The Iowa Senate has approved Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ plan to give the parents of a few hundred K-through-12 students state scholarships to attend a private school.

Senator Jeff Edler , a Republican from State Center, says the bill will help parents exit failing public schools.

While Republicans have a 32-vote majority, the bill cleared the Iowa Senate Thursday with just 26 Republican votes, the bare minimum required. Similar legislation is eligible for consideration in the Iowa House.

Republicans in the Iowa legislature have voted to force every Iowa school district to hold all classes in-person, 100 percent of the time.

Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says legislators should have ensured teachers and school staff were vaccinated for Covid first.

Legislators of both parties expect the governor to sign the bill into law today (Friday). Once that happens, Iowa schools that aren’t holding all classes in-person will have until February 15th to make the change. Districts could choose to also offer virtual classes in addition to face-to-face instruction.