Culver calls for increased education spending

Gov. Chet Culver pledged Wednesday to seek a 4 percent increase in basic state aid to local schools, as long as state tax revenues continue to improve, and to set a goal of a 95 percent graduation rate for poor and minority students.

In a speech to school administrators, Culver also called for making publicly funded preschool available to every 4-year-old.

Although setting goals is important, Culver said the bottom line was how much funding the state sends to schools.

"Iowa has a tradition of investing in our education, but we must do more to keep our commitment to students and educators," said Culver, who planned to give a similar speech Wednesday night to members of the state teachers' union. "If the economy continues to improve on its current trajectory toward recovery, the school funding commitment should be set at 4 percent of allowable growth."

The Legislature each year sets the amount it will allow local school budgets to grow. If Culver is re-elected in November, and if lawmakers agree to his proposal, he said the state would inject an additional $120 million of state funding into local school budgets. The money would come from the state's general fund, and would depend on continued economic improvement resulting in more tax revenue.

Local districts also could raise local property taxes to further increase their budgets.

Culver, who worked as a teacher before being elected secretary of state and then governor, touted his efforts to boost teacher pay. Iowa now ranks 26th in the nation, up from 42nd place in 2005. The state also now provides publicly funded preschool to 23,000 youngsters.

Culver promised to build on that base by spending more on education should he beat Republican Terry Branstad, a former governor, in the general election.

The Iowa State Education Association teachers union has formally endorsed Culver and teachers play an important role in statewide campaigns. Not only can the union deliver campaign money and organizational muscle, teachers tend to be opinion leaders in communities.

Culver made it clear teachers would be rewarded should he be given another term.

"Your support is a big reason we have had so much success in education policy at the Statehouse over the past four years," Culver said. "Because you stood with me, I was able to keep the promises I made to Iowans during my 2006 campaign for governor."

During that campaign, Culver had called for increasing teacher pay and expanding public preschool programs.

On Wednesday, Culver said he would work to improve graduation rates for minority and low-income students to 95 percent. Minority students now graduate at about a 73 percent rate, and low-income students do so at a 78 percent rate. The overall rate for all students is about 90 percent.