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The Gazette

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Iowa's community colleges have a unique perspective on current shortfalls and opportunities in our K-12 education system.

So we're a little confused that state education reformers aren't making better effort to gather community colleges' perspective and experience.

In fact, we were stunned when Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich told us last week that State Department of Education Director Jason Glass has yet to formally sit down with him to talk reform.

Instead, Glass has asked them to send suggestions to his office by Oct. 1 - after the state expects to have a proposed blueprint for K-12 reform ready for release and public review.

Yet community college students represent a cross-section of Iowa's recent graduates - whether they are pursuing technical training, taking remedial coursework or earning credits to transfer to a four-year institution.

Community colleges like Kirkwood serve a number of high school students looking to jump-start careers or advanced degrees, and there's plenty of room for growth.

They're uniquely positioned to support local school districts by providing affordable upper-level technical and academic training - which should be at the center of Iowa's education reform. Don't they deserve a seat at the table?

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