Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad seeks approval of education reform plan

Education

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January 9, 2012

By Mike Glover, Associated Press Associated Press Mon Jan 09, 2012, 05:30 AM CST

DES MOINES — Gov. Terry Branstad is asking the Iowa Legislature to approve new tests for students and tougher standards for aspiring teachers.

In a plan released Friday, Branstad called for the state to require a 3.0 grade point average for people seeking admission to teacher preparation programs. They also would need to pass a test demonstrating their competence in their proposed teaching subject.

Branstad also proposed that all preschool students and enrolled 4-year-olds be given a test to determine their skill level. High school students would take end-of-course exams in key subjects, and 11th graders would take a college entrance exam.

The governor said his education proposal was offered after spending months listening to expert opinions about how to bolster Iowa schools.

"We've worked for months to elevate the conversation about improving our schools," the governor said. "These proposals will put us on a path to make Iowa schools among the best in the world."

Branstad estimates his plan would cost an additional $25 million annually. He'll propose how to raise that money when he sends a budget to the Legislature, which convenes Monday. Last year, the Legislature approved a $34.7 million increase in basic state aid to local schools, which would have the state spend $2.66 billion on elementary and secondary schools.

Some issues remain. Those 11th graders and 4-year-olds who perform poorly on the tests will likely need to participate in a remedial program to bring them up to scratch.

"We'll work with educators all across the state on details of that," said Linda Fandel, Branstad's key education adviser.

There is plenty of meat in Branstad's proposal. Key proposals include:

—Requiring teaching candidates to pass a competency test in their subject matter, and once they begin teaching get evaluated every year instead of the current every three years;

—Broadening the path to alternative ways to get a teaching license, including a plan to allow professionals to move into teaching;

—Making seniority "a minor factor" when layoffs are required;

—Creating a task forced to study changes in the way teachers are paid;

—Making it easier to create charter schools.

Branstad has made it clear he wants lawmakers to focus on education this year, warning that student performance on standardized tests has dropped its once lofty ranking to the middle of the pack. He convened an education "summit" last summer and has traveled the state heavily promoting his effort. He initially called for a tiered system of teacher pay that tied compensation to performance in the classroom, but decided to put that off until next year.

Key lawmakers in both parties reacted warmly to the new package.

House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, applauded the new student testing requirements.

"Certainly we want our students to show they have achieved," said Upmeyer.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, also gave the Republican governor credit.

"We want to work on this in a bipartisan way," McCarthy said. "The governor thus far has gone about this in the right way because we've had a seat at the table."

McCarthy did question the amount of money being devoted to the effort. He said $8 million would be shifted from other education programs, with only $17 million in new money provided.

"I don't know that you can do a global type reform proposal for $17 million," McCarthy said. "I think that $17 million for a major reform proposal, I don't know that that's adequate."

"We'll have to look at the governor's budget and see where those dollars come from," said Upmeyer. "Republicans will spend less than we take in and if it fits inside that we'll be able to live with that."