The Iowa State Board of Education approved 17 charter schools, expanding educational options statewide. The recent approval includes two charter schools—Empowering Excellence in Cedar Rapids and Horizon Science Academy in Davenport—scheduled to open by Fall 2025. Additionally, six other schools were approved for opening by 2026, and several were approved earlier in 2024. These new schools reflect a growing trend in personalized and alternative education across Iowa, offering diverse learning opportunities for students.