HF68 creates education programs and funding by establishing an education savings account program, modifying certain school district categorical funding supplements and supplementary weighting, and making appropriations. It provides a new standing unlimited General Fund appropriation for an Education Savings Account (ESA) Fund under the control of the Department of Education.
The Iowa State Senate passed HF68 on January 23, 2023 by a vote of 31 to 18. We have assigned pluses to the nays because all government money comes with strings attached. ESAs might sound good in theory, but they expand government involvement into all aspects of education — including homeschools and religious schools — and can potentially affect rules and curriculum. We encourage all parents to get their children out of the government school system and instead pursue sound alternatives such as homeschooling and patriotic private schools, where government funds are not involved.