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:
- An increase of 2.25% in SSA funding. This increase, plus the second phase of the teacher salary increase passed last session results in $114.5 million more for public schools.
- A one-time increase of 0.6% SSA payment which equates to $22.6 million more for schools.
- A $10 increase in per pupil equity, which equates to a $5.8 million increase.
- An increase in the Operational Sharing Budget from 21 to 25, providing an additional $1 million to schools.
- Increasing School Transportation to cap the cost of transportation for each school district at the statewide average of $430, resulting in $5.8 million in additional funds.
In FY 2025, we allocated $3.7876 billion to public education. This proposal would allocate $3.9368 billion. These increases represent the many specific funding issues we hear from our school districts. While each line item may not affect each individual school district equally, one line item may have a big impact on addressing the issue a specific district is facing. House Republicans are working to respond to the specific concerns we’re hearing from our schools in a responsible manner. We recognize that our 30-day deadline to settle an SSA number has passed. We are hopeful this delay will be worth it as we work to secure additional dollars for our public schools. We will continue to work to reach a resolution on this issue in a timely manner so that our school districts have adequate time to set their budgets.
How does this compare to ESA Funding?
Democrats have circulated the misleading claim that we are increasing ESA funding by 44% while increasing public school funding by 2.25%. They say this to make it sound as if we are spending more on private schools than on public schools. But this is far from the truth. The cost of ESAs increase each year at the SAME rate as the number we set for SSA. This year is the final year of expansion in the ESA program that allows all families to qualify, which is why the increase looks greater this year.
The increase to the ESA program under the House proposal would be $97.4 million. To be clear, this is ON TOP of the $149.2 million increase outlined above that is just for public schools. Even with this expansion, the cost of the ESA program does not come remotely close to the amount we spend each year on public schools. Check out this graph for a side by side comparison.
Starting in April, the committee will meet regularly over three months to review and recommend proposed changes to the existing standards. This team serves in an advisory capacity to the Department. The meetings will be a combination
of in-person and virtual.
Following the initial review, the Department will consider the proposed changes and seek public input, which will inform and help refine revisions to the standards. Afterwards, a second review team will be convened to review all public comments and provide further recommendations. A final standards proposal will go before the State Board of Education for consideration. At the time of the “first read” there is yet another opportunity for public feedback. During the “second read,” the draft standards may be adopted by the State Board of Education as final standards. If adopted, the revised social studies standards will be required of school districts. State standards across all subjects are reviewed regularly to ensure the content is current and aligns with best practices. The standards outline what students must learn to be prepared for success as they progress each year and after high school.
The deadline to apply for the committee is March 10. More information about the standards review process is available on the Department’s About Student Standards webpage.
About Iowa’s academic standards: Iowa’s academic standards provide a set of common expectations for school districts across the state while allowing for decisions regarding curriculum and how it is delivered to be made locally.
The standards establish what students must learn to be prepared for success after high school. Local schools and educators continue to set and oversee curriculum and instruction decisions.
In addition to social studies, Iowa’s academic standards also cover literacy, mathematics, science and 21st-century skills, such as financial literacy. They also include recommended standards for computer science, fine arts, physical
education and health. New mathematics and literacy standards were adopted by the State Board of Education in 2024, and science standards are currently under review.
House HHS Advances Bills on Mental Health, Child Care, Parental Consent
This week, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced numerous bills out of committee to address mental health, parental consent, and childcare. Here are a few:
HF 312 (Psychiatric Deterioration) allows for individuals to be committed based on psychiatric deterioration, in addition to current law which allows for commitment when they are a danger to themselves or others. According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, an organization with a mission to eliminate the barriers to timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness through advocacy, public education and support, there are over 30 states that allow for psychiatric deterioration for their commitment laws.
HF 385 (Commitment Discharge) requires facilities that are discharging individuals committed for substance abuse or mental health to provide the following at discharge:
o Refer the individual committed to the administrative services organization (ASO) for evaluation, case management, and post-discharge services
o Assess for suicide risk
o Provide a 30-day supply of medications prescribed
o A discharge report to the individual committee or their legal representative. The discharge report will have all their appointments and medications outlined, ASO contact information, an aftercare plan with crisis prevention, and education materials developed by DHHS
o Notify the ASO and legal guardians
o This bill also requires the ASO to coordinate post-discharge care for individuals after commitment.
HF 313 (Commitment Testimony) allows for physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners to testify at committal hearings if they witnessed the examination, reviewed the report, and the professional that examined the individual is unable to attend the hearing.
HF 390 (Child Care Employees) as amended maintains the existing ability for a child care employee to receive a physical six months prior to beginning employment, but also allows for the child care employee to receive the physical within three months after beginning employment, removing a barrier to employment.
HF 382 (Child Care Flexibility) allows for 16- and 17-year-olds to provide flex care during nap hours and during brief periods in a child care center for children under the age of 5.
HF 384 (Minor Vaccine Consent) Current Iowa code allows for minors to consent to very few medical treatments without parental consent. One of those is for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. This code section has been misconstrued to include the ability for a minor to consent to the Hepatitis B and the HPV vaccine. HF 384 removes the ability for a minor to consent to vaccines for an STD without parental consent.
HF 299 (Vaccine Exemption Notification) requires all child care providers, schools, and higher education to notify parents/students of legal vaccine exemptions when communicating with parents regarding vaccine requirements.
“Even with this expansion, the cost of the ESA program does not come remotely close to the amount we spend each year on public schools.” Oh Henry, of course it doesn’t come “remotely close”. How many private schools are there? How many students do they serve? Now tell us the same numbers for public schools. You won’t do that because it proves you are the one who is deceiving the public. By the way, did your wife get a raise this year at the private school where she works? We know your kid is in private school so you made an extra $8,000 this year in addition to the raise your wife got. Do you have to pay more than the voucher amount for your kid to attend school? I ask because I know that tuition is going up.
jealous or vindictive?
I think, like most Republicans, he is both jealous and vindictive. Just like you.
Oh Larry, you so funny