Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds pushes for "school choice" bill

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday made another public push for a bill that she said will help lower- and middle-income families afford private school.

Driving the news: Reynolds held a press conference at St. Theresa's Catholic School in Des Moines to bring attention to the "school choice" bill, which would set up a scholarship fund to help some eligible students pay for private education.

• She argues it will give families more equitable access to private schooling options if their local public district doesn't suit them.

Yes, but: It's stalled in the Iowa House, though the Senate is likely to take it up this week, Radio Iowa reports.

How it works: A low- or middle-income student who leaves a public school district is also taking a portion of their state funding ($5,359) with them.

• Under the measure, if a student were to leave a public district, the state would place that money into an "education savings account" that can be used for tuition at another school.
• The rest of the pupil’s state funding would be dispersed to help smaller school districts.

The other side: Public school leaders and Democrats argue it drains money away from districts that need it and puts it into the pockets of private entities that aren't under the same scrutiny.