When we underfund our schools, it's our students who suffer. Setting Supplemental State Aid (SSA) at a mere 2% jeopardizes their opportunities, and one-time funding can't fix years of neglect. The combination of cuts to our AEA services and the transfer of Taxpayer Relief Fund monies means that 2% SSA funding will not adequately cover the needs of our students, schools, and the education professionals serving them.
The Iowa State Education Association believes that students deserve the best possible education, regardless of their ZIP code, ability, or background. This starts with strong neighborhood public schools. Our elected leaders have a fundamental responsibility to invest in Iowa's future by fully supporting its public schools, which are open to everyone. This means ensuring our classrooms have enough dedicated, qualified professionals who can provide each student with the attention they need. Our public schools require at least 5% in SSA funding to maintain manageable class sizes, offer competitive salaries that attract and retain exceptional teachers, and provide essential support staff, including counselors and nurses.
If state leaders believe that spending more than $1 billion over the next three years on private school vouchers, which serve only a fraction of our students, is a good idea, then increasing funding for the majority of our students in public schools should also be their priority. Setting SSA at 2% is not the answer.
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The ISEA represents preK-12 educators, education support professionals, community college faculty, Area Education Agency professionals, retired educators, and aspiring educators with contracts covering more than 50,000 employees. We advocate for policies and practices that elevate the profession and public education while placing students at the center of everything we do.
