Iowa Auditor Agrees to Review Education Licensing

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand has agreed to review the Iowa Department of Education’s and the Board of Educational Examiners’ licensing and background-check procedures after a legislative request from state Sen. Tony Bisignano and amid scrutiny following the arrest of former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts. Roberts was arrested by federal immigration officials for overstaying a deportation order and is accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and fabricating credentials, raising questions about how he obtained an administrator license in 2023. Des Moines Public Schools requested a re-audit of the district and is suing search firm JG Consulting for failing to flag falsified resume items. Republican lawmakers also pushed for audits and some urged state intervention in the district. Lawmakers and Bisignano have called for public hearings to determine whether background-check protocols or their implementation failed and to restore public trust. Governor Kim Reynolds ordered state agencies to use federal E-Verify and SAVE systems for employment and licensing checks, and Auditor Sand confirmed the licensing review is distinct from the district re-audit and that his office received the formal request to proceed.