The Iowa Senate has passed a school funding bill which raises allowable growth at four percent for two years. The bill differs from the one the House passed last month which proposed raising aid by two percent or about $81 million for one year. This follows Governor Terry Brandstad’s recommendation of a 2.45% increase for allowable growth this year. State Senator Kevin Kinney says, during the last five years, the amount invested in each Iowa student has increased by only $6 in real terms, or $1.20 per year and it is not enough.

The bill now moves to the Republican led Iowa House of Representatives. State Representative Jarad Klein says, both sides will likely compromise and settle on a percentage somewhere in the middle.