LANDON: Committee Must Start Work Immediately on Iowa Education Reform Bill

During the first week of April, the Senate moved on education reform, taking the bill a step closer to its final form.  House File 215, which the House approved in February (week 6), was amended with the Senate’s version, Senate File 423, one day before the end of funnel week (week 12), leaving no time for House consideration. Therefore, the House rejected the Senate’s amendment on House File 215, moving the bill to conference committee. 

The Joint Rules of the legislature state that within one legislative day of the move to conference, the leaders of both houses are to make appointments to the committee.  The committee will consist of 10 members, three majority party members from each chamber, and two minority party members from each chamber.  Following the appointments, the committee must meet before the end of the next legislative day, shall select a chair, and begin discussion.

While there are similarities between the two versions of the bill, the differences are significant.  The Senate stripped out nearly all the accountability that existed in the House bill, removed all parental choice, homeschool, and private school provisions, and added various pieces of legislation that the House has not supported over the last several years.  Additionally, the costs are around $40 million more than the House version and the complexity of their system essentially makes it impossible for the program to have lasting integrity. 

Our children’s education is important to us individually and collectively in House District 37 and the State of Iowa.  As a result, the State of Iowa spends 60 percent of the budget on education.  While the Senate action on education was delayed to the last day, the joint conference committee must start their work immediately.  It is my hope we will soon have this bill completed so school boards and administrators are assured of their funding and can begin making important plans for our children’s education.

Please contact me about this and other issues that are important to you or join me at the following forums:

• April 6, 2013, 9 a.m., Neveln Center, 406 S.W. School St.

• April 27, 2013, 8 a.m., Café Diem, 2005 S. Ankeny Blvd.