By Speaker of the House Pat Murphy
On a bipartisan vote, the Iowa House overwhelmingly approved a plan to attract and retain Iowa's best teachers by raising teacher salaries from 42nd in the nation to 25th, in relation to what teachers are paid in other states. Senate File 277 will give Iowa teachers their biggest salary increase to date. A total of $141.2 million will go specifically into teacher salaries next year and $232.5 million is allotted for the 2008-2009 school year.
The bill is really the final piece of the student achievement and teacher quality package passed the Iowa Legislature back in 2001. We raised teacher standards and asked them to sharpen their skills to boost student achievement. In exchange, we promised them a more competitive salary. Teachers held up their end of the bargain over the last five years, and Senate File 277 finally holds up our end of the deal.
The bill also expands professional development to allow new and veteran teachers the opportunity to hone their skills and learn from each other. A teacher quality committee, comprised of teachers and administrators from within the district, will help determine the best use of professional development funding, subject to the approval of the local school board.
School districts will also be required to have a school nurse for every 750 students, and a guidance counselor for every 350 students. Districts will be able to share these professionals.
The legislation will give districts flexibility in hiring staff to fill teacher shortage areas by utilizing market factor incentive dollars. Districts will be able to use $1 million to hire teachers in subject shortage areas by providing for moving and living assistance, educational opportunities, and meeting additional licensure requirements. Also, a pilot project will help identify best practices for districts to develop teacher career ladders.
The teacher quality legislation is a significant piece of the Plan for Prosperity, and I have to give particular credit to a few of the representatives who worked tirelessly to make this legislation happen: Cindy Winckler of Davenport, Roger Wendt of Sioux City, Phil Wise of Keokuk, Mary Mascher of Iowa City, and Doris Kelley of Waterloo. The legislation now returns to the Senate for consideration of several House amendments. I'm hopeful it will be approved quickly.
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PASSING THE PLAN FOR PROSPERITY
As we move toward the end of the 2007 legislative session, I am happy to report that much of what was included in the House Democrats' Plan for Prosperity either has been accomplished or is still under active consideration for passage yet this year. During the 2006 campaign season, we promised to work on improvements in learning from preschool through college, make Iowa a green state, and reward hard work.
So far, we've enacted an increase in the state's minimum wage and passed a law to help small businesses form health insurance pools, so they can lower their coverage costs. And we plan on expanding funding for job training programs at the community colleges. On the education side, we passed legislation to raise teacher pay to attract and keep quality teachers in the profession (see adjoining article), and we enacted a plan to ensure that 90 percent of four-year-olds have access to affordable, quality preschool education within the next four years. Moreover, I pledge that next year's budget will provide enough funding to the state universities so that the three Regents' institutions can keep yearly tuition increases to within normal inflation rates.
The bill is really the final piece of the student achievement and teacher quality package passed the Iowa Legislature back in 2001. We raised teacher standards and asked them to sharpen their skills to boost student achievement. In exchange, we promised them a more competitive salary. Teachers held up their end of the bargain over the last five years, and Senate File 277 finally holds up our end of the deal.
The bill also expands professional development to allow new and veteran teachers the opportunity to hone their skills and learn from each other. A teacher quality committee, comprised of teachers and administrators from within the district, will help determine the best use of professional development funding, subject to the approval of the local school board.
School districts will also be required to have a school nurse for every 750 students, and a guidance counselor for every 350 students. Districts will be able to share these professionals.
The legislation will give districts flexibility in hiring staff to fill teacher shortage areas by utilizing market factor incentive dollars. Districts will be able to use $1 million to hire teachers in subject shortage areas by providing for moving and living assistance, educational opportunities, and meeting additional licensure requirements. Also, a pilot project will help identify best practices for districts to develop teacher career ladders.
The teacher quality legislation is a significant piece of the Plan for Prosperity, and I have to give particular credit to a few of the representatives who worked tirelessly to make this legislation happen: Cindy Winckler of Davenport, Roger Wendt of Sioux City, Phil Wise of Keokuk, Mary Mascher of Iowa City, and Doris Kelley of Waterloo. The legislation now returns to the Senate for consideration of several House amendments. I'm hopeful it will be approved quickly.
*************************************************************
PASSING THE PLAN FOR PROSPERITY
As we move toward the end of the 2007 legislative session, I am happy to report that much of what was included in the House Democrats' Plan for Prosperity either has been accomplished or is still under active consideration for passage yet this year. During the 2006 campaign season, we promised to work on improvements in learning from preschool through college, make Iowa a green state, and reward hard work.
So far, we've enacted an increase in the state's minimum wage and passed a law to help small businesses form health insurance pools, so they can lower their coverage costs. And we plan on expanding funding for job training programs at the community colleges. On the education side, we passed legislation to raise teacher pay to attract and keep quality teachers in the profession (see adjoining article), and we enacted a plan to ensure that 90 percent of four-year-olds have access to affordable, quality preschool education within the next four years. Moreover, I pledge that next year's budget will provide enough funding to the state universities so that the three Regents' institutions can keep yearly tuition increases to within normal inflation rates.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate are working closely with the Governor's office to develop an energy plan designed to exploit Iowa's agricultural prowess to make this state a leader in the production of the next generation of ethanol, as well as alternative energy sources such as soy-based diesel, biomass, and wind energy. The group is developing a "power fund" that will seek to leverage state university research, promote product development, and attract private sector investment.
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ABOUT PAT MURPHY
Pat Murphy is the Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives. He is serving his ninth term representing Dubuque. Before serving as Speaker, Rep. Murphy spent three years as Democratic Leader and nine years as the top-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
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