Iowa's Economic Case for Education

Why education matters for Iowa's future

Iowa's Economic Reality

Recent reports paint a concerning picture:

Ranking	Iowa's Position	Source
Economic growth	50th (dead last)	Federal Reserve Bank, Jan 2026
Personal income growth	48th	Multiple sources
Workforce ranking	41st (dropped 14 spots)	CNBC, 2025
Business friendliness	39th (dropped from 33rd)	CNBC, 2025
Recession risk	High risk (1 of 22 states)	Moody's Analytics

The pattern: Iowa's economy is struggling, and workforce quality is a major factor.

The Connection to Education

Workforce Quality Drives Economic Growth

Employers locate where they can find skilled workers. When workforce quality declines, businesses:

Choose other states for expansion
Automate instead of hiring
Move existing operations elsewhere

Education Creates Workforce

Quality education produces:

Technical skills
Critical thinking
Work ethic
Adaptability

Poor education produces:

Skill gaps
Limited career options
Brain drain (talented people leave)

Iowa's Brain Drain

The Pattern

Iowa educates students through high school
Best students leave for college (often out of state)
Many never return
Iowa loses the investment

Why They Leave

Reason	What's Happening
Better opportunities elsewhere	Higher wages, more career paths
Perception of Iowa	"Nothing here for me"
Quality of life	Urban amenities, cultural access
Network effects	Friends and peers already left

The Cost

Every person who leaves takes:

Their education investment with them
Their future economic contribution
Their tax revenue
Their community participation

The Virtuous Cycle

Better education → Better workforce → Better economy → More resources for education → Better education

States that invest in education quality tend to:

Attract businesses
Retain talent
Grow incomes
Fund better services

Iowa needs to restart this cycle.

What Better Education Looks Like

Traditional Model (What We Have)

6-7 hours in school
One-size-fits-all curriculum
Geographic assignment
Limited flexibility
Focus on compliance, not mastery

Modern Model (What We Need)

Mastery-based progression
Flexible delivery
Student-centered learning
Real-world skill development
Individual attention

How ISP Contributes

Developing Homegrown Talent

ISP's mission isn't just education — it's developing Iowa's future workforce:

ISP Feature	Economic Impact
Life skills curriculum	Financial literacy, professional skills
Athlete development	Physical health, discipline, teamwork
NCAA preparation	Keeps athletes in Iowa longer
Flexible schedule	Students can work while learning
Rural access	Develops talent across all 99 counties

Keeping Talent in Iowa

Athletes who develop in Iowa often return after college. By providing:

Better development during high school
Connections to Iowa athletics
Community ties through ISP network

We increase the odds they stay — or come back.

The Alternative

If We Don't Improve

Economic rankings continue falling
Best families move away
Tax base shrinks
Services decline
More families leave

If We Do Improve

Workforce quality rises
Businesses invest
Economy grows
Families stay
Community thrives

Your Role

By choosing quality education — whether ISP or another strong option — you're:

Investing in your child — Better outcomes for their future
Contributing to Iowa — Building workforce quality
Voting with your feet — Signaling demand for better options
Breaking the cycle — Showing that excellence is achievable

The Stakes

Iowa's economic future depends on education quality. Recent rankings show we're falling behind. But:

ESAs give families choice
Online schools expand access
Innovative models demonstrate what's possible
Families are demanding better

The tools exist. The question is whether we use them.