Public education in Iowa

in Iowa

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K-12 education in Iowa

Education facts

State superintendent: Ann Lebo

Number of students: 499,825

Number of teachers: 35,080

Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:14

Number of school districts: 367

Number of schools: 1,390

Graduation rate: 89.7%

Per-pupil spending: $10,313

See also

Iowa Department of Education • List of school districts in Iowa • Iowa • School boards portal

Public education in the United States Public education in Iowa Glossary of education terms

Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given are the most recent as of June 2015, with school years noted in the text or footnotes.

The Iowa public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2013 Iowa had 499,825 students enrolled in a total of 1,390 schools in 357 school districts. There were 35,080 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 14 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. There was roughly one administrator for every 283 students, compared to the national average of one administrator for every 295 students. On average Iowa spent $10,313 per pupil in 2013, which ranked it 14th highest in the nation. The state's graduation rate was 89.7 percent in 2013.^[1][2][3]

Common Core[edit]

Common Core, or the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is an American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school. The Iowa State Board of Education adopted the standards on July 29, 2010, and according to their website, "all school districts and accredited nonpublic schools [were] required to fully implement the Iowa Core in grades 9-12 by July 1, 2012, and grades K-8 by the 2014-2015 school year."^[4][5]

In October of 2013 Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (R) issued an executive order renaming the Common Core-aligned standards in the state as the "Iowa Core" and stating that only the state of Iowa, and not the federal government, could issue statewide curriculum standards for its public schools. This approach did not eliminate the Common Core standards in the state, but instead gave the state more control over assessments and specific curricula.^[6]

General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how Iowa compared to three neighboring states with respect to the number of students, schools, teachers per pupil and administrators per pupil for the 2012-2013 school year. The chart also displays that information at the national level. Iowa had the smallest school system, 1,390 schools, among its neighboring states.

Further comparisons between these states with respect to performance and financial information are given in other sections of this page.

Schools by type[edit]

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Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

Of the 98,454 schools in the United States, 89,031 were classified as regular schools. After regular schools, magnet schools and charter schools were the most prevalent non-traditional schools in the country, at 6,079 schools and 5,986 schools, respectively.

The table below breaks down each of the different types of schools in Iowa and nearby states. Also listed are the numbers of schools in each state that are classified as "Title I" schools. These are public schools that have been specially targeted to correct achievement gaps in public schools.^[7]

In Iowa, there were 1,354 regular schools as of 2013. Alternative schools were the second most prevalent type of school in the state, with 30 schools classified as such.

Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographic information for all students in all 50 states

The following table displays the ethnic distribution of students in Iowa as reported in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data for 2012-2013.^[8]

During the 2012-2013 school year, just over half of all students in K-12 public schools nationwide were white. About a quarter of the students in the country were Hispanic, with black students making up about 16 percent of the student population.

In Iowa, the majority of students were white during the 2012-2013 school year. White students totaled 398,951, which was 79.82 percent of the student population in the state. There were 46,731 Hispanic students in Iowa, accounting for 9.35 percent of the student population.

Enrollments by region type[edit]

See also: Student distribution by region type in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 percent of all public school students in the country attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. About 40 percent attended suburban schools. Approximately 11.5 percent of all students attended schools in towns, while about 18.7 percent attended rural schools.^[9]

A plurality of students in Iowa attended rural schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 40 percent of the state's students attended city or suburban schools, compared to the approximately 60 percent who attended rural or town schools.

Academic performance[edit]

Education terms
For more information on education policy terms, see this article.
School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state for a full comparison of all states.

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The chart below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Minnesota, Missouri, and Illinois), Iowa students performed better or equal to those in Missouri and Illinois, but fell behind those in Minnesota. According to the Iowa "Annual Condition of Education Report for 2013," National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results remain unchanged. Iowa fourth and eighth grade NAEP results in mathematics and reading were also similar from the prior years, with no significant gains in either content area or grade level. See the table below for a full comparison.

Graduation, ACT and SAT comparisons[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Iowa and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.^[10][11][12]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.^[13]

Iowa schools reported a graduation rate of 89.7 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, highest among its neighboring states.

In Iowa, more students took the ACT than the SAT in 2013, earning an average ACT score of 22.1.

Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Iowa was slightly higher than the national average at 3.4 percent in the 2010-2011 school year. Iowa's event dropout rate was lower during the 2011-2012 school year though, at 3.2 percent.^[14]

Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in Iowa

School choice options in Iowa include an inter-district open enrollment policy, an education expense credit, two state-led online programs, and a tax-credit scholarship program, which awarded an average scholarship amount of $1,086 to 10,446 students participating in 153 schools in the 2012-2013 school year. The state has only six out of the 20 charter schools approved by the legislature. In addition, in 2012-2013 approximately 14,047 students, or 2.67 percent of the total student-aged population, were homeschooled and about 42,058 students, or 8.67 percent of school-age children, were enrolled in 211 private schools.^[15][16][17]

Developments[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.^[18]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.^[19]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

Iowa is not one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: Iowa state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.^[20][21]

Iowa spent approximately 16.4 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. The state school systems' revenue came primarily from state funds. When compared to its neighboring states, Iowa spent the second lowest percentage of its total budget on public education.

Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the United States

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.^[21]

In Iowa, the primary source of school system revenue was state funding, at $3.1 billion. Iowa reported the lowest total public education revenue when compared to its neighboring states.

Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.^[22]

Public education expenditures in Iowa totaled approximately $6 billion in fiscal year 2012. This was the lowest reported total public education expenditures when compared to Iowa's neighboring states.

Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

According to the Iowa Department of Education the average annual teacher salary for the 2012-2013 school year was $52,635 which ranked it 25th in the United States. The average principal salary of $91,509 was 24th highest in the United States. The chart below details the average teacher salaries for the 1999-2000, 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years, and shows the average percent of change.

Organizations[edit]

State agencies[edit]

See also: Iowa Department of Education

The Iowa Department of Education oversees K-12 public education, non-public schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies (AEAs), community colleges and teacher preparation programs in the state of Iowa. The department was created by the Iowa State Legislature in 1913 and was originally called the Department of Public Instruction. The current name was adopted in 1986. Ryan Wise was first appointed as Iowa Director of Education in 2015.^[24]

The mission statement of the Iowa Department of Education reads:^[24]

The State Board of Education is composed of ten members that are appointed by the governor with the consent of the Iowa State Senate. Nine are voting members that serve six-year terms and one is a student member who serves a one-year term. The Board of Education is responsible for establishing, recommending, and overseeing the implementation of education policy in the state.^[26]

Unions[edit]

In 2012 the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Iowa ranked 27th overall for union power and influence, or "average," which was in the middle tier of five tiers.^[27]

The main union related to the Indiana school system is the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). ISEA is the largest education association in the state. For the 2008 tax period ISEA had $14,425,643 in total revenue.^[28]

Taxpayer-funded lobbying[edit]

See also: Iowa government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the Iowa Association of School Boards.^[29]

Studies and reports[edit]

Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on the performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received by the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

Iowa received a score of 84.2, or a B average in the "chance for success" category. This was above the national average. The state's highest score was in "transitions and alignment" at 82.1, or a B- average. The lowest score was in "K-12 achievement" at 67.3, or a D+ average. Iowa had the 10th highest score in the "chance for success" category in the country. The chart below displays the scores of Iowa and its surrounding states.^[30]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

ABCs of School Choice[edit]

The Friedman Foundation for Education published a description and commentary on Iowa's school choice options in the 2014 study entitled The ABCs of School Choice. They concluded that "Iowa’s tax-credit scholarship program provides a somewhat generous eligibility window—families with incomes lower than 300 percent of federal poverty qualify—the tax credits are limited to $8.75 million per year, which restricts the size of the scholarships and the number of children who can claim them. The program fortunately does not have a per-student funding cap for scholarships, but, again, that is limited by the program’s overall cap of $8.75 million. As for participating schools, the regulatory restrictions are reasonable. Schools must be accredited and comply with nondiscrimination, health, and safety laws. The program could be one of the strongest nationwide, if its overall funding cap were increased significantly and if eligibility were open to all students."^[31]

School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

District types[edit]

School districts in Iowa are split into three categories: community school districts, consolidated school districts and independent school districts. The terms "school district" and "school corporation" are used interchangeably in the Iowa statutes.^[32]

School board composition[edit]

School board members are elected by residents of the school district. School boards in Iowa are generally composed of five or seven members elected to four-year terms. Elections are held on the second Tuesday in September of odd-numbered years.^[33]

Term limits[edit]

Iowa does not impose statewide term limits on school board members.^[34]

Elections[edit]

See also: Iowa school board elections, 2021

Editor's note: Some school districts choose to cancel the primary election, or both the primary and general election, if the number of candidates who filed does not meet a certain threshold. The table below does not reflect which primary or general elections were canceled. Please click through to each school district's page for more information.

Path to the ballot[edit]

To become a school board candidate in Iowa, a person must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the school district and eligible to be registered to vote may become a candidate for the school board.^[35]

Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Iowa state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of Iowa ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. Iowa School Money, Amendment 2 (1984)

In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Iowa education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also[edit]

• Historical public education information in Iowa
• Iowa
• Iowa state budget and finances
• Iowa Department of Education
• List of school districts in Iowa
• School choice in Iowa
• Charter schools in Iowa
• Education Policy in the U.S.

External links[edit]

• Iowa Department of Education
• Iowa State Board of Education
• Iowa Public School Ratings by PSK12
• Iowa Public School Ratings by Great Schools

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of Iowa Des Moines (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2021 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy