Meeting Public Comments

Cheryl Laughlin []

As someone working in the field of behavioral health, I am extremely opposed to HF 2329 because it will negatively impact Iowa students abilities to learn and actually lower their academic achievement. An overwhelming number of research studies have proven this! Here is what evidencebased research has shown: throughout early childhood, elementary, adolescence, and into young adulthood the brain develops differently based on the opportunities to engage actively and safely with rich and meaningful environments and social relationships. The brains plasticity (the ability to adapt and adjust to the demands of different contexts and experiences) is a critical opportunity and responsibility for learning. Over the past 15 years, huge strides have been made in understanding the science behind how the brain develops, how that development relates to thinking, and the settings and contexts that are conducive to brain development and ultimately, to learning. The most striking, fundamental insights that have emerged from the field of developmentalneuroscience over this time show that human brain development requires social relationships, emotional experiences, and cognitive opportunities. Furthermore, the quality of these relationships, experiences, and opportunities influences how the brain develops and how a person thinks, feels, and responds to their environment. Childrens environments vary greatly in characteristics and cultural features. When a persons world is seriously impacted on any of these dimensions (whether at school, home, or in their communitye.g. violence, bullying, abuse, isolation, food insecurity, sensory and/or language deprivation, etc) brain development and the learning that depends on it can be dramatically compromised. When humans are experiencing hardship/trauma in any of these dimensions, their brains are in fight/flight mode. When in this mode, the ability to think, process, and store new learning is severely compromised. This is exactly why SEL is so critical! Students need to feel valued, respected, and included by their teachers and peers. By developing trusting relationships in classrooms where everyone feels that they belong and make a difference, students brains are able to get out of fight/flight mode while at school, which in turn allows the brain to return to its thinking, processing, and storing capabilities. Science has shown repeatedly that SEL is the gateway to academic learning and it must be in place first and foremost. On the flip side, when a persons world is enriched on these dimensions, brain development is facilitated and learning is enabled to a significantly higher degree. While environments affect brain development across peoples lifespans, the most vulnerable periods are those in which the brain is most actively changing: prenatal development through childhood, adolescence, the transition to parenthood, and old age. I am asking you to think about the huge ramifications of passing this bill and the degree to which it will negatively impact the safety and academic health of our youth. If nothing else, remember this: hurt people, hurt people and connected people, deepen connections (Ali Hearn, national keynote speaker, trainer, and coach for restorative practices). If you want our schools to go back to the basics and you choose to ignore the socialemotional needs of Iowas children, then you will see a rise in school violence, lower academic achievement in schools, an increase in chronic absenteeism, and so much moreall because they dont feel safe and secure. Our students must feel valued in the place where they spend most of their time. If they dont feel valued and accepted, they will make it known just as much as the data will.

Nicole Skaar []

You all have snuck in a provision that would BAN social and emotional learning in Iowa Schools. Please read what social and emotional learning is before you ban it. It is teaching kids about empathy, goal setting, persistence, emotional regulation, relationship skills. I believe ALL families and ALL Iowans wish their students to learn these skills at home and at school. Schools partner with families every day to foster these skills in young people, please do not take this away from teachers, families, and students. You are likely not getting many comments about this because people don't know it's in this bill. Do legislators even know it's in this bill? There is so much going on in education with the AEA bill, many people don't know this is happening. Please amend this bill to remove the provision about social and emotional learning!