The final piece of the education puzzle was put in place with legislation passed last Thursday. This is the last piece of the student achievement and teacher quality package that began in the Iowa Legislature back in 2001. In 2001, we raised teacher standards and asked teachers to sharpen their skills to boost student achievement. In exchange for meeting these standards, we promised them a more competitive salary. Teachers held up their end of the bargain over the last five years. And, when we passed Senate File 277 last week, Iowa legislators held up their end of the deal.

Iowa teachers are producing results Iowans can be proud of. ACT test scores are the third highest in the nation, eighth grade math scores are among the 10 highest on the National Assessment of Education Progress, and Iowa has the second highest percentage of fourth-graders scoring in the highest two levels in science. Iowa also ranks third in the percentage of public high school students going on to higher education.

During the campaign last fall, I pledged to work for the improvement of student achievement and to raise teacher salaries from 42nd to 25th in the nation. With the passage of SF 277, Iowa will rank 25th in teacher salaries in two years. Raising salaries is important because it will enable us to keep the best and brightest teachers in classrooms here in Iowa. Right now there is no incentive for newly licensed teachers, especially ones with a heavy college debt load, to stay here when they can go almost anywhere else and make more money.

Iowans want to retain the best teachers for their children and grandchildren. SF 277 will give teachers in the State of Iowa the biggest salary increase to date. A total of $141.2 million will go into teacher salaries next year, and $232.5 million is allotted for the 2008-2009 school year. The funding will be used to boost beginning teachers’ pay by $1,000, to $26,500 annually, and raise pay by $2,000 for each of the next two years. These salary increases also apply to Area Education Agency contracted employees. The bill includes money for market incentives and pay-for-performance pilot projects.

The bill expands professional development to allow new and veteran teachers the opportunity to hone their skills and learn from each other. A teacher quality committee comprised of teachers and administrators from within the district will help determine the best use of professional development funding, subject to the approval of the local school board.

School districts will also be required to have a school nurse for every 750 students and a guidance counselor for every 350 students. Districts will be able to share these professionals.

The legislation will offer districts flexibility in hiring staff to fill teacher shortage areas by utilizing market factor incentive dollars. Districts will be able to use $1 million to hire teachers in subject shortage areas by providing for moving and living assistance, providing educational opportunities and assistance in meeting additional licensure requirements. Also, a pilot project will identify best practices for districts to develop teacher career ladders.

As a member of the House Education Committee, I can report to you that we all worked very hard on improving the bill with input from teachers, administrators and school boards. We worked hard on this legislation because we want to make sure that the bill creates an environment where the best teachers are working to give our children the optimal opportunities in education in this state.

This bill passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote of 90-7. It returns to the Senate where approval is expected, and then it goes to the Governor for his signature. It is gratifying when hard work is productive. We are having the most productive session in my memory.

You can write me at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; call 515/281-7328 or e-mail me at  ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us.

Ro

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