Iowa House & Senate approve education reform bill - KWWL.com

An education reform bill is heading to Governor Terry Branstad's desk.

Both chambers previously approved different versions to reform Iowa's K-12 education programs, but the bill that was passed on Tuesday was a product of a joint House-Senate committee. The Senate and the House passed it Tuesday.

The final version allows for teacher peer reviews and gives parents the choice of whether a third-grader should be held back.

The Iowa State Education Association president issued a statement saying, "The ISEA is pleased with the steps taken giving educators more time to collaborate and work together to improve their craft... however, it is very important to remember that there also has to be a willingness to invest the resources needed for our students to succeed. The education reform package falls short in finding those resources."

Governor Branstad has been pushing for an overhaul of Iowa's schools for almost a year.