The Iowa Association of Christian Schools introduced HF 167 with the help of Representative Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) and Representative Cecil Dolecheck (R-Mount Ayr). This legislation passed out of House subcommittee and will now go to the full House Education Committee for consideration! A special thank you to Representatives Dolecheck and Josh Byrnes (R-Osage) for signing off on the bill in subcommittee. Organizations speaking against the bill in subcommittee included the Iowa State Education Association, School Administrators of Iowa, the Iowa Association of School Boards, and the Interfaith Alliance. AFSCME also registered against the bill. The FAMiLY Leader and the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition along with our friends at the American Principles Project have joined us in supporting the bill. PLEASE go here and email your Representative and any members of the House education committee you are willing to contact and ask them to pass HF 167 out of Committee before the “funnel” deadline of March 4!
Here is some background: Iowa is one of only three states that we know of that offers a state government accreditation for private schools. We are the only state that we know of that requires that government accreditation to participate in any programs, appropriations, or regulations that would help level the playing field and make a high-quality private education available to all Iowa parents.
Independent Accreditation will offer nonpublic schools the ability to select an accrediting body that best meets the needs of their school, includes a rigorous accreditation process, and is willing to keep them accountable for academic outcomes.
State accreditation should no longer be the sole option for private schools in the state. We’ll be working with other coalition partners to ensure that private schools secure the option to obtain accreditation from regional or national accrediting bodies that better understand and respect the role and mission of our schools while maintaining our status as “accredited” schools under the law.
Update: HF 167 will hopefully be brought up in full committee tomorrow, March 3, in the House education committee.