DES MOINES – Iowa’s future depends on high-quality local schools and that means every Iowa child gets the best education possible to compete for the jobs of the future and for their role as responsible citizen, says Iowa Democratic Senator Pam Jochum.
The Republican-led Iowa House passed a bill along party lines earlier this week that would provide a 1.25 percent increase in state funding for Iowa schools.
According to Jochum, parents, schoolteachers, and administrators have all said what the House passed is not enough to keep up with the costs of providing a quality education in our local classrooms. School superintendents across the state say their schools will face larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, outdated materials and staff layoffs.
“Iowa currently ranks 35th in the nation when it comes to how much we invest in each student,” Bochum said Friday. “On average, we invest $1,612 less per student than the national average. Today’s students are Iowa’s future.
“What does your school need to be successful?”
