DRAFT

First District Platform - 2006=

Iow= a Democratic Party=

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EDUCATION

ED-1 We support full and adequate funding for K-12, AEA’s, community colleges, public universities, and other educational programs including after school programs, full federal funding for special education= and an allowable growth of at least 6.0% to be set one year in advance. We supp= ort funding for early identification and treatment of special-needs and hostile/violent behavior.

ED-2 We support full and adequate funding for all early childhood education programs and believe that a sustainable funding source must be fo= und to support these programs.

ED-3 We strongly urge the President and Congress to repeal or reform = and fully fund the “No Child Left Behind” Act. States must be given flexibility in measuring school’s progress and ways to improve student achievement.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Until changes are made and the Act= is fully funded, Federal sanctions against schools must be suspended.

ED-4 We support immediately raising the pay of pre-K-12 and community college teachers to at least 25^th in the nation.

ED-5 We call for funding meaningful professional development for teachers. We oppose any ̶= 0;fast track” teacher certification. Programs and grants should be developed to assist holders of degrees= to complete the courses necessary for gaining secondary teaching credits in ar= eas of need. We oppose lowering teacher-licensing requirements in K-12.

ED-6 Federal and state educational funds should not be diverted to private K-12 schools or for-profit schools in the form of vouchers or in ot= her forms. Public schools should carefully follow the constitutional requirement of separation of church and state neither denying freedom of religion to students nor forcing religion = upon them.

ED-7 We support increasing federal aid for college education through = grants, scholarships, low interest loans and forgivable loans, and restoring Pell G= rant levels to 100% of need. We support a program to forgive the student loans for graduates who remain in Iowa to work on a sliding scale linked to the number of years of service in Iowa.

ED-8 We support increasing the contribution rate to IPERS from the current 9.45% to 13.45% with the contribution rate increasing by 0.5% per y= ear over an eight year period beginning in July of 2007 and continuing through 2016. The ratio of employer to employee contribution rates should not be changed.

ED-9 Funding should be increased for public libraries, the arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities,= and for individual artists.

ED-10 &nbs= p; K-12 schools, colleges and universities should have control over the scheduling = and nature of military and other recruiting activities on their campuses.<= /o:p>

ED-11 &nbs= p; Local sales and property taxes should be de-emphasized for educational funding pr= ovided sufficient state and national funding is made available.<= /p>

ED-12 &nbs= p; Recent tuition increases at public universities and community colleges should be reversed and replaced by state and national funds.

ED-13 &nbs= p; Recent educational budget cuts should be reversed. New funding sources should be provided. We support increasi= ng state revenues sufficient to provide adequate funding for schools and to maintain critical existing programs. We call for restraint in the area of tax cuts. In case of a revenue shortfall, the state should remember the importance of all levels of education.=

ED-14 &nbs= p; We support funding for the Iowa Communication Network, for achieving and maintaining proper class sizes, for repair and maintenance of public school buildings and infrastructure, for school equipment and technology, for compliance with the Americans for Disabilities Act in schools, and for Scho= ol Resource Officers.

ED-15<= /span> = We support urging all Iowa school districts to adopt and implement a policy that clearly prohibits bul= lying, discrimination, and harassment of students on the basis of both real and perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.

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ED-16<= /span> = We support a requirement for licensed school guidance counselors and media specialists in all public schools.