From Rep. Sharon Steckman –
On September 15th the Globe Gazette ran an editorial from the Quad City Times, “Home-schoolers find their own clout in Legislature”. Following that editorial several of you have contacted me with concerns. There was misinformation in the editorial regarding tax credits for home schooling. I want to be clear that there was no new tax credit for home schooling approved in the education reform bill or any other bill last session, nor was there ever a tax credit for home-schooling. The only dollars provided for home-schooling go directly to school districts that provide services to those students. The programs, Dual Enrollment and HSAP (Home School Assistance Program) are optional for school districts and provide resources for K-12 assistance.
I would like to also add that the main focus of the school funding and education reform this year was public education. The Governor’s initial bill dealt entirely with public education. School districts have been coping with massive cuts across Iowa. During the national recession schools dealt with a 10% across the board cut. Then in 2012 the Legislature cut their allowable growth to 0%, the first time since the allowable growth formula has been used for school funding, beginning in 1984.
The Reform bill helped the over 500,000 students across Iowa in public schools in many ways; 2014 AG will be 2% plus a one-time 2% funding, 2015 will see districts return to a 4% AG, the state will also pick up the increase in resources for the next two years, which means school funding will not raise property taxes. The class size reduction initiative which was due to sunset was continued for another 5 years. Also, models were set up for districts to use for teacher leadership pathways to enhance instruction with the state providing the resources for implementation over a three year period.
Education of our youth is the best investment we can make for economic development and our state. My main goal for education in Iowa is to make sure students, schools and families have the resources and tools they need to succeed.
4 thoughts on “Steckman: Lee paper publishes “misinformation” regarding tax credits for home schooling”
misinformation? i think it more accurate to say the truth here: they LIE all the time and get away with it, problem for them is no one is believing their b*llSh*t anymore and they look like the liers they are just start asking around
“During the national recession schools dealt with a 10% across the board cut”
Nice try at spin. Problem is we remember it was Culver who did it.
Yes he did, fine Democrat that he was??? And your property tax on the school side went up approx $150.00 per 100 thousand that year. I remember the increase well and will not forget like those Democrats are so easily mislead and very forgetful!!!
I don’t think this was spin. What Steckman said was the truth. During the recession there was a 10% across the board cut.