School choice is booming in Iowa. Are students better off?
Iowa's school choice programs are booming, with over 4,000 students in Cedar Rapids opting for alternatives to public schools, leading to financial struggles for the local district. The Cedar Rapids Community School District is considering closing up to six elementary schools due to declining enrollment.
Iowa's education landscape is shifting as school choice programs gain popularity. The Cedar Rapids Community School District is struggling financially due to declining enrollment, with over 4,000 students opting for alternative schools. The district serves around 14,000 students, a number that has been declining for a decade. Iowa's new Education Savings Accounts program allows students to receive $8,000 to attend private schools. The district is considering closing up to six elementary schools to cut costs. A new charter school, Cedar Rapids Prep, is expanding with a multimillion-dollar remodel funded largely by a billionaire philanthropist.
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