While immigrant families establish themselves in the community and struggle to learn English, the children require a great deal of assistance with reading and language skills. Iowa's need for safe and modern public schools for all students, including barrier-free access for individuals with disabilities, continues to grow. In order to provide students with the best education possible, we must continually develop and adapt programs to meet the changing needs of Iowa's families. These programs provide learning opportunities in safe and drug-free environments. They can also provide a more comfortable, non-threatening atmosphere for parents to visit the school.
Some programs are also prohibitively expensive for many families.
A good education begins with parents as the first teachers and continues with early childhood programs and quality public schools. There should also be funding for programs that provide job training and encourage higher education, leading to responsible citizens who continue to be life-long learners. Iowa is facing revenue shortfalls and state funding for education programs is in jeopardy. On the other hand, the federal government has a tax surplus. Funding for national programs will have a tremendous impact on the quality of education we are able to provide for the children of Iowa.