Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/530934
ISEA Communiqué • isea.org June 2015 7 LEGISLATIVE Enter Now NEA Member Benefits has teamed up with Sallie Mae ® , provider of the NEA ® Smart Option Student Loan ® Program, to offer NEA members five chances to win $2,000 cash! It's our way of rewarding you for your dedication and helping you further your own educational pursuits. From April through August, 2015, enter each month at www.neamb.com. If you're one of the lucky $2,000 winners, you could choose to fund professional development courses for yourself, cover some of your expenses toward National Board Certification, or even help a family member with their college tuition! SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America. © 2015 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. NEA, NEA Member Benefits and the NEA Member Benefits logo are registered service marks of NEA's Member Benefits Corporation. SL180615 Here's how some education issues fared: K-12 funding Democrats pushed for a 4 percent increase, Republicans for a 1.25 percent increase. Lawmakers agreed to a 1.25 percent increase in Supplemental State Aid with an additional one-time investment of $55.7 million. The latter comes with strings attached that it cannot be for purposes other than 1) textbooks 2) library books 3) other instructional materials and equipment used directly by students 4) transportation costs for school districts or 5) educational incentives proven to increase student achievement in mathematics, literacy, or science in pre-K through 12th grade. Anti-bullying The anti-bullying legislation passed the Democratic- controlled Iowa Senate but could not get called up for a vote in the Republican-controlled Iowa House. School start School cannot start earlier than August 23, regardless of the wishes of local school boards. Community colleges Community colleges received a one-time investment of $2.5 million contingent that the money can only be spent on non-recurring expenses and cannot be spent on operational or personnel expenses. The state appropriation remains at the FY 2015 level for FY 2016, although there's a $500,000 faculty salary supplement included. Online school pilot The three-year online school pilot program which expired this year was extended for another three years. K12 Inc. and Connections Academy run online-only schools at CAM and Clayton Ridge school districts. Both schools advertise for students statewide. School finance formula Lawmakers had the opportunity to make changes to the school finance formula but they didn't despite the urging of various groups. The finance formula determines how revenue is allocated for public education. Smarter Balanced The Legislature left alone a recommendation by an Iowa State Board of Education task force. The task force recommended the adoption of Smarter Balanced as the statewide assessment for Iowa. The decision to adopt Smarter Balanced rests with the Board of Education. Vouchers Legislation to create a voucher program – called an educational savings account – passed the Iowa House but was not called in the Senate. If it had been approved, it would have scooped about $200 million from the state's general fund. LEGISTLATIVE State Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, talks with Iowa State Education Association members in the Capitol rotunda during a lobby day in January.