Iowa Department of Education

Most Iowa school districts have agreed to exclude undocumented high school students from federally funded career and technical education programs, following the Trump administration's interpretation of the 1982 Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court decision. The policy limits access to dual enrollment and career training, citing a distinction between 'basic public education' and postsecondary opportunities.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand's report claims the state paid $258 million in 2026 to fund private school tuition through the Education Savings Account (ESA) program, with 79% of participants already projected to attend private schools. The Iowa Department of Education disputed the report's methodology, calling it a 'policy advocacy brief' and denying its validity as an audit.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, is campaigning against the state’s education savings account (ESA) program, which provides public vouchers for private school expenses. His opposition to the 2023 policy frames it as a drain on public schools, positioning him as a fiscal hawk amid a divided Democratic approach to school choice.

A push against property tax in Iowa may lead to a downgrade risk for schools. This could affect the funding and quality of education in the state. The potential downgrade risk is a concern for the schools' financial stability.