In the historic first Iowa gubernatorial Condition of the State address to be made by a woman, Legislators and special guests were presented with a preview of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ vision for the 2018 session. As Lt. Gov., Reynolds was renowned for her passionate support of educational initiatives, and her plans for the upcoming year in education continue to show her staunch advocacy. She says that when it comes to unleashing opportunity and prioritizing our budget, there is nothing more important to Iowa than investments in our children. The state, in partnership with private business, has invested over $37 million in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives, and she commended a local school district for being innovators in these programs.
She says since coming into office seven years ago, there has been $735 million in new funding for K-12 education. Currently at $3.3 billion in funding, Iowa support for education is at an all-time high. In the past 10 years, only three states increased education funding at a higher rate than Iowa.
Gov. Reynolds will continue to support school choice with a tax reform package that will also expand 529 Plans to include K-12 education. She adds that we can be fooled into thinking that the money put into education is the only real measure of success in this changing economy and workforce. Iowa has been recognized for being ahead of the curve on meeting these new demands.
These real-world experiences are so valuable that high school classes are translating into college credits. Reynolds says this is the foundation for the Future Ready Iowa initiative.
The bill will create opportunities for all Iowans to get the skills they need for a rewarding career. It starts as early as kindergarten, where students are continually exposed to potential opportunities. Reynolds says she has included $500,000 in her budget to support this program.
