ISEA HOTLINE--February 28, 2013

Attend your local legislative forums this weekend! Last week the House passed HF 215, which includes their amendments to the Governor's Education Proposal.

A summary of the bill is located in the Legislative Action Center on isea.org under the Updates tab. The House version only provides 2 percent allowable growth; lowers the minimum teacher salary to $32,000; takes peer review out of the bargaining process; requires principals to do annual summative evaluations; and allows schools to opt out of the Teacher and Career Leadership Pathway.

 Here are the questions you need to ask your legislators at the forums in your area this weekend:

ISEA HOTLINE--February 15, 2013

Iowa House Education Committee amends Governor's education proposal
Late Wednesday night the Iowa House Education Committee passed House File 215, a 38-page strike and replace amendment to the Governor's education proposal. Major changes include setting the minimum teacher salary at $32,000, which is $3000 lower than the Governor's originally proposed $35,000 minimum starting salary and allowing schools to opt out of the Career and Compensation Matters provisions. Those provisions pay for stipends for teachers who would become Model, Mentor, or Lead teachers. As written, HF 215 would also not provide additional resources to those districts who opt out of the Career and Compensation Matters provision in order for them to raise the minimum salary. No play, no pay.

Additionally, HF 215 replaces the peer review structure created by SF 2284, last year's education reform proposal, with an annual evaluation conducted by an administrator, thus completely eliminating the opportunity for peer feedback and reflection. Please note that this is only a proposed change presented by the House Republicans. It does not affect existing statute which calls for peer review for the upcoming school year.
It is very important to remember that this is only the first offering by the House Republicans. This bill does not reflect the goals and objectives of the entire legislature including the Senate, which is controlled by a pro-public education majority. This bill will be eligible for debate in the House as early as Tuesday of next week and we will continue to update you on its movement.

Allowable GrowthThe pro-public education majority in the Iowa Senate, voted today to set the Allowable Growth rate for the 2014/2015 school year at 4 percent, which would provide an additional $114 million to Iowa schools for FY 2015. The vote in the Senate fell along party lines with all Democrats voting yes, and all Republicans present voting no. We would like to say thank you to the Senate Democrats for following the law and setting Allowable Growth for FY 15 in a reasonable and timely fashion. The bills, along with Allowable Growth for FY 2014, have all now been sent to the House, where they await action.
Take Action Now!
There are two things you need to do right now.

Attend legislative forums in your area and write to your legislators on Allowable Growth and House File 215.

When you talk with your Legislators, explain what this means for your students and your community. If this proposed Legislation would affect the bargaining of your contracts and your school's ability to budget, tell your Legislators about those consequences. Take positive action and let your Representatives know how this affects you!  

ISEA Hotline--February 7, 2013

Find out if there is a Legislative Forum near you this weekend! Here's what to talk about:

Allowable Growth = small class sizes

Four percent Allowable Growth (which helps keep class sizes small, provides funds for Professional Development and Teacher Salary Supplement) was passed by the Senate last week and is now in the House but hasn't been assigned to a committee yet. The Governor doesn't want Allowable Growth passed until after his Education Proposal has passed. The House does not have a pro-public education majority so urge members in your district to debate and pass Allowable Growth NOW so schools in your district will have the ability to budget for 2013-2014 and 2014-15. Everyone needs to be held accountable for student success - including teachers, students, parents, AND elected officials. For a more detailed explanation of Allowable Growth, read the ISEA Talking Points on Allowable 

The Governor's Education Proposal-- Are elected officials listening to educators?

Thanks to the VIVA Report, Reimagining School Leadership for the 21st Century, Legislators have an opportunity to hear the 17 solutions proposed by hundreds of Iowa educators who are in classrooms every day. Iowa's educators have proposed practical solutions that truly do place students at the center of education reform.

Read this report written by Iowa educators to better explain the issues to your legislators.

The Governor's education proposal passed through the House Subcommittee and has been referred to the Full Committee. The House Education Committee may debate the bill as early as next week. Be prepared to contact the Chair and members of the House Education Committee and let us know how they responded by using the Contact Us form on isea.org.

ISEA HOTLINE February 1, 2012

It is essential that we go to our Legislative Forums 

FOR LEWIS CENTRAL THAT MEANS

$670,762.00 IN NEW MONEY

SATURDAY, FEBUARY 9, 2013

WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 715 N 21st St 
 Council Bluffs, IA 51501

CLICK HERE for map

9:00-10:30 PM

and contact our elected leaders to urge them to pass four percent allowable growth quickly this year!  

Here's what you need to know:

On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate passed a package of education funding bills, including four percent Allowable Growth for 2013-2014 (Senate File 52), four percent Categorical Growth (SF 51), and a Property Tax Fund Distribution Bill a.k.a. School Property Taxes (SF 53).

Allowable Growth and the companion Categorical Allowable Growth bill would go into effect for the 2013-2014 school year. The two Allowable Growth bills provide schools with the money they need to employ educators and keep class sizes small. These two bills passed along party lines. Republicans voted against setting Allowable Growth because, like Governor Branstad, they believe the Governor's Education Reform

CLICK READ MORE TO READ ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN

Education Town Hall September 13, 2012

The Governor and Lt. Governor announced yesterday they will hold 14 education town hall meetings "continuing the discussion and soliciting feedback from Iowans on education reform policies, as part of preparation for the 2013 legislative session." These meetings are part of a conversation started at the recent Teacher and Principal Leadership Symposium held August 3, 2012 in Des Moines.

The following events are open to the public and we urge you to attend and report back to your UniServ directors what you learn. We know many of the town hall meetings are scheduled during the day when teachers cannot attend. So, we especially want to encourage our ISEA Retired members to attend and report back to the ISEA Retired staff liaison Tami Kuhn at tkuhn@isea.org.

LCEA Hotline March 16, 2012

House Passes Education Reform Bill
The Iowa House passed an amended version of HF 2380 this week on a 53-46 vote--seven Republicans joined the House Democrats in opposition to the bill. When the bill passed out of committee several weeks ago it was substantially different from the Governor’s proposal. The bill that passed out of the House was amended to be more like the Governor’s bill, including mandatory retention of third graders, support for 100 percent online learning limited to 1 percent of a school district’s enrollment, and expansion of Charter Schools.

ISEA opposes the bill and will be working with the Senate on their version which takes a more student-centered approach. This bill includes literacy supports for students in early grades and time for teachers to collaborate. It restricts online learning to 50 percent of a student’s academic work, unless medically necessary.


Make contact with your Senator
It is critical that you make contact with your Senator this weekend or early next week. You can attend a forum over the weekend, send an email, or call her/him (the main switchboard number is 515-281-3371). Tell your Senator to support education reform that invests in classroom priorities that build on the foundation for student learning and help ensure every student has a qualified, caring teacher in the classroom.

LCEA Hotline March 9, 2012

Education reform set to move in the house next week - take action now!

The ISEA has learned that the House intends to debate HF 2380 next week. The most important thing you can do is attend a Legislative Forum in your area and make sure your Legislators know how you feel about education reform issues such as 100 percent online learning, third-grade retention, and value-added assessments. Check out educators' recent testimony on these issues for more information.

LCEA Hotline: February 16, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE:

Why you should care about online learning

What is happening with allowable growth?

NEW! Notes from the Inside - An inside look at a few of the education bills being proposed this legislative session that you probably won't hear about anywhere else. We'll feature one or two each week.

Why you should care about online learning

Two issues involving online schools surfaced in Iowa recently. First SSB 3009 and HSB 517, the education bill currently being debated in the Iowa Legislature, seeks to establish an online learning model opening the doors to 100 percent online schools. Second, two for-profit companies, K12, Inc. and Connections Academy have been hired to open online schools in Clayton Ridge and CAM school districts respectively.

HOTLINE: Governor's Education Reform Plan Released

Today the Governor released his final recommendations for his education plan. We think it is very important for all of our members to have the most up-to-date information about this issue which will soon be introduced into legislation.


Below is the text of the ISEA's response and also included in this message is the link to the Governor's plan. Stay tuned for more information about this and other important issues in the coming weeks.

ISEA & LCEA HOTLINE 2/24/2011

Thousands of activists support allowable growth at 2 percent

Activists are speaking out by the thousands - educators, parents, AEAs, and school administrators--in support of setting allowable growth at 2 percent. Supporters signed an open letter urging legislators to support SF166 and SF167 ahead of the February 26 deadline. The bills set allowable growth at 2 percent so schools and Area Education Agencies (AEAs) have the resources needed to deliver the 21st century education our children need to thrive and prosper in our global economy.

ISEA & LCEA HOTLINE 2/23/2011

"As a science teacher with a degree in physics, I could go into the private sector and easily earn double what I do now, but I know how important it is to have good teachers in our Iowa classrooms. That's why I'm fighting to maintain our collective bargaining rights - so we can continue to recruit and retain great teachers and in turn ensure a great public education for every Iowa child," said Melissa Spencer, president of the Des Moines Education Association who spoke at the rally at the Capitol yesterday with over 800 people present in support of public employees. The ISEA participated in this event.

ISEA & LCEA HOTLINE Special Edition--Who's Next? US! 2/22/2011

THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE WEARING RED TODAY. Thanks to all who have signed the online petitions. We come to you with some breaking news. There will be a committee meeting today for House Bill 117 that was introduced Friday. The bill may be moving quickly and warrants all of our attention so that we can work with "pro-public education" allies.

from SWUU, ISEA and the Des Moines Register’s website--

On Friday, House Study Bill 117 (don't let the word "study" fool you; this means that it can move more quickly) was introduced. It HAS NOT passed. Public hearings are likely to occur next week. OUR voices--including YOURS--will be needed.

Public Employees vs. Private Sector Employees: Some Facts

Public employees in Iowa in general are paid less than their private-sector peers in comparable jobs, according to a new study by the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project.

Even if benefit packages are accounted for, Iowa’s public workers still are compensated less than those who work for private businesses, said Andrew Cannon, author of a new report.

For state government workers, male employees earned wages or salaries that were 9 percent less than comparable workers in private industry when taking into account education, experience and hours worked.

ISEA HOTLINE 2/3/2011

Legislators continue the process of setting allowable growth for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013

The Iowa House Education Committee has set allowable growth at 0 percent; the Iowa Senate Education Committee is on track to set allowable growth at 2 percent. The ISEA believes allowable growth should be set at 4 percent for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

ISEA HOTLINE 1/28/2011

Governor Branstad cuts education in his Condition of the Budget

Governor Branstad is balancing the budget on the backs of our kids. In his Condition of the Budget report released January 27, Governor Branstad recommends $9.2 million in cuts to Iowa's community colleges, 0 percent allowable growth for K-12, an additional $27 million reduction to AEAs, and the elimination of the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.

ISEA HOTLINE 1/27/2010

"Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it,
I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in."                                                                                                                            --Abraham Lincoln


Allowable Growth = Cost of Living Adjustment

The Governor and House Republicans have proposed 0 percent Allowable Growth for Iowa’s public schools. In practical terms this means public schools will not see any cost of living adjustments to their budgets for the first time in 30 years. While schools will receive money for the current per-pupil spending, the money will not be adjusted for 2011 inflationary increases. Every Legislature for 30 years has recognized the folly of this type of budgeting. Everyone knows you can’t purchase a gallon of milk with the same dollar you used to purchase it with last year, so why would our Governor and Republican legislators expect schools to meet their rising fuel, utility, textbook, computer, and other costs with non-inflationary adjusted budgets? It doesn’t make sense.

ISEA HOTLINE 1/20/2011

House File 45--Formerly Known as House Study Bill 1
House File 45 (formerly Study Bill 1) passed the House 60-40 on a party line vote. President Chris Bern, NEA Director Mike Beranek, and Executive Board member Sue Williams spoke on behalf of ISEA at the public hearing. Their comments in favor of public preschool for all four-year-olds, maintaining the Iowa Core, and funding for AEAs were well received and many members attended. Legislators are telling us that they have received many e-mails from ISEA members. The fight is far from over as the bill makes its way to the Senate.

ISEA Hotline 12/18/2008

CULVER CUTS EDUCATION

Today, the ISEA released the following statement by ISEA President Chris Bern in response to Governor Chet Culver's budget cuts:

"We are surprised by Governor Culver's announcement today of the 1 1/2 percent across-the-board budget cuts. Across-the-board budget cuts impact all programs equally and don't take into account priorities that are important to keep the state moving forward.

Our members, who are also members of the communities suffering in these tough economic times, appreciate the difficult economic choices that have to be made. But our members also understand that cutting all education expenditures so drastically actually hurts the economies in every community in the state. Our best investment right now is in our schools with community colleges offering job retraining programs, preschools giving low income children a head start, and our public school system working to keep our students competitive in the 21st century.

Perhaps even more troubling to our members is the fact that the Governor has continued to say that education and the students in this state are a priority, yet almost 60 percent of the across-the-board budget cuts the Governor announced today affect education spending. Our professional educators have worked for decades to reach 25th in the nation in average salary and we were on a path to reaching that goal. In a simple across-the-board slice of the pen, the Governor has short-changed Iowa's school children and relegated us to more years of fighting for what we are worth."

It is now more important than ever that you participate in the Legislative Conference and Lobby Day. For up-to-date information during the legislative session go to the At the Capitol tab at www.isea.org.

ISEA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

The ISEA Legislative Conference will be held Janaury 9-10 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. Sessions will include information on issues and lobbying strategies. Reservations must be received by Friday, December 19, 2008. Please coordinate reservations through your UniServ office.

ISEA LOBBY DAY

Join us for ISEA Lobby Day 2009 on Wednesday, February 18, at 10 a.m. in the Wallace Auditorium at the State Capitol. This is a great opportunity for you to discuss the issues facing education and our profession. Lunch will be provided and all legislators will be invited. RSVP to Joann Randall no later than Friday, February 13. Phone 800-445-9358, 515-471-8003, or e-mail jrandall@isea.org.

ISEA COMMUNITY COLLEGE LOBBY DAY

Join us for ISEA Community College Lobby Day 2009 on Wednesday, February 11, at 10 a.m. in the Jesse Parker Building -- Grant Room, 520 E. 12th Street in Des Moines. RSVP to Joann Rand a ll no later than February 6. All names of attendees must be given to Joann at that time in order for ID badges to be printed. Phone 800-445-9358 or e-mail jrandall@isea.org. Parking is limited so please carpool.

Pending bill would make salary funding permanent

A bill to roll funding for four important categorical programs -- teacher salaries, class size reduction, Phase II, and professional development -- into the school aid formula has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. Now known as SF 2329, the bill is critical in order to preserve these programs and to provide growth to keep pace with inflation. The teacher salary appropriation, for example, has only been set through the 2008-09 school year. Unless SF 2329 is approved, funding to maintain the salary increases will have to be approved each year. But as Iowa educators have learned the hard way, annual appropriations can be easy targets for the budget axe during economic downturns. Stay in the loop by reading our online legislative updates; or better yet, subscribe to the ISEA Hotline e-newsletter and get up-to-date news and information delivered right to your e-mail inbox.

Here's where other education-related bills stand

• Compulsory attendance. SF 2144, a bill to increase the compulsory attendance age from 16 to 17 by Sept. 15 of the school year, has been passed out of committee and is awaiting action by the full House.

• IPERS. A bill passed out of the Senate State Government Committee includes language allowing the actuary to set the IPERS contribution rate beginning in July of 2011 after the current statutory increase of 2 percent is fully implemented. In addition, the bill would limit the number of 403b vendors that a school district can use to eight. Of that total, local bargaining units would be able to choose up to three vendors and the employer could choose up to five. Under this plan, a school district would not be required to offer eight options, but the local employee group can decide whether it offers three or fewer.

• ESP salaries. ISEA lobbyists are working to address the Education Support Professional salary issue by including language in the education appropriations bill stating that the goal of the state is to provide a competitive living wage to all public employees. To learn more about living wage campaigns, listen to episode 21 of the ISEA In Focus podcast series.

• Core curriculum. A bill to require school districts to adopt the now-voluntary core curriculum has moved out of the Senate and is on its way to the House. Under this plan, the mandate would be fully implemented by the 2012-13 school year for grades 9 - 12 and during the 2014-15 school year for grades K - 8. The ISEA supports this bill because it focuses on classroom instruction rather than requiring additional tests and accountability measures. For more details, see the Feb. 29 issue of the ISEA Hotline.