Start date does nothing for school quality

By The Des Moines Register

----

Gov. Terry Branstad has spent more than two years talking about the need to reform K-12 education in Iowa. It is unknown whether any of the changes he signed into law will have a positive impact on student achievement, graduation rates or preparing Iowa's youth to compete in a global economy.

What is known: His administration is pushing a change in state rules that would force school administrators to spend more time filling out paperwork and jumping through bureaucratic hoops. That is time that won't be spent focused on teachers, students and improving the quality of education.

According to Iowa law, school cannot begin until the week in which Sept. 1 falls. Yet for years almost every Iowa school district has applied for and received permission from the state to begin school in August. The tourism industry disapproves. It wants Iowans spending money at water parks and the State Fair.

Earlier this year about two dozen individuals representing the industry petitioned the Iowa Department of Education to enact changes making it more difficult for schools to receive a state waiver to begin classes earlier. The governor listened.

On Thursday the Iowa Board of Education will consider a change in administrative rules proposed by the Branstad administration to create two levels of “review” for districts seeking to deviate from the Sept. 1 school start date. Those wanting to begin classes up to seven days earlier will need to hold a public hearing. Districts seeking to start educating students earlier must prove the Sept. 1 date would have a “significant negative impact” on students and the district – by providing, for example, test score data.

This creates a ridiculous burden on school districts and does nothing to improve education. The board should vote against the change in rules. Approving it sends a message this state allows amusement park and hotel owners to set education policy. What's next? Retailers pushing to dismiss class after Thanksgiving for the remainder of the year in hopes more people will head to the malls and shop?

Decisions about education in Iowa should be based on improving student achievement. Not bus schedules. Not teacher contracts. Not accommodating the tourism industry. And it is difficult to understand how the same governor who didn't push for a longer school day or school year is now trying to micromanage when school districts can begin classes.

According to its website, the mission of the State Board of Education is to “champion excellence for all students through leadership and service.” Its mission is not to provide customers and workers for the Iowa State Fair. The board should stay focused on its mission. And so should the governor.