Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday signed a bill into law that will give Iowa’s K-12 public schools a 2 percent increase in state funding for the next school year. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Echoing public sentiment, Iowa City school board members this week asked district officials to limit any reductions to staff who provide direct services to students in proposals to cut millions in spending for the upcoming academic year. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-...

Up to seven teachers could be cut from Washington High School under the Cedar Rapids school district’s staffing model, leaving families and students to question if the curriculum and programs they love are on the chopping block. www.thegazette.com/k/cedar-rapi...

State general funding to Iowa’s K-12 schools will increase 2 percent in the next school year under legislation approved Monday by statehouse Republicans and on its way to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Potential spending cuts of $8 million for the 2026-27 school year — including reducing about 23 educators — and guidance for how the district will lower spending for the remainder of this year is being presented to the Iowa City school board tonight. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-...

Some families decide not to give their children any vaccinations. Some choose to skip or delay certain ones. Others keep up with the recommended vaccine schedule, but have lingering questions about their safety and efficacy. Here's why @fernjalling.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/health-care-...

Xavier leaders earlier this month reported on fundraising for the $45 million project and showed renderings for Xavier Middle School, which is expected to open in the 2027-28 school year. www.thegazette.com/k/10-million...

A school resource officer could be on site at Clear Creek Amana’s middle and high school in a one-year pilot program beginning this fall in partnership with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. www.thegazette.com/k/clear-cree...

Iowa’s K-12 schools will see a 2 percent increase in general state funding for the coming fiscal year under an agreement reached between legislative leaders and Gov. Kim Reynolds. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Iowans who homeschool their kids would be eligible for a $4,000 tax credit per dependent, under legislation advanced Wednesday by a panel of Iowa House lawmakers as part of a broader push to expand school choice in the state. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

The Iowa City school board Tuesday questioned Superintendent Matt Degner on why they were not notified of a $10 million loan in August 2025, saying knowledge of the loan would have “triggered red flags” regarding the district’s financial health. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-...

Fourteen students in Cedar Rapids schools were recognized by Kids First Tuesday for exemplifying positive leadership qualities like good citizenship, problem-solving, empathy and kindness. www.thegazette.com/k/14-under-1...

Iowa Republican state lawmakers again pushed forward legislation Tuesday that would loosen state gun restrictions, including allowing gun owners to have firearms in their vehicles on school and college grounds. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Proposed legislation would create a pilot program requiring two school districts to establish attendance centers for students who require special education and have behavioral issues. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-bill-...

Exemptions from restrictions on obscene materials would be lifted from Iowa public libraries under legislation advanced by state lawmakers Monday. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

A proposed increase of 2.25 percent in state funding for Iowa’s K-12 schools advanced by House Republicans still would fall short of preventing staff reductions and program cuts, education advocates say. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

The city of Cedar Rapids has approved financial incentives for the historic restoration of the former Garfield Elementary School. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/local-govern...

Library officials warned proposed state legislation would undermine their ability to provide literature and programming, while supporters of the legislation argued it simply would ensure no inappropriate materials are available to children. @erindmurphy.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

A proposed Iowa education bill would overhaul how social studies is taught in K-12 schools, add new civics testing requirements and require Holocaust education for both students and teachers. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Iowa educators could lose or be denied teaching licenses and certificates for “publicly celebrating” politically motivated violence — including the death of Charlie Kirk — under legislation advanced by House Republican lawmakers. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

A $50,000 grant awarded to the Cedar Rapids school district will fund initiatives next school year aimed at improving student achievement and outcomes for students with disabilities. www.thegazette.com/k/50k-grant-...

The I.C. school district is anticipating about $6 million in budget reductions — and more cuts in subsequent years — after spending more on salaries than it could afford. To make ends meet, the district will need to take out “a series of loans.” www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-...

Two school options — an intermediate school model and a 5-8 middle school model — will continue to be studied for viability in an effort to consolidate and close schools to reduce annual budget costs, the C.R. school board agreed Monday in a 5-2 vote. www.thegazette.com/k/cedar-rapi...

On Friday, Johnson STEAM Academy, an elementary school in Cedar Rapids, held its annual Black History Spirit Week celebration. This year's theme was "A Century of Black History Commemorations." Photos @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/photos/photo...

Iowa school districts are cutting staff, programs and closing buildings — and pursuing inventive education models in an effort to compete for students — amid yearslong declining enrollment and consequent funding losses. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-publi...

Remarkable improvement in student behavior this year at Wilson Middle School is credited to the team of educators working together to identify solutions and better define expectations for students. Here's what they're doing differently this year. www.thegazette.com/k/heres-how-...

Des Moines Public Schools officials Wednesday about the hiring of former Superintendent Ian Roberts in light of his immigration arrest. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Peyton Stoller — a Linn-Mar High School senior with aspirations of becoming a music educator or professional performer — finds the school’s new performance hall an “absolutely amazing” place to perform. www.thegazette.com/k/new-linn-m...

The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success, which has empowered Black and biracial students in Cedar Rapids for more than 35 years, has selected John Hollemon III as its next leader. He replaces replace Ruth White, who founded the academy in 1989. www.thegazette.com/k/academy-fo...

Survey results show Cedar Rapids schools families prefer a plan to move to an intermediate school model over other plans in an effort to reduce millions from the budget. Respondents were the least supportive of a proposed plan to close a high school. www.thegazette.com/k/heres-how-...

Here's what you need to know about proposals by Iowa lawmakers that impact families, children and schools from my colleagues @thegazette.com 🧵

Public schools across Iowa will struggle to pay their bills if the state’s general funding for K-12 schools increases by 1.75 percent — as proposed by Republican lawmakers — education advocates warned Tuesday during a legislative hearing. @erindmurphy.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Darius Ballard, former principal of Washington High School and current Chief of Human Resources for the Cedar Rapids district, will return as the school’s leader this spring, following the sudden departure of Theresa Hall, who began the role July 1, 2025. www.thegazette.com/k/cedar-rapi...

Washington High School students Friday protested “angry,” joining nationwide protest calling for “no work, no school, no shopping” to oppose federal immigration enforcement. www.thegazette.com/news/cedar-r...

Closing a high school or moving to a fifth through eighth grade middle school model are two additional “viable” options for how the Cedar Rapids school district could consolidate and close schools in an effort to reduce millions more from the budget. www.thegazette.com/k/viable-opt...

Longtime media executive and editor Richard Green will be regional president and publisher of The Cedar Rapids Gazette and 11 other community newspaper titles in Iowa. www.thegazette.com/news/pulitze...

Community Action of Eastern Iowa resumed its Head Start program earlier this month after closing for two months because its funding was delayed as a result of the 43-day federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1. www.thegazette.com/k/this-iowa-...

More options for how to close and consolidate schools — created with a community coalition — will be presented to the Cedar Rapids school board tonight in an effort to reduce millions more from the district’s annual budget. www.thegazette.com/k/two-more-o...

Former Des Moines Public School District Superintendent Ian Roberts pleaded guilty Thursday, and admitted to falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen on a federal form and illegally possessing firearms. www.thegazette.com/crime-courts...

Iowa Senate Republicans advanced a bill banning gender identity and sexual orientation instruction in high schools. The proposal would expand existing K-6 restrictions being challenged in federal court. @tjbarton83.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/state-govern...

Cedar Rapids students will be expected to complete schoolwork and learning activities from home Friday as the National Weather Service warns of “life threatening cold” with wind chills plummeting to minus 40 degrees. All school buildings will be closed. www.thegazette.com/k/cedar-rapi...

Regis Middle School Principal Amanda Allard has been selected to lead the newly consolidated Xavier Middle School, which will maintain two campuses in its inaugural year this fall. www.thegazette.com/k/new-xavier...

Karla Hogan, C.R. schools’ chief financial officer, is retiring in January 2027. She has lead in the district in trimming millions from its budget amid declining enrollment, including ongoing efforts to reduce almost $19 million from the spending plan. www.thegazette.com/k/cedar-rapi...

Eliminating eight district staff, implementing one-year salary freezes for administrators and consolidating City View with other programs are just some of the changes the Cedar Rapids school board approved Monday to reduce $12.9 million from the budget. www.thegazette.com/k/heres-how-...

The Cedar Rapids school board tonight will vote on a resolution authorizing the superintendent to take administrative action to implement millions in cost saving measures. There will be no discussion or action taken on proposed facility closures. www.thegazette.com/k/cedar-rapi...

The Iowa City school district cut ribbon Thursday on the $2.1 million space at the Center for Innovation where students will be able to explore careers and develop a plan to pursue a meaningful career and future. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-...

A fourth charter school — called Horizon Science Academy — received approval Thursday from the Iowa State Board of Education to open this fall in Cedar Rapids. www.thegazette.com/k/fourth-cha...

Law enforcement officers — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — are not to be allowed inside Iowa City schools without presenting identification and a warrant. www.thegazette.com/k/i-c-school...

Leader of Iowa City schools Matt Degner is being recognized as the national 2025 Superintendent of the Year by K-12 Dive for his focus on innovative academic programs at a time of increasing competition for students. www.thegazette.com/k/iowa-city-...

Gov. Kim Reynolds Tuesday called public charter schools an important and emerging education model in Iowa and proposed changes aimed at ensuring students have equal access to funding, coursework and activities. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/state-govern...