Teacher shortages across the state have caused Iowa lawmakers to consider changes in teacher preparation and certification. But one education leader warns the state not to reduce preparation or mentoring if you want to retain teachers.
Although the bill doesn’t mention COVID-19, the bill, in general, would ban mask requirements as well as prohibit businesses and government entities from offering incentives to be vaccinated, and include penalties for policies resulting in “forced medical treatment.”
K-12 school funding will grow to $3.6 billion, about 44 percent of the state’s general fund budget, under a package approved by the Iowa House.
Bill is eligible for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but its long-term prospects are unclear.
ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — A state audit has found nearly $86,000 in questionable spending of public money in the Iowa State University Extension Office in Jones County, including thousands spent for personal travel, alcohol, groceries and a video game console.
The Iowa Senate Ethics Committee unanimously dismissed an ethics complaint alleging Sen. Dan Zumbach used his position to pressure state employees to approve a cattle feedlot owned by his son-in-law.
More than 20 people spoke out for and against House File 2309, which would require any Iowa schools that get public funding to designate sports programs as one of the following: open to biological females, open to biological males or coeducational.
A lawmaker said livestreaming K-12 classes would nurture parental interest in education that increased when students were engaged in remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
But opinions diverge on other abortion-related bills now moving forward in the Iowa House.
The state education board would be required adopt standards for a public high school course on the Bible, which schools would then have the option to offer as a social studies elective, under legislation advanced Wednesday by two Iowa House Republicans.
The majority of state park staff being asked to move out of state-owned houses said the parks will be less safe and the public will have fewer services with no live-in rangers, managers and technicians.
Long-term care facility outbreaks continue to increase as new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the decline across Iowa. This latest phase of the pandemic comes as Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to end the coronavirus disaster proclamation that has been in place since March 2020.
The proposal passed through a streamlined legislative process Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, leaving it just a few legislative steps away from the governor’s pen.
Hall said he opted against challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds because he had concerns about being able to commit the necessary financial resources and because he didn't believe he had high enough name recognition in the state.
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