Posts Tagged ‘Education’
2008 Session Review: Education
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)
House Raises Standards & Continues Progress in Education
In an effort to make sure Iowa students are prepared for jobs in today’s global economy, the Iowa House today raised education standards and maintained their commitment to Iowans by expanding pre-school, bringing teacher pay to 25th in the nation, and keeping higher education affordable for Iowans.
“Every Iowa student needs the skills necessary to compete with kids from around the globe and succeed in the 21st Century workplace. We raised education standards to ensure every Iowa child gets a good education and we are keeping the promises we made last year in preschool, teacher pay, and affordable higher education,” said State Representative Cindy Winckler of Davenport, who chairs the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee. (more…)
School Infrastructure & Property Tax Relief Plan Advances
After a bi-partisan 18-6 vote in the House Ways & Means Committee late Thursday, a plan to redistribute the one cent sales tax currently collected for schools on an equitable basis now moves to the House Floor. The plan also provides $24 million in property tax relief.
“Every county in Iowa already collects an extra penny sales tax for schools, but many schools districts, especially in rural Iowa, are at a severe disadvantage. The plan approved last night will equalize funding for schools to ensure every child gets their share of state resources. It will also provide significant property tax relief for Iowans,” said State Representative Mike Reasoner of Creston, who managed the bill to approval in Ways & Means. (more…)
DEMOCRATS TO HONOR PROMISES TO STUDENTS, PARENTS & TEACHERS
House and Senate leaders today firmly stated their intention to continue the progress made in education last year by increasing basic state aid to schools, increasing teacher pay and expanding access to quality pre-school. The lawmakers also said they planned to approve a rigorous and relevant curriculum to make sure every Iowa student is ready for a job in today’s global economy.
“Students, parents and teachers can be assured that we will not back away from the promises we made last year. We took the first step with a $112 million increase in allowable growth, which is $222 per student, and we will provide an additional $76 million to bring teacher salaries to 25th in the nation,” said House Speaker Pat Murphy of Dubuque. (more…)