Senate Journal: Page 42: Tuesday, January 13, 1998

  State government can't guarantee every child a good family.  But we can help
  Iowa's families and schools give our children the building blocks for
  success in life.  I
  asked Lieutenant Governor Corning to head a workgroup that developed a
  strategy for
  helping Iowa's children.

  By assisting at-risk children at an early age, research has shown that we
  will help
  them do better in school and stay away from crime and drugs.  Early
  intervention has
  even been shown to increase incomes for the parents as well as improve the
  opportunities for children.

  What I am recommending is not a new government program - it is a new way of
  thinking and a better way to deliver the multitude of programs designed to
  make sure
  children get off to a good start in life.

  It is called, "Building Blocks for Success," and it is an initiative
  designed to
  empower local communities with decision-making authority by block-granting
  funds
  and enabling them to set their own priorities for where money and services
  are needed
  most.  It will create a new era of local empowerment, allowing us to tap the
  creativity
  and innovation of our people to help every Iowa child have a solid start in
  life.

  This year, we must also take action to expand health care coverage for
  low-income
  children.  The budget I am presenting today will allow us to provide health
  care
  coverage for over 55,000 more Iowa children.

  We must also:
  ? Ensure access to quality preschools and give every child a chance to
  attend all-
  day, everyday kindergarten.

  ? The State should also provide assistance to those schools that make the
  decision to lengthen their school year.

  Schools should be open longer and serve as community learning centers, open
  to
  the entire community for recreational and educational activities.  Today's
  kids get in
  trouble when they have nothing else to do.  Let's keep them actively
  involved
  throughout the day and year.

  Iowa has a long and proud tradition of being a local control state.  Our
  schools are
  the best because parents and communities take an active role in making them
  that
  way.  But our public schools must be accountable to the people they serve.

  Every Iowa school must have strong local standards - developed by school
  boards,
  teachers, administrators and parents.  The standards must be rigorous and
  set out
  clear expectations for learning.

  Iowans deserve to know how their students and schools are doing in
  comparison to
  the competition.  Each school in Iowa should be required to report uniformly
  on their
  students' progress in reading, writing, math, science, and other basic
  skills.

  Better teachers.  Teaching kids earlier and longer.  Local accountability
  for results.
  These are the three common sense principles upon which we must build our new
  public
  education system.

Iowa General Assembly

Index: Senate Journal (77th General Assembly: Session 2)

© 1998 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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