In This Issue
State Legislative Session Outlook
Federal Policy Update
Important Dates
Legislation

Quick Links

January 29, 2016  

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance regularly monitors policy at the federal, state, and local levels to encourage supportive practices and policies for afterschool at all levels. This bi-weekly publication will keep you up-to-date on the activities of the Iowa legislature, as well as federal legislation, throughout the Iowa legislative session from January 11, 2016 until the scheduled adjournment date of April 19, 2016. We hope this communication is beneficial to you as you seek to advocate for and support your program at home. 
State Policy Update
On January 28th, IAA hosted their 2016 legislative receptions at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Afterschool program providers, students, and parents from across the state met with legislators and their staff to educate and advocate on afterschool policy. A total of 35 legislators visited IAA events in person or by their staff. Advocates also visited personally with their legislators outside of events. 
David Welter and students of Holmes Jr. High School visit with Senator Steve Sodders of Marshalltown.
Michelle Rich of the IAA and Amanda Avenarius and Dawn Cogan of St. Mark Youth Enrichment in Dubuque speak with Senator Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge.
President of the Senate Pam Jochum of Dubuque speaks with a student about his afterschool program.
House of Representatives Education Committee Chair Representative Ron Jorgenson of Sioux City poses with students at the Iowa Afterschool Legislative Breakfast.
Federal Policy Update
On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This law replaces the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), or No Child Left Behind. Implementation of the law is on-going. For updates from EdWeek on ESSA, follow their regular blog here.
Important Dates
January 11        First Day of Session

January 28       IAA Legislative Reception
                           7:00-9:00 a.m.
                           Legislative Dining Room, State Capitol 

January 28       IAA Afterschool Snack
                           3:00-4:30 p.m.
                           First Floor Rotunda, State Capitol

February 19     First Funnel
Final date for House bills to be reported out of House committees, and Senate bills out of Senate committees, to stay alive.

March 11         Second Funnel
Final date for Senate bills to be reported out of House committees, and House bills out of Senate committees, to stay alive.

April 19           Target Adjournment Date
100th calendar day of the session and the date per-diem expenses will end.
Legislation
Senate File 2017 Makes a standing appropriation to the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund. Sponsored by Senator Chelgren. Referred to Senate Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Dvorsky, Quirmbach, and Zaun.
 
Senate File 2011 and House File 2062 Provides for additional weighting for eligible students identified as limited English proficient who are enrolled in the statewide preschool program for four-year-old children. Sponsored by Senator Petersen, referred to Senate Education Committee, and passed subcommittee with Mathis, Hart, and Johnson. Sponsored by Representatives Oldson and Anderson, referred to House Education committee, and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Gaines, and Salmon.
 
Senate File 2010 Modifies supplementary weighting for limited English proficient students and including effective date and applicability provisions. Sponsored by Senator Petersen. Referred to Senate Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Mathis, Johnson, and Schoenjahn.
 
Senate File 2009 and House File 2037 Expands statewide preschool program to include certain five-year-old children. Sponsored by Senator Hart, referred to Senate Education Committee, and passed subcommittee with Hart, Kraayenbrink, and Wilhelm. Sponsored by Representative Ruff, referred to House Education Committee, and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Forristall, and Mascher.
 
Senate Study Bill 3065 Would establish the state percent of growth for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2017. Sponsored by Senate Education Committee. Assigned to subcommittee with Quirmbach, Schoenjahn, and Sinclair.
 
Senate Study Bill 3064 Would establish the categorical state percent of growth for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2017. Sponsored by Senate Education Committee. Assigned to subcommittee with Quirmbach, Schoenjahn, and Sinclair.
 
Senate Study Bill 3046 and House File 2119 (successor to House Study Bill 545) Relates to reading and literacy requirements for practitioner preparation programs. Sponsored by Department of Education, referred to Senate Education subcommittee with Quirmbach, Hart, and Behn. Sponsored by Representative Staed, referred to House Education Committee.
 
House File 2083 Would establish a school district enrollment supplement program and makes appropriations. Sponsored by Representative Koester. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Koester, Brown-Powers, and Highfill.
                                                                                      
House File 2081 Relates to school district transportation assistance aid, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions. Sponsored by Representative Best. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Dolecheck, and Hanson.
 
House File 2072 Relates to school district funding by establishing a district cost per pupil equity budget adjustment for certain budget years and including effective date provisions. Sponsored by Representatives Winckler, Hunter, Mascher, Kearns, Berry, Steckman, Abdul-Samad, Gaskill, and Wessel-Kroeschell. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Salmon, and Winckler.
 
House File 2071 Relates to the determination of the regular program state cost per pupil and the regular program district cost per pupil and including effective date provisions. Sponsored by Representatives Winckler, Staed, Hunter, Thede, H. Miller, Mascher, Hanson, Wolfe, Anderson, Kearns, Bearinger, Berry, Ourth, Smith, Abdul-Samad, Gaskill, Cohoon, Wessel-Kroeschell, Lensing, Forbes, Dawson, McConkey, Dunkel, and Stutsman. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Dolecheck, and Winckler.
 
House File 2054 Relates to core science standards adopted by the state board of education. Sponsored by Representatives Salmon, Watts, Fisher, Holt, Sheets, Heartsill, Gustafson, Kooiker, Baxter, Gassman, Branhagen, Klein, Dolecheck, and Rogers. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Brown-Powers, and Hanusa.
 
House File 2053 Relates to statewide student assessments and to student data collection by the department of education, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools. Sponsored by Representatives Salmon, Gustafson, Heartsill, Holt, Kooiker, Kaufmann, Watts, Baxter, Gassman, Sheets, Landon, Fisher, Nunn, Branhagen, Klein, and Rogers. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Highfill, Hanusa, and Staed.
 
House File 2034 Relates to the permissible uses of supplemental aid for professional development paid to school districts and AEAs under the state school foundation program. Sponsored by Representative Grassley. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Gassman, Dolecheck, and Staed.
 
House File 2009 Would require the Department of Education to distribute a handbook of educational options. Sponsored by Representative Wills. Referred to House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Sieck, Byrnes, and Hanson.
 
House File 2008 Relates to the exercise, by school districts, of any broad and implied powers not inconsistent with the laws of the general assembly, and to the construction of statutes related to school district boards and school districts. Sponsored by Representative Paulsen. Referred to House Education Committee and passed subcommittee with Byrnes, Highfill, and Mascher.
 
House Study Bill 551 Relates to education funding by extending the period of time for collecting sales tax for deposit in the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund, modifying uses for funding received from the SAVE fund, and authorizing school district to adopt a district cost per pupil equity budget adjustment. Sponsored by House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Jorgensen, Cohoon, and Forristall.
 
House Study Bill 549 Relates to education funding by extending the period of time for collecting sales tax for deposit in the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund, modifying allocations of state sales and use tax revenue, modifying uses for funding received from the SAVE fund, establishing a district equity supplement program, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions.  Sponsored by House Education Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Jorgensen, Cohoon, and Forristall.
 
House Study Bill 548 Relates to education funding by extending the period of time for collecting sales tax for deposit in the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund, modifying allocations of state sales and use tax revenue collections, specifying uses for certain funding received from the SAVE fund, creating a district levy reduction fund, and making appropriations. Sponsored by House Ways and Means Committee and assigned to subcommittee with Windschitl, Forristall, Isenhart, Vander Linden, and Brown-Powers.
 
House Joint Resolution 2002 Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa to provide home rule for school districts.  Sponsored by Representative Paulsen. Referred to Education and assigned to subcommittee with Byrnes, Highfill, and Steckman.
This update is a bi-weekly publication intended to share information and resources regarding legislative activities, events, and bills related to afterschool issues in Iowa. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Gracie Brandsgard at [email protected]
or 515-237-0340.