Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation to increase K-12 public school per pupil funding by 2 percent for the 2026-27 school year, into law on Feb. 26.
The bill is the first to be signed into law by Reynolds this legislative session, after it was sent to her desk by lawmakers on Feb. 23. It marks a $160 increase in funding per student, now totalling $8,148 per pupil.
The increase falls below the 5 percent recommendation by the Iowa State Education Association, which the association said to be the minimum raise needed to mitigate the impact of inflation. The law is a compromise between Iowa Senate and House Republicans, who proposed a 1.75 percent and 2.25 percent increase, respectively.
The legislation will increase state education funding by $82 million for the upcoming school year. Reynolds said in a statement that the increase will result in “more than $4 billion for Iowa’s public schools.”
“Education is the best investment in Iowa’s future, and one our most important responsibilities,” Reynolds said. “As governor, I’ve increased the state’s public school funding every year, ensuring the strength of Iowa’s PK-12 schools so all students have access to a quality education.”
Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said Iowa’s public schools “have fallen from among the top of the nation to the middle of the pack,” in a statement following the signing of the bill.
“While Republicans are giving millions of tax payer dollars to wealthy families who can already afford to send their children to private schools, Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans aren’t even giving Iowa’s public schools enough to keep up with inflation,” Hart said.
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The funding package was signed in a time of budget challenges for local school districts.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is looking at an estimated $11 million deficit, and the Iowa City Community School District will cut a projected $5 to $6 million for the 2026-27 school year.
Reynolds said considering local, state, and federal funds, Iowa schools are estimated to receive more than $9.1 billion in education funding in the upcoming school year.
In the statement, Reynolds pointed out other initiatives under her leadership to invest in public education statewide. This includes House File 2612, which increased minimum salaries for teachers to $50,000 effective July 2024. Reynolds also pioneered programs, such as the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program, which began in 2022.
“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,” Reynolds said in a statement.