Special Report
Education

Iowa

May 03, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Iowa districts are facing yet another year without significant state funding dedicated for school technology.

The legislature has not promised districts specific aid for technology since 2001, the year state officials say a “budget crisis” hit Iowa. In the five years before that, Iowa had devoted as much as $30 million a year to educational technology.

The continued dearth of state aid is sending school districts to other sources for technology money, says John O’Connell, thestate department of education’s consultant in instructional technology. Many districts, he says, try their luck applying for competitive private grants. Others divert some of their local-option taxes and physical-plant levies to technology. Some districts seek out technology grants derived from riverboat, casino, and other forms of gambling in Iowa.

But for most school systems, federal money provides the engine for moving forward with technology initiatives.

Since 2003, districts have tapped money allocated to Iowa under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Districts must apply for grants that draw on those funds, which will total $12.5 million by the 2005-06 school year. Most of that money pays for teacher training, O’Connell says, with “very little going to equipment purchases.”

Specifically, the federal grants enable teachers to use videoconferencing and Web-based materials to learn how to improve their lessons and teaching strategies in math and reading.

Two new efforts in the state also get support from federal funds. Project Easier, which debuted in fall 2004, is an electronic student database that assigns each student in Iowa an identification number. Using those numbers, districts and colleges anywhere in the state can call up student records and transcripts. It costs about $600,000 a year to operate the database—an expense covered by federal and state aid.

Another new program, Iowa Learning Online, expands the high school curriculum with distance-learning opportunities. Students in grades 9-12 can use the Internet or interactive-video technologies to take foreign-language, history, math, and science courses that might not be available in their regular schools. Since the program’s inception in the summer of 2004, 545 students from 42 districts have enrolled, says Gwen Nagel, its assistant director. Iowa Learning Online operates primarily with federal funds and private grant money.

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 23, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP