School Reform Changes Disappoint Iowa Governor

Gov. Terry Branstad on Tuesday expressed disappointment that lawmakers have “watered down” the wide-ranging education reform proposal he introduced last month.

“Watering down our aggressive educational reform is a mistake,” Branstad said during his weekly news conference. “I’m very hopeful that when the representatives and senators get a chance to vote on this, they will pass a bold education reform agenda.”

Branstad’s administration presented a reform package involving major changes to student testing, early-grade literacy, online education, charter schools and teacher education, licensure hiring, firing and evaluation after months of study.