DMPS Outlines Legislative Priorities for 2012

Under the dome of the Iowa State Capitol

Education is often at the forefront when the Iowa General Assembly is in session and this year that will be especially true in light of Governor Branstad’s blueprint for educational reform.

The Governor first floated the broad strokes of his plan last fall before embarking on a town hall tour of the state to gather feedback from Iowans. One of those forums was held on December 10 at Central Campus, attended by more than 150 people. And on January 6, Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds and Iowa Education Director Jason visited Capitol View Elementary School to unveil the final version that will be submitted to the legislature as it convenes this week. (For more details on the Governor’s proposal, read our previous blog post.)

School Board Chair Teree Caldwell-Johnson and Vice Chair Dick Murphy have both been emphasizing the importance of citizen input as a potential influence on what ultimately emerges from the legislative process. That includes the fact that by the time local school boards are forced to adopt their budgets in the spring based on anticipated funding it’s too late for constituents to impact them because the school boards’ hands have already been tied by the state.

Last year was the first time in the 40-year history of the allowable growth formula for state aid to schools that a zero percent hike was passed. The two-year state budget the legislature ultimately adopted also calls for only two percent allowable growth in the upcoming fiscal year. The state of Iowa is currently running a $340 million surplus and the most recent estimates of state revenues were revised upward by $250 million for FY 2013 versus FY 2012.

In December, the School Board adopted specific DMPS legislative priorities for 2012. The community is encouraged to review them and monitor their status during the next hundred or so days while the legislature is in session. Make sure that your voice is heard by local area legislators before final decisions are made on the critical issues impacting students in Des Moines and all across the state.

Des Moines Public Schools is a member of the Urban Education Network, an organization comprised of Iowa’s largest school districts serving more than 40% of the state’s K-12 students. The Des Moines School Board supports the following issues outlined by UEN members in the consideration of statewide education reform:

• Improve the Assessment of Student Learning: Promote the development of a process to assess student learning that accurately and adequately measures 21st Century learning needs. It is time for Iowa to abandon the use of norm-referenced standardized tests as the sole measure of student learning.
• Review the Current Funding Formula: Develop a consistent definition of “at risk” students and conduct a study of resources needed to address the issue of underachieving students. The study should include an analysis of the current Iowa funding formula to determine the degree to which the current system does or does not adequately support underachieving students. [NOTE: DMPS serves more than 5,000 English Language Learner (ELL) students. The state currently provides per-pupil funding for ELL students that’s weighted @ plus .22 for four years but research suggests it takes six years for the typical ELL student to achieve English proficiency and transition to mainstream curricula.]
• Improve the Evaluation of Instructional Staff: In collaboration with instructional staff, develop a process for the inclusion of student learning as one factor in the evaluation of educators, remembering that the primary purpose of evaluation is to inform educators what supports and additional learning are needed to consistently improve practice.

In addition, the Des Moines School Board asks members of the Iowa General Assembly and Governor to give consideration to the following changes in state law:

• Dillon’s Rule: Modify or revoke Iowa’s Dillon’s Rule to provide public school districts with greater flexibility, autonomy and local decision-making ability. [NOTE: Some of the issues facing diverse, urban districts like DMPS are very different than those confronting small, rural ones yet Iowa schools are regulated by an outmoded one-size-fits-all approach. For instance, the ELL population in Des Moines, by itself, is bigger than all but 15 of the state’s 351 school districts.]
• Senior Year Plus: Amend Senior Year Plus program to allow students to enroll in dual credit courses for either high school or college credit; do not restrict which world languages may be offered for credit; and allow districts to enroll whomever they choose in their dual credit courses.
• Teacher Licensure: Amend the teacher licensure process to simplify and/or reduce the number of secondary teacher endorsements.
• International Baccalaureate: Amend existing laws so that incentives and recognition with respect to the IB Diploma are equal to those accorded Advanced Placement.
• Local Bids: Change current law as it pertains to approving the lowest responsible bid in order to provide greater consideration of and opportunities for local businesses.

In addition, as a member of the Urban Education Network, the Des Moines School Board also supports the legislative agenda of the UEN. For more information about the UEN, click here.