House Journal: Page 2251: Tuesday, June 3, 2003
I am unable to approve the items designated as Section 5. This section requires the
Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide program for
educational assessment reporting and to use this information for a statewide report
card. The text of paragraph "c" which describes the "single value added system"
requires the use of a proprietary system. I do not believe that it is in the best interest
of school districts and the Department of Education to mandate a reporting system
that is redundant to the requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act. I also do not
support the mandate that all districts and the Department of Education must use a
single proprietary system for analysis and reporting of assessment results.
I am unable to approve the designated portion of Section 51 which removes the
contract requirement for part-time and substitute bus drivers. The current law
provides for a standard uniform contract for all drivers of school-owned equipment.
This language eliminates secure employment relationships for bus drivers who are
often responsible for the safety of our children.
I am unable to approve the items designated as Section 69 and Section 71,
subsection 3. Section 69 requires the Department of Education to establish and
administer a reading instruction pilot program beginning in the fall of 2003. A
considerable effort is currently underway in the Department of Education given the
requirements of the federally funded reading program, Reading First. The Reading
First program will in the 2003-2004 school year involve 30 school districts across the
state to improve reading skills. The federal program guidelines and evaluation
requirements are very similar to the requirements in Section 69. The proposed reading
program would duplicate current efforts and it is also very late for a district to plan to
participate in a new program this fall.
For the above reasons, I respectfully disapprove these items in accordance with
Amendment IV of the Amendments of 1968 to the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
All other items in House File 549 are hereby approved as this date.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
May 30, 2003
The Honorable Chester Culver
Secretary of State
State Capitol Building
L O C A L
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I hereby transmit House File 662, an Act relating to the funding of, the operation of
and appropriation of moneys to the College Student Aid Commission, the Department
of the Blind, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Education, and the
State Board of Regents and including an effective date and retroactive applicability
date provision.
House File 662 provides funding to help achieve the ambitious goals we have set for
education in Iowa. I am particularly pleased with the continued commitment to reduce
class sizes, redesign teacher compensation strategies, increase Iowa Tuition Grant
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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