Q: How much money will Washington spend on education this year?
A: Congress wrapped up the fiscal 2003 spending bill in February and included a big boost for the states to spend on local schools. In an era of belt-tightening by all levels of government, concerns are increasing about meeting funding needs in the classroom. The good news is Washington has approved an unprecedented amount of federal money for the nation’s schools. Congress increased federal education spending by seven percent over last year’s budget, or $3.5 billion. The most significant increases will flow to: Title I federal grants (a $1.4 billion increase); Special Education (a $1.42 billion increase); and Teacher Quality Grants ($100 million increase). I’m also pleased the Rural Education Achievement Program received an increase of $6.3 million over the previous year. This innovative project provides additional funds for small, rural school districts and allows them to pool federal grant money to address their most critical needs. Since 1996, Washington has increased by 132 percent federal dollars spent on education.
Q: What concerns do Iowa schools officials have with the new education law?
A: The landmark bipartisan education law signed by President Bush in 2002 seeks to strengthen America’s school systems, especially for disadvantaged and minority students, by narrowing achievement gaps, setting goals for student achievement and improving accountability. The concept promoted by the president is good public policy. Closing the door on low expectations for disadvantaged student populations is a noble cause. Still, some in Iowa have questioned why our state must meet the requirements in the law given Iowa’s already strong reputation for educational quality. While other states may have farther to go, few would disagree that we can improve. Under the new law, each state is required to establish its own definition for the level of proficiency that should be expected of every student and devise a plan to get all students in grades 3-8 to that level within 12 years. While some states have decided to lower the bar of expectations to hide the number of under-performing students, I’m proud that Iowa has chosen to retain its high standards for student achievement. The "Iowa Plan" has now been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. I know that many school officials and educators in the classroom are nervous about how the changes will play out in practice. As with any new law, I can’t promise there won’t be some bumps along the way, but I know the education leaders at the state level are committed to making the Iowa Plan a success. I will continue to work closely with education officials at both the state and federal levels to ensure we build on Iowa’s standards of academic excellence and commitment to improve student achievement. I will be looking for feedback from Iowa’s talented and dedicated educators on the front lines as we move forward.