A top priority of the Iowa Legislature the last two year is to make sure our kids are prepared for jobs in today’s global economy. We made great progress during the 2008 legislative session by expanding opportunities, raising academic standards and keeping higher education affordable for all Iowans. Some highlight include:
- Raising Standards – Iowa schools are now required to adopt the Iowa Model Core Curriculum which requires four years of English and three of math, science and social studies. It also includes 21st Century learning skills like health, technology and financial literacy (SF 2216, signed & effective July 1, 2008)
- 4% Allowable Growth & Preschool – Increased per pupil funding by $222 per student for the 2009-2010 school year and includes $33 million to expand preschool (HF 2140, effective July 1, 2009)
- Equalizing School Infrastructure Funding – local option sales taxes are replaced with a statewide sales tax to ensure each student gets their share of state money. The bill also provides over $200 million in property tax relief (HF 2663, effective July 1, 2008)
- Higher Education Funding – Increased resources for universities to keep tuition low and provided an additional $8.5 million for community colleges. Increased funding for scholarships and tuition grant program (HF 2679, effective July 1, 2009)
- Senior Year Plus – High school students will be able to earn up to a year of college credit before they graduate from school (HF 2679, effective July 1, 2008)
- Student Loan Debt – Parents and students will get better information to help them make the right decision about financing higher education (HF 2690, effective July 1, 2008)
I would like to see the focus of education made to:
- Quality
- Affordability
- High expectations for students
If any of your work have been following these topics I’ll have hope for Iowa students and its economy.
Thank you for your comment, Lori. We’ve made great strides in the past two years towards and increase in quality, lower costs, and better standards.
Tuition increases at our public universities have been held to their lowest level in 12 years.
We implemented a mandatory model core curriculum for our K-12 systems that will enforce greater standards and higher expectations.
We enacted a bipartisan reform of our student loan programs through Iowa Student Loan to help prevent “bad borrowing” and high interest lending.
do private accredited schools get any funding to attend Iowa Core Curriculum training in order to comply with this mandate?
Kathryn,
One of our education research staff people will be contacting you directly with some information. Thank you for the question!