Advocacy & Influence
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Iowa ASCD - Advocating for Learning with Your Stories
Welcome to the Iowa ASCD webpage for Advocating for Learning with Your Stories.
Iowa ASCD views educational legislation and policy through a lens that asks, “Is it good for our kids?”
Through the unified voice of an influential organization, we provide the tools and information for you to actively participate in shaping the education landscape for teaching, learning, and leadership.
Maximize your efforts in influencing policy decisions that affect Iowa's schools, your jobs, our kids. Building on the legislative training provided by ASCD governmental experts, be a part of this powerful influence team to advocate for smart statewide education policy.
Advocacy & Influence
Attention! Iowa ASCD Hosted January 30, 2024, an advocacy workshop with the following:
- Margaret Buckton Among her responsibilities at ISFIS include lobbying for the Urban Education Network of Iowa and the Rural School Advocates of Iowa.
- Representative Sharon Steckman (D) Ranking Member of the House Education Committee
- Senator Lynn Evans (R) Member of the Senate Education Committee
- Senator Herman Quirmbach (D) Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee
- Jodi Grover Teacher Education Coordinator-Lead, Upper Iowa University
- Dr. Pam Vogel - Iowa ASCD Director for Advocacy and Host of the event.
You may access the full recording of the meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/
Passcode: ?FSU+q1k
Making Meetings Meaningful – Personalizing Your Message
Preparation for “On the Hill”
- Tool: Letter and Phone Transcript for Request for Meeting with Legislator
- Tool: Message Development
- Tool: Message
- Find Your Legislator
- Getting Involved - Iowa ASCD Webpage
Issues for 2024 with Supporting Tools:
- Governor Reynold's Legislative Priorities for Education in 2024
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House Members of the Education Committee
- Skyler Wheeler (R, District 4), Chair
- Craig P. Johnson (R, District 67), Vice Chair
- Sharon Sue Steckman (D, District 59), Ranking Member
- Brooke Boden (R, District 21)
- Dr. Steven P. Bradley (R, District 66)
- Molly Buck (D, District 41)
- Sue Cahill (D, District 52)
- Taylor R. Collins (R, District 95)
- Tracy Ehlert (D, District 79)
- Joel Fry (R, District 24)
- Dan Gehlbach (R, District 46)
- Bill Gustoff (R, District 40)
- Steven Holt (R, District 12)
- Heather Hora (R, District 92)
- Chad Ingels (R, District 68)
- Monica Kurth (D, District 98)
- Mary L. Madison (D, District 31)
- Heather Matson (D, District 42)
- Thomas Jay Moore (R, District 18)
- Anne Osmundson (R, District 64)
- Art Staed (D, District 80)
- Henry Stone (R, District 9)
- Phil Thompson (R, District 4
- Senate Members of the Education Committee
- Ken Rozenboom (R, District 19), Chair
- Jeff Taylor (R, District 2), Vice Chair
- Herman C. Quirmbach (D, District 25), Ranking Member
- Claire Celsi (D, District 16)
- Chris Cournoyer (R, District 35)
- Molly Donahue (D, District 37)
- Lynn Evans (R, District 3)
- Julian B. Garrett (R, District 11)
- Eric Giddens (D, District 38)
- Jesse Green (R, District 24)
- Kerry Gruenhagen (R, District 41)
- Tim Kraayenbrink (R, District 4)
- Sandy Salmon (R, District 29)
- Sarah Trone Garriott (D, District 14)
- Cherielynn Westrich (R, District 13)
- Brad Zaun (R, District 22)
- Advocates for Iowa's Children is a grass-roots organization created in December, 2023, and has more than 3000 members advocating for Iowa's kids. Check out their Facebook page for upcoming events.
- Area Education Associations (AEA) of Iowa provide advocacy information, including services at risk of being cut.
- Community Colleges of Iowa Advocacy includes legislative priorities and resources.
- IASB's (Iowa Association of School Boards) Advocacy Center, including advocacy agenda, Advocacy 101, and issues toolkit.
- Iowa Educators Fight Back: This group was started on June 26, 2020, after the Iowa Department of Education failed to provide adequate guidance to schools as they prepared to begin school in the fall of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This group was started on June 26, 2020, after the Iowa Department of Education failed to provide adequate guidance to schools as we prepare to begin school in the fall of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Use this website as a sounding board to help push back against those who would discriminate against intellectualism, race, and individuality.
- ISFIS (Iowa School Finance Information Services) provides advocacy data tools, research, bill tracking and policies.
- ISEA's (Iowa State Education Association) Advocacy Center, including lobbying resources, taking action, and following bills of interest.
- Rural School Advocates of Iowa provides advocacy tools and handbook as well as position papers, and even public school postcards.
- SAI's (School Administrators of Iowa) Legislative Priorities for 2024
- Urban Education Network (UEN) provides advocacy tools, as well as their legislative priorities. Issue briefs are also available to members of the UEN.
- Issue - Libraries, including Banned Books
- SF 496: Statement on Court Injunction for SF 496
- American Association of School Librarians provides multiples tools for advocacy.
- American Library Association offers tips and support for advocacy, including banned books.
- Iowa Library Association provides advocacy information, including legislative priorities and a guide to lobby from home.
- Unite Against Banned Books provides tools for advocacy, including talking points.
- Issue - Curriculum
- HSB 587 A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying the social studies curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and modifying the responsibilities of school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools related to requiring teachers and students to sing the national anthem
- HSB 586 A bill for an act requiring school districts and charter schools to provide instruction related to character development to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve.
- HF 132 A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction in public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HF 12.)
- HF 327 A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to comprehensive school improvement plans, teacher librarians and guidance counselors, required days or hours of instruction in elementary and secondary schools, agreements between school districts and community colleges to teach certain courses, required courses in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and shared operational functions, and authorizing school districts to offer sequential units in one classroom.(Formerly HSB 119.)
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HF 348 A bill for an act prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools in kindergarten through grade six. (Formerly HF 8
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- Issue - Area Education Agencies
- HSB 542 A bill relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the number of area education agencies in this state, the duties and powers of area education agencies, area education agency boards of directors, the department of administrative service...
- SSB 3073. A bill relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the number of area education agencies in this state, the duties and powers of area education agencies, area education agency boards of directors, the department of administrative service...
- This programs and services document will provide you with bullet points on Iowa's AEAs including quick key facts and a summary of the many ways Iowa's AEAs support our schools.
- Get the Facts on Iowa's AEAs: Digs deeper into facts about Iowa's AEAs including answers to frequently asked questions.
- This document shows a list of current AEA services at risk of being cut. The document will be updated regularly as more information becomes available.
- Key concerns regarding the proposed legislation.
- Check out Channel 13's Erin Kiernan's interview of Dr. Cindy Yelick, Chief Administrator of Heartland AEA 11.
- Iowa DD Council's virtual town hall meeting on January 18, 2023, regarding AEAs and special education in Iowa. Click here for the recording with ASL interpreting: https://youtu.be/TFfrITcFSHI
- Issue - Finance - Supplemental Aid, etc.
- HF 171 A bill for an act relating to school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2023, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payments, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 117.)
- HF 459 A bill for an act relating to supplementary weighting for certain shared operational functions and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 169.
- SF 94. A bill for an act relating to education programs and funding by establishing an education savings account program, modifying certain school district categorical funding supplements, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1022.)
- HF 98 A bill for an act extending the period of budget years for which supplementary weighting is available for shared operational functions by school districts and area education agencies
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- UEN members may access information regarding state funding for schools
- Issue - Mental Health
- HF
- Iowa ASCD's webpage on the Whole Child - social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being of the whole child.
- Teach to Heal Series to support school as they deal with mental health.
- UEN members have access to advocacy tools for mental health.
- Issue - Teacher Workforce
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HF 95. A bill for an act establishing a temporary initial teaching license to be issued by the board of educational examiners to applicants who complete alternative teacher certification programs.
- HF 255 A bill for an act modifying requirements related to teacher intern license programs and licenses and authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners and establishing a temporary initial teaching license to be issued by the board of educational examiners to applicants who complete an alternative teacher certification program. (Formerly HF 4.)
- HF 355. A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master’s or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HF 224; See HF 672.)
- HF 614 A bill for an act relating to licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to applicants from other states or countries. (Formerly HF 221.) Effective date: 07/01/2023.
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UEN members have access to tools to support advocacy for teacher shortage.
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Issues for 2023 with Supporting Tools:
- Recruit and Retain Teachers
- HF 802
- HF 802: Iowa Legislation This site provides the history of the bill, which became law on 6/08/2021. This ACT provides for requirements related to racism or sexism trainings at, and diversity and inclusion efforts by, governmental agencies and entities, school districts, and public post-secondary educational institutions.
- IASB, ISEA, and SAI FAQ: Teaching and Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Schools In May 2021, Governor Reynolds signed into law House File 802, a bill related to diversity and inclusion training for employees and students. This FAQ document is designed to provide districts with additional insight on how districts can provide meaningful training and curriculum on equity, diversity and inclusion that operates within the boundaries of new and existing laws.
- Iowa State University – Frequently Asked Questions regarding HF 802: This FAQ document is based on the university’s current understanding of Iowa House File 802 as informed by the Act itself as well as its legislative history. As additional information becomes available, and as feedback and questions are received, this document may be updated periodically, and the most current version supersedes previous guidance.
- Mississippi Bend Learning Lab – HF 802F Iowa ASCD President and Mississippi Team Lead Diane Campbell hosted ISEA’s Melissa Peterson and Cindy Swanson in addressing House File 802. Key points included were these:
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- Considerations for districts include: 1) update Core Curriculum that is approved by the Board 2) ensure the platform is accessible for public access 3) What is your Online Catalog of resources in your library? 4) Form and process if there is a complaint for books or resources
University of Iowa – House File (HF) 802 Information In early June, House File (HF) 802 was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Reynolds. As a university, we have worked to proactively educate our students, faculty, and staff regarding its impact on our university.
- Transparency of Curriculum
- Minimum Funding for Teachers
- Adequate Funding for School Districts
- Vouchers
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