SW Iowa Times

Gov. Kim Reynolds wants to see more transparency from schools in the state so that parents know what their children are being taught in the classroom and also give parents the option to send their child to another school. 

Reynolds talked about these ideas during the 2022 Condition of the State address where she pointed to recent complaints that parents brought to a school board meeting surrounding lesson plans that contain books with vulgar and sexually explicit material involving minors. She said there's a difference between material on late night television and what should be taught in a classroom or found in a school library.

"If school boards and administrators refuse to understand that — if they believe the classroom is about pushing their worldview — then we're on the wrong path," Reynolds said during her address which was posted in full on YouTube.

Education accounts for more than 56% of all state spending, according to the governor's website. During her address Reynolds talked about proposed legislation that would allow about 70%, or more than $5,300, of the 'per pupil' funds the state allocates each year to go into an account for families to customize their child's education. The rest would go to smaller school districts. 

The Students First Act, introduced by the governor last year, would also require school districts to share class materials on its website. Reynolds also wants high school students to pass citizenship testing as a graduation requirement.