Statement by ISEA President Tammy Wawro on education funding deal reached by Iowa legislators

DES MOINES, IA (06/01/2015)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Education Association and our more than 34,000 members are disappointed to hear about the agreement finally reached on Supplemental State Aid (SSA) for FY 2016.

According to media sources, after months and months of negotiations at the Capitol – which seemed to ignore the thousands of voices from students, parents, and public school educators, Legislative leaders have come up with an agreement. This agreement is neither a long-term solution to our school's financial needs nor adequate enough to cover program cuts, increased class-sizes, and out-dated curricular issues that are plaguing our schools.

1.25 percent for FY2016 with additional one-time spending of $55.7 million will not give our public schools the security they need to provide the excellence in education our students deserve. Legislators are merely kicking the can down the road another year and short-changing Iowa's students.

This solution is most certainly days late, and millions of dollars short.

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The ISEA is a professional association made up of more than 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students.