You may now download the latest newsletter from IACS here:
Senate Passes Its Version Of School Start Date Legislation
One step closer! The Senate Passed its version of school start date legislation. SF 227 (School Start Date Bill) passed 32-17 restoring local control on school start date by repealing the start date provisions in the Code. We support this bill and we are hopeful the House will take up the bill, although that is not looking promising at this point. We still have a ways to go on this issue.
The Iowa Association of Christian Schools is less concerned about the particular day school starts (although there are many compelling reasons to start in August) and more concerned with who makes the decision. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
IACS March 2015 Newsletter
The IACS March 2015 Newsletter is now available. Please read and share!
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February 2015 IACS Newsletter
IACS has published its latest newsletter featuring “Education Celebration” information, IACS priorities for this year, an update on the start date debate, and more. You can read download the PDF by clicking here. Make sure you are on our email list if you want them delivered to your inbox!
School Instructional Time Bill Passes
The Iowa House and Senate have passed HF 2170 unanimously yesterday afternoon. This bill makes clarifications for schools choosing hours and includes the waiver for nonpublic school start dates. Last year, the ed reform bill made changes to start date language and non publics were inadvertently left out of the waiver process. This bill corrects that mistake. We do not have any reason to believe the Governor will not sign the bill.
We will email our schools when we know what the waiver request should look like and who should receive it. If your school is not on our email list, please visit our action center and sign up your administrator and/or general school email address now.
We are being told the waiver deadline is being extended past March 1 this year but we highly recommend having next year’s calendars ready now and be ready to submit a waiver request today or tomorrow should you hear from IACS. Let us know if you have questions!
*UPDATE* We got word from the Dept. that the deadline for start date waivers this year is June 13 – the same day BEDS reports are due. We’ll email schools with details soon.