(DES MOINES) -- On Thursday, March 25, Iowa House Republicans passed House File 813 a bill to expand parental choice in education by allowing for the creation of more public charter schools. 

HF 813 establishes an additional path for the creation of public charter schools by allowing them to be established by either a school board or a founding group. Additionally, it lays out specific rules and guidelines to ensure charter schools adhere to public school guidelines, such as standards of transparency, quality, oversight and admittance. 

Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Orange City) led the legislation through the Iowa House. 

"Every student in Iowa deserves a quality education, but currently too many students are falling through the cracks," said Wheeler. "This legislation will provide additional educational opportunities for the Iowa families who need it most. I was proud to lead this legislation to passage through the Iowa House."

Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Grassley said parental choice in education was a top priority for the caucus this cycle. 

"As we entered this session, our caucus laid out parental choice in education as one of its top priorities," said Grassley. "With this legislation, parents and students will have an additional choice for their education. House Republicans said we'd deliver on parental choice in education and yet again, that's exactly what we've done." 

HF 813 passed the Iowa House with a vote of 55-40.