Nussle Unveils ABC's to Achieve World-Class Education in Iowa

Nussle Unveils ABC's to Achieve World-Class Education in Iowa

Iowa gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle joined Iowa teachers, parents and school children today to unveil his comprehensive plan to energize Iowa education. Speaking at Hoover High School in Des Moines, Nussle unveiled the ABC's to achieving world-class education of accountability, results and rigor in the classroom; better investments in Iowa education; and, college access and affordability. Nussle's comprehensive education plan includes accelerating statewide standards to the 2008-09 school year, the creation of Iowa Achievement Academies and Iowa Job Skills Centers at every high school, and the Iowans Learn & Earn College Program for free in-state, undergraduate tuition.

Jim Nussle said, "It is time to turn the corner in Iowa's education system, demanding accountability, results and rigor in the classroom. Accelerating statewide standards and ensuring assessments will help Iowa's students receive a strong educational foundation that better prepares them for future achievement."

Nussle's comprehensive education plan accelerates statewide standards and focuses on core subjects, like reading, writing, mathematics and science; ensures assessments on Iowa's 4th and 8th graders; and, ends social promotion at all levels. "We need to provide students with the right building blocks at an early age so they have the tools necessary to be successful in the future," Nussle said.

Nussle's plan also focuses on preparing high school students for the job and career fields of the 21st Century by giving them a jump start on their future. The creation of "Iowa Achievement Academies" in all Iowa high schools ensures students have access to Advanced Placement & Dual Credit Courses for core subjects, like science, technology, engineering, mathematics, history, English & foreign languages. This gives high school students an early advantage before graduation by earning transferable college credits. The program also draws on Iowa's strengths by boosting collaboration between the state's high schools and higher education institutions.

Jim Nussle said, "We need to expand access so all achieving students have this important educational opportunity. My education plan focuses on advancing elementary and secondary education standards, enacting a more rigorous curriculum, and increasing career development and job training. I am committed to ensuring Iowa's students gain the skills they need to find opportunity in the growing industries of the 21st Century."

The Nussle plan also targets non-college-bound high school students through the creation of "Iowa Job Skills Centers" in all Iowa high schools. This provides students who are not pursuing a college education access to career development, job training and internships, while they earn high school graduation credit for hands-on experience. It focuses on preparing students for the job opportunities available in Iowa in the emerging career fields of the 21st Century - agribusiness, health care and information technology. "And, the Iowa Job Skills Centers, just like the Iowa Achievement Academies, will boost collaboration between local high schools, regional colleges, universities and Iowa's business community - which wants a highly-trained, well-qualified workforce," Nussle stated.

Nussle also reaffirmed his pledge to increase investment in Iowa's teachers through better pay and more training. "Being average isn't good enough for Iowa and Iowa's teachers. We must be better than average if we want to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers. My priority is to have Iowa set the standard for world-class education, and that starts by raising teacher pay above the national average," Nussle said.

Earlier today, Nussle outlined his higher education plan in Iowa City, which focuses on increasing college access and affordability. To ensure more reliable and more predictable funding for Iowa's elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools, the plan calls for the expansion of Advance-Year Funding for kindergarten through college. It affords community colleges and Regent universities the same planning authority as K-12 schools currently enjoy by the Legislature providing budget numbers a year in advance.

Nussle said, "We owe it to our educators to provide them the advance notice they need to plan and more effectively deliver better results. This is a much-needed change and a much-needed commitment that only a Governor with principled leadership can accomplish."

The Nussle Plan also includes the creation of the "Iowa College Cost Guarantee," providing parents and students more certainty to college planning. It guarantees in-state, undergraduate tuition rates will not increase by more than the annual Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) and can save Iowa families thousands of dollars over the course of one's college career.

And continuing to open up doors to higher education for Iowa students is the "Iowans Learn & Earn College Program." It provides access to essentially free in-state, undergraduate tuition at any Iowa college for middle and low-income Iowans who stay and work in Iowa post-graduation for at least seven years after graduating college. After students sign a contract and fulfill these basic terms, the state buys down their student loans after they leave school.

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