Iowa shows how to put parents back in charge
Washington steps back as Iowa gains new authority over federal education dollars
For decades conservatives have advocated the elimination of the United States Department of Education. The federal education bureaucracy has led to more regulation and worse outcomes for both students and parents. Gov. Kim Reynolds correctly argues that “the decades-old experiment in federal micromanagement of education — conducted most recently at an annual cost to taxpayers of $268 billion — has failed.” Although the infrastructure of the Department of Education still exists, President Donald Trump has done the next best thing by allowing states to have greater flexibility.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that Iowa would be the first state to receive approval, giving Iowa greater autonomy in how it uses federal funds.
The “Returning Education to the States‘ waiver allows Iowa to consolidate funding from four programs into one block grant of about $9.5 million.” Gov. Reynolds stated that “this means greater flexibility to strengthen the teacher pipeline, narrow student achievement gaps and really continue our work to expand evidence-based instruction in both math and reading, and most importantly, it means moving the dial toward the return of education to the states.”
Secretary McMahon argues that “states should lead, and Washington should support their sound approaches and get out of the way. That’s why the Trump administration is granting Iowa this flexibility.”
This flexibility will help Iowa build upon the education reforms that Gov. Reynolds and the legislature have initiated to expand parental choice. “In Iowa, for example, we’re empowering parents, ensuring neither zip code nor income is an obstacle to enrolling in the school of one’s choice, and getting back to evidence-based instruction in basics like literacy and math,” wrote Gov. Reynolds.
Improving opportunities and access to education has long been a priority for Gov. Reynolds. “For the last nine years, one principle has guided our work in education: putting students first,” She noted during her Condition of the State Address. Regardless of ZIP code or socioeconomic status, she has argued that these factors should not serve as roadblocks for Iowa families seeking the best educational options. As Governor Reynolds explained:
“We’ve also expanded educational options—because no single model works for every child. Today, Iowa families can choose the school that best fits their needs, whether that’s the neighborhood public school, another district, a public charter school, or a private school through an Education Savings Account (ESA).”
Iowa’s ESA program is now universal. “For the first time in Iowa’s history, Education Savings Accounts are universally available—meaning the same State Cost per Pupil follows every child, regardless of income or ZIP code,” Gov. Reynolds stated.
While much of the attention has focused on ESAs, Gov. Reynolds and the legislature have also reduced barriers to open enrollment and expanded charter schools. As a result, more students across Iowa are taking advantage of open enrollment by transferring to another district, and new charter schools are opening across the state. Together, these options give parents greater ability to choose the best fit for their child.
Gov. Reynolds also noted that, because of recent reforms, “Iowa has approved 16 public charter schools, 10 of which are currently in operation.” In addition, “from FY23 to FY25, enrollment in Iowa’s public charter schools has increased by 213%.”
Whether through ESAs, open enrollment, charter schools, or other programs, Gov. Reynolds and the legislature continue to expand opportunities for parental choice in education. “Our message to the nation is simple: In Iowa, we fund students, not systems. And the results speak for themselves,” Gov. Reynolds has argued.
Iowa has once again been recognized as a national leader in education freedom. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) recently released the 2026 edition of the Index of State Education Freedom, ranking Iowa fourth in the nation and awarding the state top marks for expanding educational opportunity and parental choice.
The Index measures how states “provide different educational options to families,” evaluating policies related to student-centered funding programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schools, and open enrollment. Overall, Iowa’s high ranking reflects years of policy reforms aimed at expanding access, reducing barriers, and giving families greater control over their children’s education.
Iowa is demonstrating that education policy is best formulated at the state and local levels of government. More importantly, it is also essential to ensure that parents have a voice in how their children will be educated. Whether through public schools, charter schools, private schools, or homeschooling, Iowa is allowing parents the freedom to determine the best approach for their child’s education.
The U.S. Department of Education may never be abolished, but the next best step is giving states greater flexibility in how they use federal funds.
John Hendrickson serves as policy director for Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation.
