A new school year is getting under way. I know local educators will provide great opportunities for our students with the resources they have.
The struggle to provide sufficient, timely funding has put local schools in a bind in recent years. We took a small step in the right direction this year by increasing state support for schools by 2.25 percent. That will give our K-12 schools an additional $145 per student, on average (SF 174).
It’s not nearly enough to make up for the lean years, but I hope it’ll reverse the trend that has dropped Iowa below the national average when it comes to how much we invest in each student.
We’re also focusing special attention on ensuring kids get the strong reading skills they need to succeed in school and life with:
- Intensive literacy programs and reading resources (SF 2323).
- Training for reading teachers, including how to recognize and teach dyslexic students (SF 2196).
- Improved updates for parents on their children’s reading progress (HF 2413).
In addition, Iowa is among the first states to implement a new initiative that has our most effective educators working with new teachers and mentoring those looking to improve.
The Teacher Leadership & Compensation System and other targeted investments in STEM, Career Technical Education, reading skills and online learning are great tools. But they need a strong base to build upon, which means adequately funding the day-to-day operations of our schools.
Iowa students have shown they’re eager for the learning opportunities available to them. They lead the nation in high school graduation rates, according to the Iowa Department of Education. More than 90 percent of Iowa’s Class of 2015 graduated on time, making them the first class in the nation to do so.
I am committed to making Iowa schools No. 1 again, and will continue fighting for the kind of investment our students deserve—one that puts them at a competitive advantage when it comes to education and job opportunities.
Ever notice how the quality of adult conversation deteriorates here when LVS participates? He is now so senile and confused that he posts as “anonymous”.
get government out of education
Hey genius…… you don’t pass or fail an ACT test. That’s like asking…….did you pass or fail your IQ test?
Hey genius… as usual you are full of shit. You obviously fail all test if you are that stupid.
You sound just like that idiotic old coot.
And, you sound like the ignorant dumb ass that you are.
Get the teachers to do what they are paid for. ACT test are terrible. Only 26% pass the test. It is time for them to earn their money. Do away with special education and go back to teaching.
Iowa had the No. 1 ACT scores in the nation last year. Also, the ACT isn’t something you pass or fail. You get a score ranging from 1-36.
If you don’t pass or fail, why do they bother to grade it and use it for college entrance?
Because most schools have a minimum score on the ACT that they use as ONE method to determine who gets in and who doesn’t get in. Some schools also use it as a way to help the student determine what classes he or she should take when starting college. The ACT scores have been going down for many years. It is a natural occurrence because as more and more students take it, the tendency to have lower averages is accepted. In the 1960-80s only about 1/4 of high school students went to college. Now, the percentage is closer to 75%.