Rep. Henry Stone of Forest City talks Area Education Agencies reform and raising teacher pay in Iowa

The following is a legislative update from Republican Representative Henry Stone of Forest City, representing portions of Emmet, Kossuth and Winnebago counties in Iowa House District 9:

It feels great to be back at the Capitol!  Session began on Monday and things have been busy around the State House. On Tuesday, Governor Reynolds delivered her Condition of the State address. On Wednesday, we heard from the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court and on Thursday the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard delivered his report.

In addition to this, committee work has started. In Appropriations we are reviewing the Governor’s budget recommendations. Also, Chairs are assigning bills to subcommittees. It has been a busy but good first week of session.

In the Governor’s speech, she unveiled her education priorities. These include increasing minimum teachers’ salaries, improving literacy through evidence-based reading instruction, supporting the expansion of high-quality public charter schools, and reforming Area Education Agencies.

Right now, Iowa ranks in the bottom half of states in the U.S. for average starting teacher salary according to the National Education Association. With her proposed plan, Iowa could be in the top five states for average teacher salary. The plan includes:

• Investing 4.7 million in new funding to increase the statutory minimum teacher’s salary from $33,500 to $50,000. 
• Investing $25.8 million in new funding to create a statutory minimum teacher salary of $62,000 for teachers with 12 years of experience.
• Investing $23.1 million in new funding to establish Teacher Salary Supplement tiers with minimum floors to equalize funding by school district size and for those that are close to or have reached the minimum salary requirements.
• Investing $10 million to create the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund and reward teachers for student improvement.

In Iowa 35% of third graders cannot read proficiently. The current methods of reading instruction are not serving students very well.  The Governor’s plan is an investment in the science of reading or evidence-based reading instruction so educators will relearn how to effectively teach reading and writing while improving literacy for students.

Already, Iowa has invested $9.2 million to provide 5,000 teachers and 1,100 school administrators with instructional training in the science of reading. Training began November 2023. Iowa colleges and universities will be held responsible for training education students in the science of reading. This would require teacher candidates in Early Childhood, Elementary, K-12 Reading and Literacy Preparation, and Special Education to pass the Foundations of Reading assessment as a condition of graduation. As part of this change, the Governor’s plan includes:

• Investing $3.1 million to cover the cost of the Foundations of Reading assessment for current teachers. They would be required to pass it within three years.
• Iowa schools will be required to develop personalized reading plans for students not proficient in reading by third grade and up to sixth grade.
• School districts will be required to notify parents of the option to retain students who are not proficient in reading in third grade.

In 2021, we passed a charter school bill that included new pathways for charter schools to begin in Iowa. Charter schools are public schools that provide different types of education than a typical public school would. Some focus on STEM, some focus on work-based learning, and others on the arts. Charter schools can focus on providing a different environment for at-risk students. Her proposal includes:

• Investing $5 million to create the Charter School Start-Up Grant program to support new or high-performing existing charter schools.
• Allowing vacant or underutilized public school district facilities to be available for lease or purchase by other educational entities including nonpublic or charter schools.
• Supporting the expansion of high-quality charter school options.

• Shifting state special education funding from AEAs to school districts, allowing them to work with providers that will best meet the needs of their students.  The districts may choose to do it themselves, work with an AEA or contract with private entities to find the best solutions for students.
• Shifting general supervision authority and related funds from AEAs to the Iowa Department of Education to make sure taxpayers’ dollars are focused on the core mission.
• Authorizing the AEAs to provide only special education services for children and students with disabilities from birth to age 21; special and general education services to juvenile, detention, and foster care children and adults; and some additional services pursuant to current contracts.
• Allowing a year-long transition period to implement changes, ensuring stability and improved support for children and students with disabilities.

This is probably the second largest bill that has come across my desk since taking office.  While I agree, along with superintendents from my district, that changes need to be made to the AEA’s, we must be cognizant of what, how and when those changes are made. I have met with local superintendents and will continue to meet with them here in the near future.

I take our kid’s education seriously and wants only what’s best for them.  I look forward to hearing from the other superintendents as well as AEA representatives.

I want to thank everyone for your input on important issues as well your overwhelming continued support.  As always, please feel free to reach out with any question or issue that you have.  Have a great weekend and stay safe and warm!