Ragan Report

Local Senator heads back to school
     As summer ends, teachers and students are preparing to head back to the classroom. So am I—through America's Legislators Back to School Program.
     I am setting up my schedule of school visits and am excited to go “back to school.” Please contact me at (641) 424-0874 or amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.govif you are interested in having me come to your school. 
     The Back to School Program is designed to teach young people – the nation's future voters and leaders – what it's like to be a state legislator, and it gives me the chance to meet personally with young constituents and to answer questions, share ideas and listen to concerns.
     The program engages students and gives them an understanding of democracy. Every year, more than 1,400 state lawmakers visit an estimated 320,000 students in their classrooms. I’ve visited class rooms all over my senate district and hope to visit more this year. Trying to bring civics to life for students is one of my favorite parts of being a senator.
     As the school year gets under way, Iowa will continue rolling out its teacher leadership system. Researchshows a correlation between a school's ability to keep good teachers and student achievement.
     Iowa's 2013 Education Reform initiative rewards effective teachers with more responsibility and higher pay, attracts promising new teachers with competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement, and encourages greater collaboration among all educators.
     Under the Teacher Leadership & Compensation System, 25 percent of teachers will take on new leadership roles – including serving as instructional coaches and mentors – to improve the classroom experience. Districts that apply to start teacher leadership systems must set goals, establish minimum teacher salaries, mentor new teachers and have a rigorous selection process for leadership roles.
     Teacher leadership systems are being phased in over three years, with the goal of all Iowa school districts participating on a voluntary basis by 2016-17.
     The Iowa Legislature approved $50 million for the first year of the program and $100 million for the second year. The third year will see a $150 million investment. Money for teacher leaders, however, was never intended to supplant other K-12 educational funding.
     The Teacher Leadership & Compensation System and other targeted investments in STEM, building strong reading skills and providing more learning opportunities through online schools are great tools. However, they are not a replacement for basic school funding from the state. If we don’t provide adequate dollars to support the daily needs of our schools, they will have more students and less staff.
     For example, one Iowa district will have to make about $300,000 in cuts with the minimal school funding approved for this fall. That will significantly diminish the impact of the $340,000 the district will receive in teacher leader grants.
     We must provide a strong foundation for schools to build upon. That way, the teacher leadership program can effectively prepare our students for higher education, worker training and good jobs in a competitive global economy.
     Our local school districts selected for the teacher leader program include: Alden, CAL, Hampton-Dumont, Iowa Falls, Aplington-Parkersburg, Mason City and Waverly-Shell Rock.
     Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City) serves Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties in Senate District 27. She can be reached at (641) 424-0874. Email her at amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.