During the state legislative session, the IAA sends out a bi-weekly legislative update. In these emails you'll get an update on what's going on at the State Capitol, and in Congress, as well as actions you can take to advocate for afterschool! |
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MORE FUNDING FOR AFTERSCHOOL: The Senate begins work on the American Rescue Plan. What does this mean for the afterschool and summer program supports included in the House's version of the Learning Recovery Act?
Current language in the Senate's American Rescue Plan, which is still subject to change, contains the same supports and funding to afterschool and summer programming. However, new language includes an additional 1% set aside for afterschool not specific to learning recovery, as well as an additional 1% set aside for summer programming not specific to learning recovery. You can read more about the original afterschool and summer programming supports included in the Learning Recovery Act below.
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The American Recovery Plan has passed the House. This relief package contains the Learning Recovery Act which provides support for afterschool and summer programming. There were a few changes to language and intent, and are as follows:
- $128.6 billion to State Education Agencies and Local Education Agencies with requirements similar to those of the ESSERII Fund.
- Requirement of 5% of funding to be reserved for learning recovery, including the funding of comprehensive afterschool programming.
- Requirement of districts to reserve 20% of ESSERII Fund allocation for learning recovery, including the funding of comprehensive afterschool programming.
- All funds reserved for learning recovery must include evidence-based interventions to improve the academic, social and emotional needs of students disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including low-income youth.
You can read in in depth review on the passage of the Learning Recovery Act by the House Education and Labor Committee here.
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Helpful Links
Click here to find your legislator. You can search by address, city, school district, county, or zip code.
To find bios, contact information, and photos of all the legislators, go to the Legislators page on the Iowa Legislature website. Select either "Senators" or "Representatives" on the left-side menu to see a complete list of all members, including links to their information page and district map.
For a complete list of Senate and House committees and members, click here.
For a full list of Senate and House leadership, click here.
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Increases income eligibility limits for the child and dependent care and early childhood development tax credits.
This bill received unanimous consent to immediately be passed to the Senate. This bill currently sits in the Senate Human Resources subcommittee with Costello, Bolkcom and Green.
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Provides businesses with income, franchise, monies and credits, and gross premiums tax credits for providing child care benefits to employees of the business, and including applicability date provisions.
On February 10th, HF 370 was passed by the House on a vote of 88-6. This bill currently sits in the Senate Ways and Means subcommittee with Dawson, Goodwin and Petersen.
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Establishes Child Care Future Zones Program, which will provide financial assistance to individuals looking to open a child care facility in an area with three times as many children under the age of 5 than current child care openings.
This bill has not made any progress, and still sits in the House Economic Growth committee.
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Relates to child care reimbursement rates under the state child care assistance program.
On February 10th, HF 292 was passed by the House on a vote of 90-4. This bill currently sits in the Senate Human Resources subcommittee with Costello, Mathis and Sweeney.
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Establishes a new graduated phase-out for families exiting the Child Care Assistance program. Families earning between 225%-235% of the federal poverty level are required to pay 33% of child care costs. Families earning between 235%-245% of the federal poverty level are required to pay 45% of child care costs. Families earning 245%-250% of the federal poverty line are required to pay 60% of child care costs.
This bill has passed the Senate Human Resources subcommittee.
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Update to the number of children who can be in care at a child care home at one time. There must be 6 or fewer children in attendance if one child is school-age or older. There must be 7 or fewer children in attendance if two or more children are school-age. School-age children are defined as being 4-17 years of age.
On February 10th, HF 260 (HSB 7) was passed by the House on a vote of 70-24 with an amendment to strike the language regarding school-aged children. This bill now sits in the Senate Human Resources subcommittee with Lofgren, Johnson and Mathis.
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April 2: Second Funnel
Final date for Senate bills to be passed out of House committees and House bills to be passed out of Senate committees.
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April 30: Target Adjournment Date |
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