Make Your Voice Heard for our Students The DMPS Community Legislative Action Team (DMPS-CLAT) is made up of parents and other community members who recognize the need for more awareness of how specific legislative actions affect our schools, and actively advocate for policies that increase student success. To be successful, this group needs one thing: YOU. It’s important that the voices of parents, grandparents, community members and others are heard by our legislators and the Governor, so they know how important education and schools are to our children and all of Des Moines. Join us as we focus on the need to extend support for our English Language Learners, expand preschool funding for students in poverty, and continue the penny sales tax to improve and maintain our school buildings. 2019 Legislative Priorities The following legislative priorities for 2019 are being supported by Des Moines Public Schools: EXPAND SUPPORT FOR OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: Increase weighted English Language Learner (ELL) funding to .39, in accordance with evidence-based practice and as recommended by the 2013 task force report on ELL education in Iowa. (Download a PDF with further details on expanding support for ELL education.) EXPAND PRESCHOOL FUNDING FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY: Increase in weighted funding in the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) for children living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. (Download a PDF with further details on expanding preschool for children in poverty.) EXTEND SAVE SALES TAX FOR SCHOOLS: School buildings in Des Moines average over 65 years old, so we continue to have a great need for security updates, repairs and renovations; in some cases, even new buildings. Because we have reached the bonding ceiling for the current Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) money, it is critical that action be taken to either remove or extend the sunset. (Download a PDF with further details on why continuing the sales tax is important for our schools.) Continued on page 21 19
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