Governor proposes new education initiative

Governor Tom Vilsack today proposed an “Iowa Learns” initiative to encourage more Iowans to get a college degree. Vilsack says the goal is to change a K-through-12 mindset into a focus on P-through-16. Vilsack says the focus has to be on education to move the state forward.Vilsack says his goal is to have 90 percent of Iowa kids entered in pre-school, to enhance their changes of success. Vilsack’s other ogal is to have 90 percent of Iowa high-schoolers get either a two- or four-year college degree.Vilsack proposes that the state pay the interest on student loans, for the first five years, for college students who live and work in Iowa after graduation. The Legislature cut work-study programs on Iowa college campuses, and Vilsack proposes restoring those programs, too. Vilsack also proposes a “virtual academy” for Iowa high schoolers to get the most advanced classes possible as well as “regional” high schools.