Des Moines Students Embrace Civic Engagement for International Workers' Day (May 1, 2025)

As many of us joined peaceful protests to support May 1st - International Workers' Day, students, teachers and support staff at 70 schools across Iowa also voiced their support for public education.

Thirteen schools in the Des Moines metro participated in a "Honk for Schools" peaceful gathering before classes began. Watch the WHO-TV coverage

On the same morning, Roosevelt High School welcomed the Des Moines Education Association representatives to speak about the state budget cuts and how the $rump Administration's efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education will adversely impact Iowa students. Listen to what they had to say: https://youtu.be/bQhzVowZVo4

DYK

• Each year, the U.S. Department of Education disperses $800 million across 325 Iowa school districts to fill budget gaps and support specialized services for students.

• The State of Iowa Legislature continues its streak of underfunding education. For the 15th consecutive year, a measly 2% increase in funding was set for fiscal year 2026.

• Iowa’s school voucher program is expected to cost nearly $315 million next year as the salary income cap is removed.

HAPPENING NOW

• The Republicans' federal budget reconciliation bill, currently in the U.S. Senate, proposes pouring nearly $20 billion into a national school vouchers program - read "9 things to know about the big, private-school voucher plan in Republicans' tax bill."