Iowans Seeking Answers on School Vouchers/ESA's

Dear Fellow Christians and Concerned Iowans,

Please sign this petition to request the leaders of the Iowa Churches who support Voucher/ESA legislation, to hear Iowans concerns and to better inform ALL church members on this decision. We are concerned with the possible effects Vouchers/ESA's may have on our public schools, the State Budget, Iowans struggling financially, those with special educational needs and the potential effects on our churches and future donations. It is also concerning the partnships choosen, including Americans for Properity and Iowa ACE. Many of us donate our time and financial support to private education through the Diocesan appeal, STO and direct donations. Thank you kindly for your consideration. 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENT

We believe that all children regardless of religion, race, learning ability, socioeconomic status or zip code have a right to quality, public education. It is our duty as Christians and the mission of the Iowa Catholic leadership to protect the right of quality education and provide for the common good.

Many of us, who are members of churches across the state of Iowa feel ill-informed with the intent of our Churches leadership to request ESA/Voucher legislation. We feel our voices of concern have not been heard and adequate awareness for our concerns have not been given. There has been no or limited communication to the Christians that support public education or send our children, grandchildren to public schools or to those of us Christians who homeschool our children and rely on public education for dual enrollement and testing.

The Iowa Catholic Conference and Catholic Bishops of Iowa and the Iowa Association of Christian schools strongly support and are actively working alongside the Iowa Alliance for School Choice, the Iowa Alliance for School Choice PAC (Political Action Committee), Americans for Prosperity, and several Iowa legislators to introduce legislation allowing for the creation of school choice in the guise of Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs)/Vouchers. We have concerns that our Churches are aligning with political action groups that have questionable, out of state, agendas.

While we strongly support our Christian Schools, many of us donate to these schools, to the Diocesan appeal and to the School Tuition Organization (STO) to support Christian Education. We are concerned that intoducing Voucher/ESA's may have ramifications to public schools by diverting much needed funding away from public education. We also share concerns of tax dollars funding religious education. We feel this may not be in the best interest of the common good of all Iowa children. The most needy children in our state attend public schools. Many special education students have been turned away from private schools only leaving them with the choice of, public education. Many of those with financial struggles don't have the capabilty to cover the remaining cost of tuition or have easy access to a private school, leaving them with one choice, public education. The many rural communities that make up our great state do not have easily, accessible private schools, leaving them with one choice, public education.

Currently 92% of children in Iowa attend public schools.
42% of Iowa children live in poverty.
1 in 8 children have a disability that requires special educational needs.
Many rural Christians don't have geographical access to a Catholic or Christian school.
Public school funding in Iowa has averaged only a 1.8% yearly increase over the last 8 years. Legislators have told Iowans, that the money is simply not available in the state budget for more adequate funding.

Iowa Alliance for School Choice claims that ESAs will not take away funding from Iowa public schools. We feel it is disingenuous to make this claim knowing that ESA/Voucher money would have to come from somewhere in the state budget or from a tax credit that may otherwise benefit public schools.

We have not been included in the meetings with political action groups and legislators, webinars, emails, house gatherings and brochures explaining the benefits of ESA/Vouchers. We have been left out of this decision by our Churches. We are asking for our concerns to be heard in an open, public discussion and we are asking to be better informed why some Iowa Churches support this legislation. Thank you for your consideration.

Iowa Christian Families    Contact the author of the petition