Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds yesterday (Thursday) signed Senate File 2201 into law, increasing state aid to public schools by $82 million for the upcoming fiscal year. The measure provides a two-percent increase in state per-pupil funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, bringing total state funding for Iowa’s public schools to more than $4 billion, according to the governor’s office, which accounts for about half of the state government’s total budget. Combined with local and federal dollars, total education funding is estimated to exceed $9.1 billion next school year. Reynolds says, “We’ve prioritized evidence-based instruction, training teachers in phonics, equipping students with learning resources, and awarding schools literacy grants to advance reading proficiency. And we’ve increased STEM and work-based learning opportunities to connect students in classrooms to the careers of their future. These investments and more demonstrate Iowa’s commitment to empowering educators, elevating academic standards, and driving accountability to ensure every Iowa student succeeds at school, work, and life.” Detractors argue the two-percent increase is not sufficient and doesn’t even cover the cost of inflation, which is approximately 2.8 percent based on the Social Security Administration’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment. The new funding takes effect July 1.
