FY 2016 Supplemental State Aid
Background
Senate Democrats have yet to offer a position on the growth rate for FY 2016 Supplemental State Aid (SSA). Governor Branstad and House Republicans have proposed a 1.25% growth rate.
IASB, in partnership with the Public Education Coalition, is advocating for a 6% growth rate.
Advocacy Action Needed
Please make immediate contact with senators who represent your school district and ask that they support a 6% SSA growth rate for FY 2016. Email, call or personally visit with your senators to make the case for sufficient funding for public education.
Key Advocacy Points:
- Currently Iowa ranks 35th in the nation in educational funding per student, which is $1,612 below the national average
- At 1.25% state aid rate, IASB estimates that about 80% of school districts will not receive enough funding to cover expected costs increases for FY 2016 and nearly half of all Iowa school districts will be on the budget guarantee, a provision funded entirely by property taxes.
- A 6% SSA growth rate would provide 80% of school districts enough new money to cover their increased costs and only 7% of school would have to rely on the budget guarantee.
- Contact Senate Democrats today and advocate for a 6% increase in the supplemental state aid rate.
- Use personal stories of how Governor' Branstad's proposed 1.25% would impact your school district and what a 6% growth rate would mean for your district.
To find your legislator and his/her contact information, use the IASB legislator look-up tool.
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