The Client Security Fund is NOT taxpayer money. It is funded by fees paid by lawyers in private practice in Iowa. Casinos DO in fact bar some problem gamblers from their premises.

i am a board memeber at College Community and I can assure you that the digital initiative described above and adopted by the district was undertaken only after great study and a a very detailed design process. This is not just a mass computer purchase, though that is an integral part of the initiative. The [...]

It should be noted that Mr. Glass scored a 19 on the mathematics test, which would not predict that he will be successful in college level mathematics, yet he is proposing to change the entire education compensation system in Iowa to fit models that include some very sophisticated mathematical modeling for “merit pay”. How’s that [...]

We disagree because you have set a tone in your article that discourages educators and students from participating in the very positive anti-bullying prgrams that are being promoted in schools. The best example is the program at Prairie Point that was portrayed in a picture that was physically placed next to youir article in the [...]

This article is way off base. Hazing is bullying and MUST be stopped. There is nothing about the alleged Lisbon conduct that should be tolerated. Ms. Bioche has completely mischaracterized the present bullying initiatives. Ignoring these abusive behaviors has NOT ended them and that is why kids need to know and understand that they do [...]

When we change our pesrspective on most social, political and educational issues to that of another person on the “other side of the issue”, we often realize that our perspective is limiting our understanding. The call to “take a breather from the battle lines” can and should be applied to most of the issues and [...]

Is the objective of the system to protect kids or to be certain that no parent is offended? I hope that the welfare of the child is the primary goal of any system, but the comparison of removal numbers or rates will NOT save a single child’s life or well being. I think the existing [...]

Changes to the basic and static existing calendar and class day clock will be necessary to allow the adoption of many of the other innovative improvements to public education that are on the horizon. Those calendar and clock changes will need to allow great flexibility for teachers and administrators to reinvent the existing system in [...]

I’ve lived in Iowa all but a few years of my 64 years and the Iowa that Bloom describes is a very bizarre characature of the one that I see every day and have seen over those six decades. His statements to the Register are even more bizarre because the things he describes as truths [...]

The education change discussion is being held every day across this state in schools by teachers and administrators and in board rooms by school board members and in the other places where education is recognized as an investment, not as a cost. The design change must continue whether the politicians are on board or not. [...]

Todd – You should know better. Any effort to mandate clean bathrooms would be an affront to the “job creators” and would certainly be the kind of job killing regulation that has caused this economic downturn.

The reason to ask these questions is to assist the decision makers and the community in understanding what can be done and what possibilities exist. The mindset that too much is spent on education is extremely shortsighted. There is a movement among educators and especially here in Eastern Iowa to effect dramatic change in the [...]

Wrong word in headline. Should be “principles” ??

I think that it’s probably much more accurate to attribute “this country’s industrial Might” to the hard work, innovation and perseverance of its people and not to the efforts or structure of any set of “big” corporations. Such “big” entities are NOT necessarily innovative or progressive in any manner, but most often only follow the [...]

This writer is talking about providing tutoring services at $40 per hour and up and asking that her service be funded as an alternative to public education. $6000 for 2 to 3 hours per day for 11 weeks. Her statements regarding the improvement are impossible to believe and are not backed up by even her [...]

Jennifer- I agree that we all need to see the details and that whatever they are, they will be controversial, but how about concentrating on the positives in the information that has been provided. The outline paragraph quoted above is NOT a simple “performance pay” model. In his various blogs and presentations, Mr. Glass has [...]

Good column Jennifer. There is no direct proof that “performance pay” will improve public education “results”. There are many studies that show what does increase student learning and performance. Well designed and presented Professional Development (PD) is critical to the educational change that is necessary. Spending money and time on “performance pay” plans will only [...]

The statistical difference is the difference in the percentage of “low SES students”. SES = socioeconomic status and is measured by the percentage of free or reduced lunch fees. The larger metropolitan districts have substantially higher low SES student populations. Those students do not lack iintelligence, but they do not have the same level of [...]

Student achievement is not solely “academic achievement”. Your statement about parental involvement is correct, but in fact, it does take a village and the studies and statistics prove that community involvement and emphasis on relevancy in education greatly enhances student success and achievement. Many of the most successful programs are now integrating much greater community [...]

The universal right to an education is based upon the various civil rights and disability rights statutes of the federal and state governments. If the state or any of its subdivisions provides any education, then it must provide that education to ALL. I believe that the baseline right to an education would now probably be [...]