By Keri Rodrigues, President, National Parents Union and Dr. Charles Barone, Senior Director of the Center for Innovation, National Parents Union
In the wake of what may be the most reckless education policy stunt in recent memory — an executive order from Donald Trump to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education — Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa is attempting a brazen power grab. In an op-ed in The Hill, Reynolds announced she’s seeking a federal waiver to override the federal Title I formula and allow Iowa to decide for itself how to distribute federal education funds to schools and districts.
Let’s be clear: what Reynolds is proposing isn’t innovation. It’s not reform. It’s not even legal.
And she’s not alone.
As reported by the Associated Press, Iowa is leading a coordinated effort by Republican-led states — including Florida and Oklahoma — to unravel the very foundation of federal education equity. These states want to shift funding from key ESEA programs into unrestricted block grants, letting state officials reallocate resources with little to no regard for the law or the students the law was designed to protect.
This is not about “flexibility.” The law offers, with guardrails, ample flexibility to pool administrative funds and integrate federal programs. It’s about breaking the law, and robbing historically underserved students—especially those living in poverty — of the federal support they’re entitled to.
Here’s What the Law Says
The Title I formula is one of the most targeted, equity-focused federal tools we have. It sends additional funding to school districts with high concentrations and numbers of students from low-income families — resources that are absolutely essential for closing achievement gaps and leveling the playing field.
And yet, Reynolds is asking the U.S. Department of Education to let Iowa ignore that formula entirely.
There’s just one big problem: ESSA (the Every Student Succeeds Act) says she can’t.
Specifically, Title VIII of ESSA outlines which provisions the Secretary of Education is prohibited from waiving. Right at the top of that list is:
“Allocation of funds to states, LEAs, tribes or other grantees.”
That’s it. Case closed. There’s no gray area here. No Secretary of Education—Republican, Democrat, or otherwise—has the legal authority to give a governor this kind of control. What Reynolds is proposing is patently illegal.
And Iowa Isn’t Exactly a Beacon of Excellence
If Governor Reynolds wants to argue for more autonomy, she might start by demonstrating better results. But Iowa’s numbers don’t exactly scream success.
According to the 2024 Nation’s Report Card:
4th-grade reading scores dropped to 215, a three-point decline from 2022.
8th-grade math scores declined to 275, down from 277.
That puts Iowa squarely in the middle of the national pack. Hardly a trailblazer.
And when it comes to school funding equity? Iowa fails the fairness test. A recent report by The Education Trust found Iowa to be:
“Neutral” in how it funds schools serving students from low-income families
“Moderately regressive” in funding for students of color
So, a state with middling academic performance and a track record of inequitable funding now wants carte blanche to override federal guardrails and redistribute billions in education aid however it sees fit?
Absolutely not.
The National Strategy: Bypass, Deregulate, and Dismantle
Florida. Oklahoma. Iowa. These states aren’t just aligned ideologically — they’re united in a political strategy to gut federal oversight and erase the protections that ensure students in poverty, English learners, and students experiencing homelessness get the services they need.
This isn’t about helping students. It’s about consolidating political power at the state level and opening the door for misuse of federal funds—all under the guise of “local control.” And it’s all unfolding in lockstep with Trump’s radical plan to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education entirely.
It’s no coincidence. It’s a national strategy. And it’s a direct threat to civil rights, educational equity, and the rule of law.
We’re Sounding the Alarm—Loud and Clear
At the National Parents Union, we’re not sitting this one out. We see what’s happening. And we won’t let it stand.
Parents across this country rely on Title I and other federal programs to make sure their kids have what they need to succeed. These are not abstract policy debates. They are kitchen table issues — and they are matters of justice.
Governor Reynolds may well know better. But if she doesn’t, we’re here to remind her—and every official at the U.S. Department of Education — that federal law is not optional. Funds meant for the most vulnerable students cannot be rerouted, diverted, or pocketed to suit a political agenda.
This is not bold leadership. This is a smash-and-grab. It’s not reform. It’s theft. And we will fight it.
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