“Consequently, the public power, which has the obligation to protect and defend the rights of citizens, must see to it, in its concern for distributive justice, that public subsidies are paid out in such a way that parents are truly free to choose according to their conscience the schools they want for their children.”
Declaration on Christian Education (Gravissimum Educationis), Pope Paul VI
Parents have the right to choose the kind of education best suited to the needs of their children. They should not bear an economic burden when choosing a private or religious school. In other words, tax dollars should be available to assist them in exercising that right.
The Iowa Catholic Conference supports parental choice in education by broadening financial assistance to families through education savings accounts, tax credits or other means to allow their children to attend the school of their choice. We also support the equitable participation of nonpublic school children in federally-funded programs.