Public Comments on DE At-Risk Task Force Due by Dec 1

Dear Urban School Leaders:

We sent this email to UEN Superintendents and Associate Superintendents, Title I and At-risk/Equity Directors and CFOs. There is no limit on feedback, so you do not need to coordinate responses - the more the merrier. Feel free to distribute to others in your district who would be interested in providing feedback. The 6 DRAFT taskforce recommendations are listed in the survey with the ability to respond to each individually.

SF 560 Education Appropriations directed the DE to convene a task force to study how districts are using funding for At-Risk students and DoP, the effectiveness of those programs, whether state funds should be reallocated to the iJAG program, and to report findings to the legislature by Dec. 31, 2023. DE is currently seeking comments on recommendations from the Task Force. Responses will be collected through Dec. 1. The At-Risk Task Force will consider all public comments before finalizing its recommendations, which are due to the general assembly by Dec. 31.

Listening Session Comments: DE held a Virtual Listening Session Tuesday morning. Comments from a very small group of participants centered on preserving local control, being careful about metrics to measure effectiveness, including the iJAG program in any recommended evaluation or measure of effectiveness, and support for some of the recommendations including support of a local decision to engage in iJAG, an appropriate DE role to provide examples of best practice and an outside evaluation of program outcomes, including information about how other states provide resources for at-risk students. Participants also discussed the inequity in Dropout Prevention capacity, the fact that Dropout Prevention funds are all local, and that changes to a very burdensome plan approval process in the last 6-7 years improved things for school districts, but eliminated state oversight and knowledge of how districts are using these funds wisely to improve student outcomes.

Public Comment on Proposed Recommendations

Here is the survey link to submit comments by Dec. 1st: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfV988Hvrd7wXpr9Dw0YLwNpciPuuF7VMNrbjAoYv8kLc_qyA/viewform

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking comment on recommendations from the At-Risk Task Force regarding drop-out prevention programs and other programs that serve at-risk youth.

Responses from the public comments survey will be collected through Dec. 1. The At-Risk Task Force will consider all public comments before finalizing its recommendations, which are due to the general assembly by Dec. 31.