Auditor: School choice cost Iowans $258 million

A recent report by Iowa Auditor Rob Sand reveals that Iowa's funding program for K-12 private schools has cost state taxpayers $258 million, with nearly 79% of students benefiting from the program already projected to attend private schools. The Iowa Department of Education dismissed the report as a "policy advocacy brief" that critiques statutory provisions of the Iowa Education Savings Account (ESA) program. This raises questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of the program, especially as it diverts significant public funds from traditional public schools. The findings are crucial as they highlight potential misallocation of educational resources and the broader implications for equitable school funding.