State of Iowa Schools

This is an Open Letter to Anyone Who Will Listen About What’s Happening to Iowa’s Public Schools

To our lawmakers, community members, parents, and anyone who cares about Iowa’s future:

Iowa’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force, created by Governor Reynolds via executive order in February 2025, has unveiled 45 recommendations to “streamline government”—including tying teacher pay to performance and gutting retirement plans like IPERS. Not one current K–12 classroom educator or school leader was invited to their table. Not one.

It’s like redesigning a plane without ever consulting a pilot. Genius.

Here’s what’s really on the table:

– Stick teachers’ pay to test scores—scores heavily influenced by poverty and other factors beyond educators’ control—especially in rural and high-need districts.

– Dismantle retirement safeguards for educators and public sector employees by replacing IPERS with a private-sector–style plan.

When Iowa used to lead the nation in education, we didn’t do it with gimmicks—we did it by investing above the national average. Governor Robert Ray believed in that, and so did Ulysses S. Grant when he called public schools “the safeguard of liberty” from our Capitol steps.

Now?

 • Iowa spends $2,400 less per student than the national average.

 • Our rankings in reading and math have dropped from the top 10 to well into the middle of the pack.

 • Meanwhile, states like Massachusetts and New Jersey keep investing—and remain at the top.

But here’s the kicker: DOGE didn’t dismantle AEAs for “efficiencies.” Governor Reynolds and legislators did—justifying it by saying schools could be “more efficient” with the funds. The reality? Services now cost districts more than before, with drastically reduced staffing and support inside the AEAs.

Before the cuts, AEAs had the statewide capacity to lead in-person LETRS training effectively and affordably in collaboration with districts. They could have delivered tailored, local support to reach every educator. Instead, we gutted them and then spent millions more on an out-of-state vendor for lower-quality online training. In many rural schools, this meant teachers had to sign up individually because there weren’t enough staff for group sessions—leaving entire pockets of educators without access to critical, high-quality training. That’s not efficiency—it’s a tax-dollar dumpster fire.

Then there’s the teacher salary bump, which made for great headlines but came with funding only to bring those below the new state minimum up to the new requirement. Districts received nothing extra to address salary compaction, leaving many veteran teachers making nearly the same as brand-new hires. Districts have been forced to shift funds to try to restore equity, stretching already thin budgets even further. That’s not sustainable; it’s a retention cliff.

If we want Iowa to regain its leadership, here’s what needs to happen:

 • Fund  competitive salaries  for all teachers.

 • Invest in locally tailored supports and trusted partners who know our communities better than contractors.

 • Provide top-tier curriculum, mental health services, and manageable class sizes.

 • Prioritize rural and high-poverty schools—do not punish them.

The charts don’t lie: less funding, lower rankings. That’s the Iowa story—unforced and painfully clear.

DOGE will keep chasing “efficiencies.” But real change happens when you talk to educators, listen to what works, and invest in it.

Our teachers don’t need hoops. They need heart.

Our students don’t need experiments. They need investment.

If you want to see changes in education happen, bring educators to the table! None of us that want what’s best for kids will turn down an invite to the table that will work to make things better for them!

Sincerely,

A concerned Iowan, Father, and Rural School Leader that wants a better Iowa for his family, friends, students, staff, and community!