Rob Sand on Education

It's important we add oversight to school vouchers program

Sand: The bottom line is we have to make sure that we pay teachers a competitive wage. I was glad to see the Republican legislature and governor increase beginning teacher pay but they paid for it by cutting pay for experienced teachers. We're giving teachers a better reason to leave because we take away their raises. The other thing I think is important is we add oversight into the school vouchers program. Right now there is only one thing a private school can't do with public money. They can't pay a rebate to the family. Anything else they want to do is legal and we're not allowed to audit them. There is no way for the public to know how the public's money is getting spent.

Lahn: The issue here is not just funding. The issue is we lack innovation in our public schools. We can create school choice in our public schools where the best models will rise to the top. When it comes to education savings accounts, I truly believe they're foundational.

Center public schools as the source of education in Iowa

Focus more heavily on preschoolers and elementary school

Tax dollars sent to private schools not subject to audit