I share Governor Branstad’s education goals of raising academic standards, improving the effectiveness of educators and using innovation to enhance learning.

As we choose the best ways to reach these goals, my colleagues and I are listening to parents, teachers, students and concerned Iowans. Their suggestions are the basis of the education reforms contained in Senate File 2284.

Studies show a student’s future success often depends on reading proficiently by third grade. That’s why reading is essential to education reform discussions.

Governor Branstad is demanding that schools flunk students who don’t score well on a test given in third grade. Longtime teachers and other education experts say flunking third-graders is not effective and that there are more effective ways to help struggling students improve.

For our students to do their best, they need a great start in school. That’s especially important in the early grades, when kids are learning to read. That’s when one-on-one time with teachers can make a big difference in a student’s life.

To ensure students get the attention they need, the Senate voted to prevent $30 million in cuts to Iowa’s kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.

This class-size reduction effort—officially called the Iowa Early Intervention Block Grant Program—was set to disappear if the Legislature didn’t vote to continue it.

Strong local schools prepare Iowa students to succeed and help our economy grow.

We’ve worked to continue Iowa’s educational excellence by making sure kids start school ready to learn, keeping the best teachers in our classrooms, raising standards to make a high school diploma more meaningful, and providing workers with training for in-demand jobs.

We must continue our efforts to improve academic standards, increase the effectiveness of educators and develop innovations that enhance learning.

The input of Iowans—educators, parents and students—have provided the basis for the education reform proposals in Senate Study Bill 3171, which has been approved by the Senate Education Committee. This is a work in progress, and I’d like to know what you think. Please have a look at the legislation by going to www.legis.iowa.gov and searching for SSB 3171.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions on this proposal to improve student achievement. I am passionate about creating world-class schools here in Iowa and want to provide our students the best possible educational opportunities.

State government is a partner with our public universities in promoting excellence in teaching, research and services to Iowans. Part of that job means keeping a watchful eye to ensure our public universities are accountable and good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Unfortunately, over the last three decades, there has been a steady decline in state funding for higher education. Today, the state provides less than 36 percent of general education funding. Tuition has risen to the point where students pick up 58 percent of the cost. To keep college affordable, we need to reverse this trend.

This week, Iowa’s university presidents asked for a $20 million increase in funding, an amount that would still put university funding below 2010 levels. Community college funding is also in the doldrums, according to a report by the Iowa Fiscal Partnership (http://tinyurl.com/6pe6q9m).

This week in the Senate, we approved a 4 percent increase in basic state support for local schools for the 2013-2014 school year. These funds are used for textbooks, heating bills, technology and other necessities required for students and teachers to be successful.

For years, the Legislature has set state support for local schools well in advance. The practice helps school districts plan wisely, and, to echo Governor Branstad, helps make budgeting more predictable, stable and sustainable.

Iowa’s state budget has recovered from the national recession to the point that we have a billion dollars in the bank. After several tough years, it is time to ensure our local schools recover as well.

This year, the state budget must help Iowa workers and businesses recovering from the national recession. That means doing all we can to encourage new jobs.

The plan we’re working on in the Senate balances the state budget without raising taxes. It includes:

• A commercial property tax cut that is especially helpful to Iowa’s small businesses and communities.
• New workforce training opportunities to help Iowans fill skilled job openings.
• Strengthening our commitment to student achievement through increased support for local schools.
• A pro-family, pro-work tax cut that also boosts local economies.

These ideas will help create jobs, expand educational opportunity and make Iowa a more attractive place to do business. Do you have ideas for growing the Iowa economy? Please send them my way!

The first bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor this year will help our National Guard soldiers get the college tuition assistance they were promised.

When we learned that the dollars available for the Iowa National Guard tuition assistance program would fall short because of increased demand among returning soldiers, we invested an additional $1.3 million. The benefit to soldiers at Iowa’s universities will be up to $1,300 per semester in additional aid.

Helping Iowa’s returning soldiers attend college and improve their skills makes a lot of sense. We want these young people qualify for good jobs at good wages and help build a stronger Iowa economy.

Iowa schoolchildren will soon see more fruit and vegetables and less fat in their school lunches, thanks to new U.S. Department of Agriculture standards to improve nutrition and reduce childhood obesity.

This is the first overhaul of the school lunch program in more than 15 years. The result will be healthier breakfasts, lunches and after-school snacks in Iowa schools. In the 2010-2011 school year, Iowa schools served almost 83 million meals.

The new regulations will be phased in over the next three years. Schools will be required to offer fruits and vegetables every day, increase the amount of whole-grain foods, and reduce sodium and fats.

To help pay for the changes, schools will receive 6 cents more per meal in federal funding. To reduce waste, students will pick and choose more items rather than simply being handed a plate.

Iowa’s state universities are engines for economic growth.

Business support specialists from the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University recently talked with legislators about how the universities contribute to Iowa’s economic growth. Representatives from the University of Iowa will be on hand to describe their efforts next week.

The universities work with businesses on technology commercialization, marketing, entrepreneurship, and small business and community assistance.

MyEntre.Net is an online effort based at UNI that supports Iowa entrepreneurs. MyEntre.Net helps small business owners by providing interactive education, webinars, technical assistance and access to financial help. The site is a valuable resource to the 11,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners from all 99 counties who are currently enrolled in MyEntre.Net.

The quality of local Iowa schools is central to our state’s economic opportunity. From day one, a good education prepares Iowans for the workforce and assures businesses that Iowa has the talented employees they need.

That’s why I care so much about investing in student achievement and maintaining our great local schools. Governor Branstad was right to call for a predictable, stable and sustainable state budget. We need that predictability, stability and sustainability when it comes to local school funding.

If the state is an unreliable partner, we put student achievement at risk. Iowa’s parents, educators and students made that plain when they stood up for Iowa’s local schools last year. All Iowans—Democrats, Republicans and Independents—want our schools to be strong, now and in the future.

Iowa is known for our quality education and highly skilled workforce, but we can’t afford to move backwards when the jobs of tomorrow require more training than ever. We must invest in workforce training and help more Iowans get the skills they need to take on 21st century jobs.

That’s why I’m concerned by Governor Branstad’s proposal to cut Iowa’s investment in community colleges by a total of $6 million compared to last year. The cuts would hit worker training efforts especially hard.

With more than 100,000 Iowans enrolled statewide, community colleges play a key role in training our workforce. If businesses are going to expand or locate in Iowa, we must have a skilled workforce that can meet their needs. As Iowans continue recovering for the national recession, now is not the time to cut funding for worker training.

We’re working hard this session to ensure all Iowa workers and businesses are part of our state’s economic recovery.

That’s why we’re listening when business leaders and economists say that a shortage of skilled workers limits the growth of the Iowa economy. And this problem is expected to get worse in years to come.

Consider this:

• New jobs in Iowa requiring education and training beyond high school are expected to grow by more than 100,000 between 2008 and 2018.
• Iowa will have 527,000 job vacancies as a result of new job creation and retirements between 2008 and 2018. Of these vacancies, 319,000 will require education and training beyond high school.
• By 2018, 62 percent of Iowa jobs—that’s 1.1 million jobs—will require some training beyond high school.

Each year children die because drivers fail to obey school bus laws. A bipartisan bill in the Senate aims to keep Iowa kids safer when getting on and off their school bus.

This legislation was proposed after the tragic death of Kadyn Halvorson of Northwood. Kadyn was killed while crossing the road to board her school bus.

Current law prohibits drivers from passing a stopped school bus that has its lights flashing and the stop arm out. Yet every year, hundreds of drivers violate this law and endanger the lives of children heading to school and home.

Iowa LGBT high school students entering college next fall can apply for a 2012 Matthew Shepard Scholarship by March 15. Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program works with highly motivated students who are interested in advice and assistance from adult mentors to accelerate their academic experience and performance, improve their adjustment to professional standards of behavior, goals, ethics and success and out-perform their age group in transitioning to adult leadership roles.

Scholarship awards are based on academic aptitude, academic achievement, community service and financial need. Each recipient will receive up to $40,000 toward tuition, books and fees at an Iowa regent university. The application and requirements are available at matthewshepardscholarship.com.