(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today thanked the myriad Partners for Education Reform who have signed on with their proposal to make Iowa's schools the best in the nation. Branstad and Reynolds both understood the need for a broad, bipartisan effort when they released their proposal just last month.

"We have many good schools with committed educators, but they are stuck in a system designed for the 20th century, not the 21st century," Branstad said. "I am ready to invest significant resources into these educational reforms, which truly have the power to dramatically raise achievement. I want to thank these vital partners who will help us move education reform forward."

Reynolds highlighted the importance of enhancing the teaching profession as a whole.

"This is about strengthening the teaching profession for the benefit of both students and teachers," Reynolds said. "Teachers are the single most important influence on a child's success inside school, and educators are being asked to do much more to prepare students for our knowledge-driven economy. We must make sure new teachers are ready to rise to that challenge, while also providing more support for teachers already in the classroom. Our Partners for Education Reform understand this."

An electronic list of the Partners for Education Reform can be found HERE. The growing list is as follows:

Pioneer

Wellmark

3M

Principal Financial Group

Iowa Chamber Alliance

Greater Des Moines Partnership

Urban Education Network of Iowa

Iowa Biotechnology Association

Iowa Board of Regents

Deere & Company

Master Builders of Iowa

MidAmerican Energy Company

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company

Monsanto Company

Iowa Board of Educational Examiners

Meredith Corporation

Alliant Energy Corporation

CenturyLink

Alliance Pipline, Inc.

Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa

NECA, IA (NEC)

NextEra Energy

Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)

Iowa Association of Realtors

StudentsFirst

Hy-Vee, Inc.

Iowa Engineering Society

American Council of Engineering Companies

Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB/IA)

Professional Educators of Iowa

Siouxland Chamber

Iowa Department of Education

College Student Aid Commission

KERRVILLE, TX (02/18/2013)(readMedia)-- Schreiner University of Kerrville has named Samuel Kuznetsov of Bettendorf, IA to its President's List. Kuznetsov, son of Alex and Danielle Kuznetsov was named to the roster of high-achieving students for the fall 2012 term.

To qualify for the President's List, full-time students must earn at least a 3.7 grade point average and have at least 12 hours credit for the term.

Schreiner University is an independent coeducational liberal arts university related by choice and covenant to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). For more information, visit our website at www.schreiner.edu or call the Office of Admission at 830-792-7217.

SPRINGFIELD - After waiting through three governors and countless capitol bills, Silvis school still has not received the money first promised by former Gov. George Ryan.  The school found out this month from Governor Pat Quinn's administration that the money is again on hold.

Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline), who has continued to fight for the school construction grant for Silvis, said today that enough-is-enough.

"Silvis school district originally applied for the school construction grant in 2002," Jacobs said.  "They have been strung along by the state for long enough. At a time when Quinn is providing funds for other construction projects across the state, it is time for the state to man up to its commitments and give Silvis the money promised over a decade ago."

Silvis applied for, and was awarded the school construction grant in 2002, but the funds were never received. Then, Gov. Rod Blagojevich visited Silvis in 2004 and held a press conference with a big fake check guaranteeing the district would receive the money. It didn't.

In 2009, the General Assembly passed a construction program that was supposed to make the Silvis a priority.

"I am tired of the run around," Jacobs said. "If the state was never going to live up to its promise of construction dollars, why approve the project and give the people of my district false hope. The state made an agreement, and needs to come through on that agreement now."