Advocacy Center: Be a Voice for Iowa Public Schools

The need for advocacy on behalf of Iowa public schools has never been greater. The decisions made by the Iowa General Assembly and at the national level impact your school district and the education of Iowa's 486,000 public school students. As our state strives to implement far-ranging educational reforms, with limited resources—we must stand together. IASB is here is help you be a strong and effective voice for public education with our advocacy toolkits, powerful coalitions with other education organizations and engagement in national issues. Together, we can make your message heard on issues that matter for Iowa students.

2021 Legislative Priorities

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Legislature Look up (external link)

School Start Date Toolkit

This new toolkit provides tools and resources to help boards talk to legislators about the importance of flexibility in setting their school calendar as Gov. Reynolds has waived the traditional Aug. 23 start date.

Advocacy 101

Learn the tips and tricks to being an effective advocate for Iowa public education.

Advocacy in Action

  • Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Iowa Legislature has been suspended, with plans to reconvene on June 3. We will not have any legislative updates until that time. 
  • Talking points to use with your legislators when discussing the state budget and their plans for education funding

2020 Census logo

Every Child Counts: 2020 Census Toolkit

The U.S. Census, which is conducted every 10 years, directly impacts federal funding every year for schools and communities in Iowa. Use IASB’s Census Toolkit to help understand the impact of a complete count and inform your families and communities about the importance of a complete count.

Issue Toolkits

IASB has developed these resources to assist members with district-specific information related to current legislative issues.

Use the SSA toolkit to help you talk to your legislators about the importance of setting a state aid rate as it allows your district to plan for the future.

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The District Cost Per Pupil (DCPP) toolkit provides details on the amount of per pupil funding that generates spending authority and revenue for the regular program and other programs for all school districts.

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The transportation toolkit provides information to help in advocating for changes that will create more equity in school transportation funding without impacting educational programs.

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The ESA toolkit provides resources to help spread awareness about the negative impact of ESAs.

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The English Learners Funding Toolkit provides information on the importance of funding specialized services for English language learners.

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Items in the State Penny Sales Tax for School Infrastructure (SAVE) toolkit can be used to help craft your own message when communicating the importance of SAVE to the legislators that represent your school district.

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