Latest news with #IowaStateEducationAssociation
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walk-ins held at several Des Moines schools to protest public education cuts
DES MOINES, Iowa – Students in the Des Moines metro were taking part in the National Day of Action before school started Thursday morning. Students were joined by elected leaders, educators, and members of the community at rallies around Des Moines. They gathered outside schools, with some protesters holding up signs reading, 'Honk for Schools.' The walk-in was sponsored by the National Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association in protest of cuts to public education. One teacher, who attended a rally outside Central Campus, said it's important for kids to learn about how the government works because they will eventually help shape it. Sky-high ticket prices for Caitlin Clark's return to Iowa for Fever preseason game 'Because they're eventually going to be voters and they need to develop their critical thinking and have arguments and discussions about yes or no, pro or con. And this was a heated debate right along with should we wear uniforms. So that was a big conversation as well. And I think that this is something they'll always remember,' said Kathleen Feeney, a 4th-grade teacher at Des Moines' Downtown School. Feeney spoke about the parents' support for student participation, saying, 'Also the parents endorse this and they wanted to be a part of it. They thought it was a great idea. You know, we joked that we can't get them off screens and then I can't keep their attention. I'm not clickbait, you know, I don't have any coins. They can't level up with me. So the parents were excited for them to have these hard discussions. We call them Socratic discussions and pick a side and stick to it, you know, so the parents appreciate it. The rallies wrapped up in time for the kids to get to class. Organizers said 70 schools participated across Iowa, including 12 in Des Moines. MercyOne and Bras for the Cause team up for yearly Muffins and Mammograms initiative Walk-ins held at several Des Moines schools to protest public education cuts Metro man plays it cool as he surprises wife with $100,000 scratch-off win Fans get the chance to mingle with Iowa Hawkeye coaches at annual I-Club Banquet How a local doctor and a 'life-changing' class are helping people lead healthy lives Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge blocks Iowa law banning books with sex acts from schools
A federal judge on Tuesday put a hold on an Iowa law that says schools cannot carry books that depict sex acts. District Judge Stephen Locher placed a temporary block on the ban, saying there were 'several dozen unconstitutional applications' of the law regarding books with 'undeniable political, artistic, literary, and/or scientific value,' listing examples including '1984,' 'Brave New World' and 'The Fault in Our Stars.' This is the second time Locher has blocked the law, also doing so shortly after it was signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in 2023. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, however, overturned that ruling and made the law enforceable for the 2024-25 school year. 'The bottom line is that the unconstitutional applications of the book restrictions in Senate File 496 far exceed the constitutional applications of those restrictions under both legal standards the Court believes are applicable,' Locher said this week. A suit challenging the law was brought by the Iowa State Education Association and multiple best-selling authors, including Jodi Picoult. The decision will likely be appealed again. 'As a mom, I know how important it is to keep schools a safe place for kids to learn and grow. Parents shouldn't have to worry about what materials their kids have access to when they're not around. This common sense law makes certain that the books kids have access to in school classrooms and libraries are age-appropriate,' Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird (R) said. 'I'm going to keep on fighting to uphold our law that protects schoolchildren and parental rights,' Bird added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Judge blocks Iowa law banning books with sex acts from schools
A federal judge on Tuesday put a hold on an Iowa law that says schools cannot carry books that depict sex acts. District Judge Stephen Locher placed a temporary block on the ban, saying there were 'several dozen unconstitutional applications' of the law regarding books with 'undeniable political, artistic, literary, and/or scientific value,' listing examples including '1984,' 'Brave New World' and 'The Fault in Our Stars.' This is the second time Locher has blocked the law, also doing so shortly after it was signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in 2023. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, however, overturned that ruling and made the law enforceable for the 2024-2025 school year. 'The bottom line is that the unconstitutional applications of the book restrictions in Senate File 496 far exceed the constitutional applications of those restrictions under both legal standards the Court believes are applicable,' Locher said this week. A suit challenging the law was brought by the Iowa State Education Association and multiple best-selling authors, including Jodi Picoult. The decision will likely be appealed again. 'As a mom, I know how important it is to keep schools a safe place for kids to learn and grow. Parents shouldn't have to worry about what materials their kids have access to when they're not around. This common sense law makes certain that the books kids have access to in school classrooms and libraries are age-appropriate,' said Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird (R). 'I'm going to keep on fighting to uphold our law that protects schoolchildren and parental rights,' Bird added.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill proposes changing language defining bullying, harassment in Iowa Code
(Photo illustration via Getty Images) Iowa lawmakers moved forward with legislation Tuesday to change how bullying and harassment of students is defined in Iowa Code, removing references to bullying being based on an 'actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student.' Under current code, harassment and bullying is defined as actions or conduct toward a student based on actual or perceived traits, and which creates an 'objectively hostile school environment' for the student. The statute lists 17 characteristics as being included in the definition of harassment and bullying, including race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disabilities, political belief and familial status — but says the definition of bullying is not limited to these categories. House File 149 would cut the definition of harassment and bullying being based on a student's traits. Speakers in favor of the bill said the definition change was needed because some schools were not enforcing anti-bullying laws and rules if the student was being bullied did not have a quality that was being listed in Iowa Code. Pam Gronau, a parent, said she supported the definition being changed because during a local School Improvement Advisory Committee, she heard district officials say Iowa Code indicated the difference between bullying and a conflict hinged on having a 'difference in an actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the students involved' for acts to constitute bullying. 'They proceeded to give us an example, indicating that if it involved two 6th grade white cisgender females, this would be a conflict rather than bullying,' Gronau said. 'I strongly disagree with this. To me, it doesn't matter if the students have the same demographics. Rather, it should matter if it is repeated and targeted and if it is creating a hostile environment for the student.' But Melissa Peterson with the Iowa State Education Association said of the issue Gronau described: 'I'm afraid is something that sounds like an enforcement issue, not a statute issue.' 'We are not familiar with any situations where this part of statute, that has served us for almost two decades now, has prohibited anybody from following up on allegations of bullying or harassment in the districts,' Peterson said. She and other education advocates questioned the purpose of removing this language from the statute, and asked lawmakers to exercise caution while changing the language. Connie Ryan with the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa said that when this measure was signed into law, the language was added describing potential traits that a student could be bullied over to provide school districts guidance, not limit which bullying complaints are deemed valid. 'It is important to highlight the categories of primary concern in order to give guidance to schools when designing and carrying out anti-bullying policies,' she said. 'However, the law is also clear that it is designed to protect all children and to address all bullying and harassment.' Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, did not sign off on the legislation, saying that referring to common potential aspects of a student that could lead to bullying may help educators and others know when bullying is occurring. 'I think that that guidance is very helpful, especially to adults who maybe don't expect to or think of students being bullied because of their familial status,' Levin said. 'You know, if a student didn't grow up being bullied because their parents were divorced and they're not looking for it — maybe it is something that their attention should be directed to. If … a teacher in a building did not grow up being bullied because of the physical attributes that they present to the world, then maybe that's something that they should be aware is a common source of bullying. And the fact that this current code does not limit school districts and should not be limiting those policies, to me, says that this is a solution in search of a problem.' Reps. Helena Hayes and Henry Stone moved the bill forward for consideration by the House Education Committee. Hayes, R-New Sharon, said the legislation will help address concerns brought up by Iowans about the current anti-bullying policy. 'We have concerns that have been brought to us,' Hayes said. 'And so, you know, I appreciate the comments about, 'There's no need for it, we don't understand why it's necessary' — there apparently does seem to be issues with how this section is being interpreted and how it is being taught, and how bullying is being recorded and reported, and so I would like to see further clarification on this.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa schools could start before Iowa State Fair has ended under new bill
DES MOINES, Iowa — A bill that would allow Iowa schools to start before the Iowa State Fair has ended was advanced through committee on Tuesday. The Iowa Senate Education Committee advanced SF 205, which allows both public and private schools in the state to start earlier. The bill states school calendars can begin as early as the second to last Monday of August and no later than the first Monday of December. That means there would be years where school starts before the Iowa State Fair has ended. In 2015 then Governor Terry Branstad signed a bill into law that prohibited schools from starting before the state fair had ended, no sooner than August 23. Fong's Pizza moving out of downtown Des Moines after 16 years Iowa State Education Association President Joshua Brown said the association is for the bill as it allows school districts to decide the best start date for them. 'As proponents of local control, the Iowa State Education Association believes Iowa school districts should have the flexibility to align with their local community's needs. Our local school districts can thoughtfully evaluate these factors and choose a start date that best supports their students' success and the community's overall needs,' Brown said. Multiple other school associations, as well as the Professional Educators of Iowa are for the bill. Adventureland, the Iowa Travel Industry Partners, and Okoboji Tourism are all against the bill, while the Iowa State Fair remains undecided. The bill was unanimously passed through the Education Committee. It's now eligible for debate on the Senate floor. Iowa News: Iowa schools could start before Iowa State Fair has ended under new bill WHO 13 Farm Report: Wednesday, February 5th Icy conditions are making it slippery in Iowa Newton student made threats to bring gun to school, police say Extra snow machines prove a success at Seven Oaks as they stayed open during warm week Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
