The following is a news update from Iowa Democrats, released September 11, 2019:
Trump Trade Conflict Adding to Slow Economic Growth
The damage caused by the Trump Administration’s trade war continues to mount, with the Mid-America Business Conditions Index predicting slow to negative economic growth over the coming months.
The survey, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, compiles indexes on a range of 0 to 100, with ratings above 50 indicating growth. The August survey dropped below 50, its lowest number in 42 months. Additionally, the business confidence index dropped to a 35 month low.
Trade numbers were down for both export orders and imports in the August survey. Two-thirds of the supply managers who responded in August indicated that the trade war and tariffs were harming their companies.
President Trump’s trade war, now entering its 20th month, has been particularly hard on Iowa, with China now stopping all agriculture imports from the U.S.
High School Financial Literacy Requirements
In 2018, the Iowa Legislature prescribed a high school financial literacy course curriculum, and required the course to be taken in order to graduate. Applying to the class of 2020, it created scheduling conflicts for students and many had to scramble and make course corrections.
The bill, Senate File 139, pushed back the graduation requirement starting with the class of 2021. This would mean that the incoming classes for the 2019-20 school year of high school freshman, sophomores, and juniors would have to meet the graduation requirement of a financial literacy course, and its requirements before they graduate.
Now, the Iowa Department of Education has provided guidance to schools on the required course requirements, what area students can earn credit, and the appropriate teacher endorsements. There is no stipulation as to when a high school student needs to take the course; it just needs to be taken before graduation.
Department of Education updated financial literacy guidelines can be found here.
Healthy Iowans Progress Report Sees Mixed Results
The 2019 Healthy Iowans Progress Report was released by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) seeing some positive changes including, increased rates of adolescent immunizations, a decrease in opioid-related deaths, reduced cancer-related deaths, and a decline in underage drinking.
However the report also highlighted some negative trends occurring in the state. First, there has been a significant increase in the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), with gonorrhea rates spiking. Also, suicide deaths among teens from ages 15-19 is now 35% higher than the national average rate. Finally, adults in Iowa have reported an increase in mental health issues, with low-income Iowans reporting the largest increase from 19% to 22%.
The Healthy Iowans Progress Report is created through a partnership with almost 100 private and public groups who strive to make Iowa a place where everyone has an opportunity to live a healthier, more productive life. The full report can be found here.
State Run, Iowa Online Learning will End in Spring 2020
Iowa Learning Online (ILO), the Iowa Department of Education (DE’s) initiative for high-quality online learning opportunities, will be available through spring semester of the 2019-20 school year. ILO will no longer be able to provide courses after the 2019-20 school year because there is no long-term, sustainable funding source for operating the program. The current education budget provides no additional funding for the program. School districts will now either need to create their own online classes or work with an approved private provider. In 2018, SF 475 drastically expanded the ability for districts to use an online, out-of-state, private, and for-profit providers funded through Iowa’s school aid system.
Study after study, including ones on Iowa’s own online learning pilot programs offered at the CAM and Clayton Ridge school districts, have shown online learning to be less adequate than classroom education. While they may be necessary for some home-bound students with medical conditions, or to supplement course offerings not offered at a student’s regular school, the student achievement suffers. Some classes, like technical or science courses with lab requirements cannot offer the same learning experience.
The Legislature in 2020 could revisit funding for ILO to continue it for the 2020-21 school year. Legislative Democrats were able to push for, and have adopted in SF 475, Iowa licensed teacher requirements for online instructors. Schools and private providers are also prohibited from providing incentives or rebates for parents to enroll in online education, and the DE Director is required to maintain a list of approved private providers.
The damage done to who? The American farmer living high on the hog. Teenagers need to learn to count back change not have a computer do it. Start with $1, .50, .25, .10, .05, .01. Simple ingenious system. Debit cards suck. As for health. 1 in 3 Iowans are way too fat. Eat to much. Another ingenious invention…sidewalks. Get moving. And I pay you for what…your political spin on things. Just common sense here. How ’bout finding ways for prosperity to visit Iowa. Politicians are lazy. It shows too!
only old people have any type of issue with taking the human element out of transactions. no teenagers dont need to learn to make change, it isnt 1990. how is it that your generation has come to hate convenience so much? the less another person has to do or think about the quicker you get your goods or services and can leave that place or be out of other peoples way. the less you have to interact with employees or strangers the better. debit cards sort of do suck because places are just refusing cash anymore and that is annoying as hell. But this hatred of automated clerks and tellers? the hatred of self checkout? you still stand in line and write checks while the people behind you fantasize about bludgeoning you because youre wasting everyones time and forcing them to stand around in lines with people they dont want to be stuck with.