Senate Dems OK their version of school reform

DES MOINES - Senate Democrats, on a party-line vote, approved their version of education reform Monday, but conceded the planned overhaul likely is far from completed given the differences with majority House Republicans and Gov. Terry Branstad's initial assessment that the legislation is a “watered-down version” of the bold reforms he envisioned to improve Iowa schools.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, floor manager of the bill, called the measure a wide-ranging reform effort that would raise academic standards, help educators improve and employ innovation to bolster student achievement while building on Iowa's strong tradition of excellence in education.

“We have in fact some very, very good schools - with very hardworking teachers, with strong community support, with good kids - that have produced remarkable students and a remarkable record of achievement throughout the state's history,” he said before senators voted 26-24 to ship the measure to the House and an expected path to conference committee.

The GOP-led House previously passed an education reform package that would require more student testing, seeks expansion of charters schools and keeps in place a controversial third-grade retention program.

The House also rejected key components in Branstad's reform recommendations by eliminating requirements that prospective teachers have and maintain a 3.0 grade-point average and placing new restrictions on who can take online classes before sending the Iowa Senate one of the session's must-do priorities for further consideration.

For their part, Senate Democrats said their approach would continue the focus on reading and small-class sizes in early grades so teachers can help struggling students catch up. They also support competency-based provisions that allow students to progress at their own pace; favor expanding core classes to include art, music and technology; promote more teacher-to-teacher collaboration and classroom coaching; and seek to expand online course offering and learning resources under appropriation teacher supervision while limiting some of the abuses of the new technology, Quirmbach said.

The Senate bill keeps the controversial third-grade retention component of the early grade statewide reading program, but it requires that schools look at other grades than reading scores and involve parents in the conversation before students are retained. It also adds a kindergarten-readiness test but does not include the House provisions for end-of-course exams or Gov. Terry Branstad's call for a college-entrance exam, such as the ACT.

Sen. Shawn Hamerlinck, R-Dixon, said the Senate bill did nothing to address inequities in Iowa's education system and fell short of the ultimatum goal of creating world-class schools by rejecting ideas offered by the GOP minority.

“We can do better and many of our schools are under performing,” he said.