Division will be housed at the State Public Defender's office and will focus on reviewing and identifying potential cases involving wrongful convictions

(DES MOINES)  - Today, during the Administration's weekly press conference, Gov. Terry Branstad and State Public Defender Adam Gregg announced the creation of the Wrongful Conviction Division at the Office of the State Public Defender.  The Wrongful Conviction Division will systematically review and identify potential cases involving wrongful convictions and pursue available legal remedies.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently admitted to serious errors in its testimony in cases involving hair comparison analysis.  The Wrongful Conviction Division is partnering with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Innocence Project of Iowa, and the Midwest Innocence Project to determine whether similar errors have occurred in Iowa cases.  If such errors are identified, the Wrongful Conviction Division will pursue existing legal remedies, such as post-conviction relief.

"In Iowa, we have great confidence in our criminal justice system," said Branstad.  "However, even in a well-regarded system, we know issues can arise.  The creation of the Wrongful Conviction Division within the State Public Defender's Office, and its collaboration with the Division of Criminal Investigation and existing innocence organizations, will help us ensure that our criminal justice system gets it right."

The Wrongful Conviction Division will be led by Audrey McGinn, formerly of the California Innocence Project.  During her time at the California Innocence Project, McGinn had a hand in seven exonerations, and helped found ten innocence projects throughout Latin America.  Her position was created by repurposing a vacant full time employee position, using existing appropriated funding.

More information can be found at the website of the State Public Defender, www.spd.iowa.gov, or by emailing exonerate@spd.state.ia.us.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced that all 336 Iowa school districts have applied to join the state's Teacher Leadership and Compensation System, the most comprehensive teacher leadership system in the nation.  This targeted effort to tap into the expertise of top teachers to better support the more demanding work that teachers are expected to do and to raise student achievement, is the centerpiece of the landmark education reform package adopted by the Legislature and signed by Branstad in 2013.

The legislation created a three-year phase in process to develop a statewide teacher leadership system, with the goal of all school districts participating by the 2016-17 school year. As of this week, all school districts in Iowa have developed and submitted local plans to participate in the teacher leadership system.  When the teacher leadership system is fully phased in, it will cost $150 million annually.

"As the Lt. Governor and I travel around the state and visit with schools districts that are engaged in the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System, we're hearing that this system is transforming instruction in the classroom," said Gov. Branstad.  "We know that these targeted investments are paving the way to give Iowa students a world-class education while revitalizing the teaching profession."

The teacher leadership system rewards outstanding teachers with leadership opportunities, attracts promising teachers with competitive starting salaries and support, and fosters greater collaboration for all teachers to learn from each other.

"In order to achieve our goal of making Iowa schools the best in the nation, we must continue to be innovative in our approach," said Lt. Gov. Reynolds.  "Teachers are the key to giving students a globally competitive education.  The teacher leadership system is working to ensure that we are attracting the brightest and best teachers to our classrooms.  We want to ensure we are giving teachers the tools to be successful.  I commend all districts on their planning efforts."

Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise said feedback from Iowa teachers and principals has been overwhelmingly positive.

"I hear over and over again that the teacher leadership system has empowered teachers and principals to work together in new and creative ways," Wise said. "With higher expectations for all students in place today, it's critical that we support the important and complex work of teaching, and Iowa is doing that through the teacher leadership system."

The teacher leadership system is rooted in collaboration and partnership and was that way from the beginning, when a state task force's recommendations in 2012 formed the basis of the successful legislative proposal. After a year of planning, school districts began applying for funding to implement the teacher leadership system plans locally. The first teacher leadership system districts wrapped up their initial year last spring.

For more information on the teacher leadership system, visit: https://www.educateiowa.gov/teacher-leadership-and-compensation-system 

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Ambitious goal aims to give Iowans the skills needed for rewarding careers and provide Iowa employers with the skilled workforce needed to grow and innovate

(DES MOINES)  - A new report released today by the Branstad-Reynolds Administration in collaboration with the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (Georgetown Center) projects that from 2010 to 2025, Iowa will add 612,000 jobs to its economy, including replacement jobs due to retirement. The report, Iowa: Education and Workforce Trends Through 2025, also finds that 68 percent of all jobs are expected to require postsecondary education and training beyond high school, which positions Iowa 18th among the states and 3 percentage points above the national average. Building on that foundation, Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds are calling for 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce to have education or training beyond high school by 2025 so that more Iowans have great career opportunities and employers have the skilled workforce they need.

"Education or training beyond high school is the new minimum in today's increasingly knowledge-based, global economy," said Branstad. "The Georgetown Center report gives us a strong baseline for setting an ambitious goal of 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce having two- and four-year college degrees, certificates, and other valuable credentials and experience by 2025."

"Employers across Iowa regularly tell us that they struggle to fill both middle-skill and high-skill job openings," said Reynolds. "We look forward to a public conversation about how to close the skills gap at a series of Future Ready Iowa Roundtables that we'll hold in October across the state."

Three Future Ready Iowa Roundtables will be held this month in Waukee, Cedar Falls and Sioux City about how to strengthen Iowa's talent pipeline. Roundtable participants include Branstad, Reynolds, business, labor, nonprofit and education leaders, and high school and college students. The public is invited to attend the hour-long conversations. For more details, please see the roundtable schedule below.

In support of the Branstad-Reynolds Administration's commitment to giving students a globally competitive education and as part of a National Governors Association grant to strengthen Iowa's talent pipeline, the report analyzes industry and occupational trends to determine the education and workforce requirements that will need to be met for Iowa to achieve its economic development goals.

"The leadership in Iowa has a demonstrated understanding of the growing strength of the relationship between postsecondary education and careers, said Anthony P. Carnevale, research professor and director of the Georgetown Center. "With the articulation of this new state goal, they are stepping up to the challenge of matching programs to career opportunities."

Education projections are critical for determining future government investments in education and informing the allocation of government resources. The state's education goals will inform postsecondary institutions and K-12 schools of the enrollment, completion and graduation objectives necessary to fill potential job positions, while taking into account individuals from other states who join Iowa's workforce.

In terms of both output? contribution to the state's gross domestic product?and employment, Iowa's largest industries are manufacturing, healthcare and social assistance, and finance and insurance. As the state's largest industry, manufacturing is projected to add nearly 19,000 jobs through 2025?an 11 percent increase.

When examining the projected job growth by education level, the findings revealed that 32 percent of jobs will require a high school diploma or less; 21 percent of jobs will require a bachelor's degree; and 8 percent will require a graduate degree. The educational requirements for the middle-skill jobs are more nuanced than the 39 percent figure suggests. The breakdown includes associate's degrees (12 percent), postsecondary vocational certificates (5 percent), occupational licenses and professional certifications (5 percent), apprenticeship programs (3 percent) and some college credits with labor market value (14 percent).

The occupation trends show that social science, education, community services and arts, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) are projected to have the largest shares of jobs that require postsecondary education and training, whereas blue-collar and food and personal services will offer higher salaries and be more readily available to workers with a high school diploma or less.

Since the 1980s, education or training beyond high school has become the new minimum threshold for Americans to earn a living wage and attain middle class status. In 1973, only 28 percent of U.S. jobs required education beyond a high school diploma; by 2025, almost two out of three jobs in the nation will require at least some postsecondary education or training. Iowa's economy reflects this national trend and demonstrates a steady increase in the demand for postsecondary education and training in the industries that form the mainstay of the economy.

To read the full report, visit cew.georgetown.edu/Iowa2025.

Below is the schedule for the October Future Ready Iowa Roundtables, which are open to the public:

• Tuesday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Waukee Community School District, Prairieview Theater Arts Center, 655 SE. University Ave., Waukee
• Monday, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., University of Northern Iowa, Slife Ballroom, 23rd St. & Campus St., Cedar Falls
• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Room L416, 4647 Stone Ave, Sioux City

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today appointed Kevin McKeever as judge to the 6th Judicial District.  McKeever was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Douglas S. Russell.

McKeever, 46, of Iowa City, currently serves as an Assistant Muscatine County Attorney. Previously he served as a staff attorney at ACT, Inc. and Assistant Ramsey County Attorney in Minnesota. McKeever received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1991 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 2001.

The governor thanked the District 6 Judicial Nominating Commission, complimenting them on two excellent nominees for the position.

"The two individuals sent to me for consideration by the Judicial Nominating Commission were outstanding, and both could serve as great judges, making this a very difficult decision," said Branstad. "Kevin McKeever is a talented experienced prosecutor with a sharp legal mind and has a tremendous work ethic."

McKeever served as Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1991 - 1998, and as Lieutenant Commander in the United State Navy - Reserves from 1999 - 2007.   He also serves on the Board of Directors for the African American Museum of Iowa and on the Iowa Department of Human Rights' Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee.

District 6 consists of the following counties: Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Tama.