With the Iowa State Legislature back in session, Washington Community School District Superintendent Mike Jorgenson outlines two possible education reform concepts. Jorgenson writes in a blog post this week that the idea of allowable growth might get attention at the statehouse.  Allowable growth is the amount of funding the state allows to be allocated for each student.

The rate had been set at about 4 percent from year to year, until a few years ago, when it was set lower.  The enrollment numbers for Washington are higher this year.  So based on the October head-count, even a zero percent allowable growth would mean more money to the Washington school district.  If that number were to be established with this year’s numbers it would mean about 167-thousand dollars more funds to the district.  However, at the four percent level, it would mean about 591-thousand dollars would come in.

The other issue that Jorgenson says will likely get discussion is the Iowa Teaching Career Pathways.  This aspect might involve raising the minimum teacher salary and creating new classification of teachers that would be part of determining salary.

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