DES MOINES, IA (01/19/2010)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants every second and third grade teacher in the state to take advantage of the free pencils being offered through Prepare for the Basics. This no-cost program, which provides pencils for students to use during the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, supplied almost 13,500 during the 2008-09 school year. "Any teacher interested in receiving free pencils for their class have until April 1st to submit their requests," stated Fitzgerald. "I really hope all teachers take advantage of this program. It is a small gesture of appreciation for all that they do."

Teachers who would like to take part in the Prepare for the Basics program can register online by visiting www.treasurer.state.ia.us and clicking on the financial literacy tab. Materials should be requested at least two weeks prior to testing to ensure timely arrival, and will be delivered directly to the participating schools. Supplies are limited, so early registration is advised. For more information about College Savings Iowa, go to www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

The Prepare for the Basics program will also provide information about College Savings Iowa, the state's 529 plan designed to give families an affordable way to save money for college. "Families who begin saving early are better prepared to meet the educational needs of their children. Any little bit that can saved now will offset what has to be borrowed in the future," stated Fitzgerald.

College Savings Iowa lets anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - invest for college on behalf of a child. Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $2,811 in contributions per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2010.* Investors do not need to be a state resident and can withdraw their investment tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and room and board at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.**

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

** Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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The Independent Physicians of the Quad Cities Fund is looking for local nonprofit organizations that are seeking funding for projects designed to improve public health in the local community. Grants area available for up to $5,000 and will be awarded based on a program's impact on public health.

Consideration will be given to projects that:

• Monitor health status to identify community problems
• Inform, educate and empower individuals about health issues
• Link those in need to personal health services
• Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce
• Research new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

The Independent Physicians Association of the Quad Cities Fund is now accepting grant applications. Visit www.cfgrb.org to download an electronic version of the application, guidelines and budget form. All applications must be received by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend by February 28, 2010.

If you are interested in learning more, contact Community Foundation of the Great River Bend Program Associate Pat Miller at 563-326-2840 or patmiller@cfgrb.org.

DES MOINES, IA (01/15/2010)(readMedia)-- Iowa's schools won a major victory today as the Iowa House joined the Senate in passing legislation supporting Iowa's application for Race to the Top (RttT) funds.

Iowa could potentially be awarded $60 million to $175 million to support improvements in Iowa's educational system over the next four years if the RttT grant application is approved. Iowa has various components required in the application already in place, but Iowa law needed to be changed in a few key areas to make the application more competitive.

The Iowa State Education Association's (ISEA) Executive Board submitted a letter in support of the application and voted unanimously to encourage its local associations to make their own decisions to sign their local RttT Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). Over half of the ISEA's local associations signed their local MOUs.

The National Right to Work Committee, an anti-worker organization joined the School Administrators of Iowa, the Iowa School Boards Association, and the Urban Educators Network in opposing House File 2033, which placed teachers at the table alongside administrators in deciding how School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds will be implemented in the 35 identified Persistently Low Achieving School (PLAS) districts in Iowa.

"We are grateful that level heads prevailed with today's vote and Legislators weren't swayed by the selfish arguments of a bureaucrat stuck in the old way of doing business as usual," said Chris Bern, President of the ISEA. "It is appalling that some administrators were more concerned about their territorial rights than listening to a child's classroom teacher," added Bern.

Iowa is one of only seven states that limit mandatory bargaining topics to a specific list. Iowa teachers need a special Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing them to work with administrators in PLAS districts to develop school improvement and intervention plans.

"We are always willing to come to the table and talk about what is in the best interest of students. Doesn't it make sense to have the people who are in the classroom every day also sitting at the table helping make important decisions about how to implement strategies and programs to improve their achievement?" Bern said.

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