Education reform passes Iowa House and Senate

Jason Noble:

Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, the parents of students who cannot demonstrate adequate literacy skills at the end of third grade will be given a choice: enroll their children in an intensive reading program over the summer or have them repeat the grade.

The element of parental involvement and choice was a key concession, said Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames and the Senate's lead negotiator on the bill.

But even as lawmakers found compromise on the policy for early-grade literacy, they were unable to agree on funding for it.

Chambers and Quirmbach confirmed on Tuesday that the Legislature would not appropriate any funds for enhanced early-grade literacy efforts in next year's budget. Under the language of the bill, then, school districts will not be required to implement the additional efforts until the state provides additional dollars to fund them.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at May 11, 2012 1:12 AM
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