The House Education Committee approved bills that increase would per-pupil state aid for public K-12 schools by 3% for the upcoming school year, and raise minimum starting teacher salaries to $50,000 in two years. (Photo by Getty Images)
In the final day before the first legislative deadline, House lawmakers passed a school funding proposal for the upcoming school year — as well as a measure to increase teacher salaries.
The House Education Committee on Thursday passed House Study Bill 712 on Iowa’s State Supplemental Aid and House Study Bill 714 setting a minimum teacher’s salary. The two bills were introduced by House Republicans alongside their proposal on Area Education Agencies Wednesday.
The Iowa House proposal would set SSA, Iowa’s per-pupil state aid for public K-12 schools, at 3% for the upcoming school year, above the 2.5% recommended by the governor.
At the subcommittee meeting Thursday morning, Dave Daughton, representing the School Administrators of Iowa and Rural School Advocates of Iowa, spoke in support of the House SSA proposal — with the expectation that other bills will provide additional funding for schools.