Schneider Senate Update: Some Common Ground in Education Reform, but Differences Remain

By Sen. Charles Schneider

This legislative session, Gov. Terry Branstad proposed legislation raising teacher pay and establishing a mentoring system for teachers.

House Republicans passed the governor’s plan with some modifications, and Senate Democrats have introduced their own version of education reform. Each reform plan aims to enable Iowa teachers to prepare students for the competitive job market and global marketplace.

Here are some key provisions in the proposed bills:

Online Learning: Both the House Republicans and Governor Branstad agree that the Department of Education should set the fee schedule for public and nonpublic schools to participate in the Department’s Iowa Online Learning initiative. They both appropriate $1.5 million for FY 2014 to help expand the program. In contrast, Senate Democrats established the fees themselves and set limits on the cost of administering the program.

Teacher Training and Development: All plans emphasize the need for more thorough reviews and teacher mentoring programs. 

Teacher Pay: Senate Democrats and Governor Branstad would like to raise starting teacher pay from $28,000 to $35,000. House Republicans would like to raise annual starting salary to $32,000. Both West Des Moines and Waukee School Districts already have starting salaries above $35,000, so this won’t impact them.

The three plans have several similarities, but one difference looms large – the Allowable Growth rate. The House Republicans’ target for the next two years is a 2 percent increase, while the Senate Democrats increase the rate to 4 percent over each of the next two fiscal years.

Student achievement in Iowa has stagnated in recent years, and other states have passed us by. Education reform is needed, therefore, to ensure that Iowa students are prepared to succeed in their next challenge, whether that is college or the workplace. We need to attract Iowa’s best and brightest to the teaching profession, give them the support they need to be successful, and compensate them well for the important task they undertake daily – preparing our students to compete in a global economy.

Upcoming Legislative Forums

April 6, 9:30-11 a.m., Waukee City Council Chambers

(Sen. Charles Schneider represents Senate District 22, which includes Waukee, Clive, Windsor Heights and part of West Des Moines Contact him at Charles.Schneider@legis.iowa.gov or at 515-281-3371.)