Education
Iowa school districts pare back COVID-19 reporting to parents
Several central Iowa school districts have changed how they report COVID-19 information this school year, giving parents less detailed information about positive cases as the delta variant spreads. West Des Moines Community Schools, a 9,000-student district with 13 schools, did contact tracing last year. Superintendent Lisa Remy said school administrators would send letters to the […]
Cybercriminals use pandemic to attack schools and colleges
Cyberattacks have hit schools and colleges harder than any other industry during the pandemic. In 2020, including the costs of downtime, repairs and lost opportunities, the average ransomware attack cost educational institutions $2.73 million. That is $300,000 more than the next-highest sector – distributors and transportation companies. From Aug. 14 to Sept. 12, 2021, educational […]
How bans on mask mandates affect students with disabilities – 4 questions answered
As if back-to-school season weren’t stressful enough already amid a U.S. surge in the delta variant, bitter wrangling over school mask mandates has added to the fear and confusion for many students and parents. Nine states – Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah – have passed laws or issued executive […]
Regents vote to ask lawmakers for $15M increase for state universities
The Iowa Board of Regents on Thursday approved a request to increase state aid by $15 million for the three state universities. The proposal would provide a $7 million increase for general education to Iowa State University and $4 million each to University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. The proposal would take […]
Enrollment down at Iowa’s public universities, but freshman classes grow
Enrollment fell at Iowa’s three public colleges this fall, continuing a years-long decline complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern all reported smaller 2021 enrollment as classes began last month. The University of Iowa reported 31,206 students enrolled this fall, down 394 from last year. […]
Federal judge temporarily blocks Iowa ban on school mask mandates
A federal judge has temporarily blocked an Iowa law that prohibited schools from instating mask mandates on students. Under a Monday ruling by District Judge Robert Pratt, Iowa school districts may impose mask mandates on their students, staff and teachers. The decision comes after a disability rights group and several Iowa families sued the state, […]
Universal pre-K, free community college included in sweeping reconciliation bill
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Education & Labor Committee has finished a marathon markup of legislation that would provide universal pre-K education, expand federal Pell Grants for college students and institute two years of free community college. The $761 billion measure, approved Friday on a party-line 28-22 vote, will be combined with other pieces of […]
Federal judge hears arguments on Iowa’s school mask mandate ban
An Iowa disability group and families of students with disabilities asked a federal district judge on Friday to issue an injunction against Iowa law to allow school districts to require masks. The ACLU of Iowa filed the lawsuit last week on behalf of the Arc of Iowa and the 11 families with medically fragile children. […]
Sioux City schools may offer in-school rapid tests for sick students
The Sioux City Community School District is poised to offer rapid COVID-19 testing in schools for sick students, a new mitigation strategy as Iowa students return to the classroom amid the surging delta variant. “It helps to alleviate some of the busyness and craziness that occurs in our health care offices,” said Leslie Heying, communications […]
Lawsuit: Iowa’s school mask mandate ban violates disability rights
Eleven families have partnered with a disability rights group to sue the state of Iowa over a law that prevents school districts from requiring face coverings. “Getting HF 847 blocked is urgent for the state of Iowa, because this law puts vulnerable kids in a dangerous situation,” said Rita Bettis Austen, legal director for the […]
Iowa public health director: School districts can decide what COVID-19 data to report
It’s up to school districts to decide how to track and report COVID-19 outbreaks in schools, Iowa Department of Public Health Director Kelly Garcia said Thursday. “School districts are reporting that information, and some school districts have made the decision not to provide that information,” Garcia said. “But I believe the vast majority are.” Garcia […]
Biden administration launches civil rights investigations of Iowa and other states banning school mask requirements
WASHINGTON — Federal education officials have launched civil rights investigations in Iowa and four other Republican-led states that have prohibited school districts from mandating mask-wearing, saying those policies could amount to illegal discrimination against students with disabilities. The Biden administration notified the education chiefs in Iowa, Tennessee, South Carolina, Utah and Oklahoma of the investigations through formal letters Monday. The new investigations […]