From Senator Amanda Ragan –
One of the top priorities of the Iowa Senate this session is providing the necessary funding for our schools for the upcoming 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. For the last 20 years, Iowa has required basic aid to local students to be set 18 months before the start of a school year.
In the Senate, we are working to get us back on track, and supporting local students and teachers. We have approved a 4 percent increase in basic funding—also known as “allowable growth”—for the next two school years. In both cases, we will do it without raising property taxes. Schools rely on these dollars to buy up-to-date textbooks, keep the lights on, gas up the buses and pay school employees.
Failure to act is creating a crisis in Iowa schools. In a recent survey of Iowa school superintendents, 87 percent said that failing to determine aid to local schools before March 1 will result in teacher layoffs, crowded classes and harm to student achievement.
The House this week addressed school funding by approving a two percent increase in basic state aid for both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. We hope common ground can be found for school funding. We should provide timely decisions for our teachers and students.
Another item on our agenda for this session is continuing efforts to increase student achievement, boost teacher quality and develop innovative education reforms. There is clear bipartisan support for this effort.
