Des Moines, IA (Radio Iowa)– Governor Kim Reynolds says state funding for small public schools in rural areas will remain stable or could increase if the legislature approves her plan to set up state-funded accounts for parents who send their kids to private schools.

Reynolds estimates about 107 million dollars of state funds would be deposited in Education Savings Accounts for low income parents enrolling children in a private school this fall. She’s also recommending that legislators provide 190 million dollars more to public K-through-12 schools in the next academic year.

This is the third and most expansive “school choice” plan Reynolds has presented to legislators. Last year, Reynolds met with rural school superintendents and principals as she tried to round up support — and votes in the House — for the concept.

Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the governor’s school choice bill on Thursday making the legislation eligible for debate next week in the House and Senate.