The Iowa Senate is sending a bill to the desk of Governor Kim Reynolds that would make it easier to start up charter schools within the public school system.
"House File 813 gives local public school boards a chance to be innovative in instructional delivery," said Senator Amy Sinclair (R-Wayne). "House File 813 also creates a path for parents to have a hand in defining and creating the optimal public school learning environment for their child."
The bill allow groups to apply directly to the state Department of Education to form a charter, rather than going through a local school board. Democrats argue that the state should be supporting the already existing public schools instead.
"We should be reinvesting in our public schools," said Senator Claire Celsi (D-Polk). "Not starting a completely new system that is certain to decrease public input and which is very likely to fail the students who take a chance on this very risky business model."
The bill passed the Senate along party lines, 30-18.