Thursday 28th March 2024

A bill that passed the legislature with overwhelming BIPARTISAN support has become a flashpoint in the debate over how schools should start this month. The bill, which is now law, says Iowa schools should develop plans for rigourous online courses — but the law goes on to say that unless Governor Reynolds grants an exception, a school shall not take action to provide instruction primarily through remote-learning.

Democrats like Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames say the law gives the governor authority to grant exceptions, she’s just choosing to override local decisionmakers. Republican Senator Amy Sinclair, chair of the Senate Education Committee, says the governor is following the plain text of the law.