NEW REPORT: Iowa Ranked One of the Worst States in the Nation to Teach In

DES MOINES, IA – After years of starving public schools for resources and chipping away at Iowa’s reputation for high-quality education, a new report from WalletHub finds the state to be one of the worst in the country to teach in, ranked 43rd in the nation. The report is based on factors including teacher pay, state spending per student, the quality of school system, and turnover rates.

“Iowa schools used to be our state’s crown jewel, so much so that we put ‘Foundation in Education’ on our quarter. It’s sad to see how far we’ve come since then, and the damage done to our schools, students, and teachers,” said candidate for governor Rob Sand. “This newest ranking just proves what Iowans across the state have been feeling for too long: the insiders in Des Moines aren’t fighting to improve our lives. One-party rule in Des Moines has been failing our state for too long. It’s time to replace the insiders with a public servant who will put Iowa students, teachers, and schools first.”

As kids headed back to school this year, Iowa saw hundreds of openings for teaching positions in school districts across the state. In 2016, before one-party rule took over in Des Moines, Iowa ranked 12th in this ranking.

Just a few years ago, Iowa was in the top five for best states of education, but Iowa has been on the decline over the last decade of one-party rule in Des Moines. Earlier this year, the Trump administration ranked Iowa’s economy 49th in the nation and 48th for personal income growth. Iowa is one of the worst states for hourly pay, and Iowa’s GDP shrank at the worst rate in the nation in the first quarter, declining by 6.1 percent. At the same time, Iowa’s cancer growth rate is the highest in the nation.