loss of a century‑old orchestra program in Boone and the elimination of a second‑grade teacher as examples of the strain. Superintendent Deron Stender of Creston Community Schools noted that losing just three to five students per year translates to a $8,000 loss per pupil for the district.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, creating a statewide voucher system that has enrolled more than 85,000 families in its first year, backed by a $1 billion investment. The program, overseen by Comptroller Don Huffines, primarily serves white, low‑income families and a sizable share of children with disabilities. Critics such as state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt argue the vouchers constitute a “billion‑dollar handout” to private schools while public schools face chronic underfunding and closures.