Gov. Kim Reynolds’ priority legislation to provide accessible and affordable broadband internet access to Iowans has moved out of a senate subcommittee this w
Iowa’s Senate and House have passed a 2.4 percent increase in state supplemental aid to public schools for the 2021-22 school year, but due to a drop in enrol
Iowa Legislature representatives Sue Cahill (D-Marshalltown), Dean Fisher (R-Montour) and Sen. Jeff Edler (R-State Center) took questions from the public in a v
tbabcock@timesrepublican.com
T-R FILE PHOTO
Students at Rogers Elementary would be eligible for “Student First Scholarships” if the Iowa legislature passes Senate File 159. Rogers would be one of two Marshalltown Community School District buildings to be eligible for the program. The other school would be Anson Elementary.
An education overhaul passed through the Iowa Senate on Jan. 28, seeking to expand school choice by offering a funded pathway to private schools students in 34 public school districts.
Senate File 159 packages several measures affecting public education including:
• Implementing a tax funded “Student First Scholarship” program for tuition at a private school. The program would be eligible for students in public schools ranking in the bottom 5 percent of performance or have a high school graduation rate less than 67.1 percent.
Trevor Babcock
State lawmakers representing districts in Marshall County started work at the Iowa Capitol wrapped up the first week of the 2021 legislative session, but their work has only just begun.
State Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) has served the 72nd district for the past seven years, while newly elected State Rep. Sue Cahill (D-Marshalltown) is serving the 71st district for the first time.
Fisher hopes to expand parental choice in the education system, develop a conservative budget, protect Second Amendment rights and push a pro-life amendment to rule against the Iowa Supreme Court’s to guarantee a right to an abortion in the Iowa constituion.