Obama called on Congress to stop looming July spike in student loan rates in State of the Union last night

Washington, DC - After President Obama used his State of the Union address last night to call on Congress to stop the looming spike in student loan interest rates, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced legislation today to indefinitely keep the interest rate for federally subsidized Stafford loans at 3.4 percent, their current, low rate.

Unless Congress takes action, student loan interest rates will double to 6.8 percent on July 1, 2012.  Such an increase would mean a student taking out the maximum Stafford student loan of $23,000 would pay an additional $11,000 of interest over the 20 year repayment period of the loan.

Tomorrow and Friday, Braley is visiting colleges and universities across eastern Iowa to host campus forums on the state of higher education.  The open forums will focus on college affordability, mounting student loan debt, and employability after graduation.

"Iowa college graduates have the 3rd highest student debt load in the nation," Braley said.  "Piling thousands of dollars more in debt on them puts Iowa students even further behind at graduation.

"Congress needs to act immediately to stop the July spike in student loan interest rates.  Our colleges and universities are avenues of economic opportunity.  If America is to succeed in the global economy, we need to keep higher education attainable and affordable for every person who wants to attend."

In 2007, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act which lowered federally subsidized Stafford student loan rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent.  Because this act expires on July 1st, 2012, federally subsidized student loan interest rates will return to 6.8 percent without Congressional action.

Text of the bill Rep. Braley introduced today can be found at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/nTH

AMES, Iowa - More than 5,908 Iowa State University undergraduates have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the 2011 fall semester Dean's List. Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

Bettendorf, IA

Lauren Paige Anderson, Psychology;Jacob Ryan Bergman, Psychology; Jamie Marie Blaser, Pre-Computer Science; Stephanie Ann Blaser, Dietetics (H SCI); Jessica Marie Blaum, English; Kaitlin Janaye Bohn, Kinesiology and Health; Kimberly Ann Booe, Chemical Engineering; Benjamin Alexander Britz, Mechanical Engineering; Molly Rebecca Bryant, Pre-Journalism and Mass Communication; Jonathan William Buck, Civil Engineering; Sarah Anne Buck, Psychology; Brittney Corrine Carpio, Political Science; Nicholas Lee Cervantes, Computer Engineering; Tyler Benjamin Cline, Civil Engineering; Spencer Owen Crane, Pre-Business; Aislinn Grace D'Auben, Genetics (LAS); Emily Marcene Doerder, Music; Gabriel S. Domingues, Agricultural Systems Technology; Jessica T. Drish, Veterinary Medicine; Dillan P. Dwyer, Mechanical Engineering; Zachary J. Edwards, Pre-Business; William Randolph Emerson, Mechanical Engineering; Taylor Marikey Finney, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design; Christopher Joseph Foss, Mechanical Engineering; Elizabeth Anne Fry, Kinesiology and Health; Jenna Corinne Fussell, Biology; Matthew Nicholas Gaul, Architecture-Professional Degree; Emily M. Graham, Elementary Education; Amanda Michelle Haffarnan, Nutritional Science (H SCI); Jiyeon Han, Nutritional Science (H SCI); Michael Paul Hayes, Psychology; Natalie S. Heiderscheit, Marketing; Jacob T. Hemberger, Chemical Engineering; Kelly Marie Hering, Psychology; Aaron Michael Hewitt, Integrated Studio Arts; Lindsay Jo Hoffman, Diet and Exercise (H SCI); Bryce Phillip Johnson, Business Undeclared; Carolyn Anne Johnson, Animal Science; Megan Michelle Johnson, Kinesiology and Health; John Michael Jones, Management Information Systems; Rachel E. Kirkpatrick, Child, Adult, and Family Services; Abigail Marie Kline, Child, Adult, and Family Services; Kelsey Lynn Kraft, Construction Engineering; Alexander Ernest Krist, Civil Engineering; Jason Carl Kruse, Architecture-Professional Degree; Michael Drew Kurtz, Aerospace Engineering; Elizabeth Ilene Larsen, Psychology; Mikaela Marie Leners, Civil Engineering; Nathan Gull Leners, Aerospace Engineering; Julie Christine Leonard, Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production; Elizabeth J. Martin, Elementary Education; Thomas Ray McGee, Industrial Engineering; Sarah Elizabeth Miller, Biochemistry; Brock Robert Mills, Psychology; Emily Jeanne Misak, English; Mary Kate Misak, Event Management; Jared Paul Mumford, Psychology; Stefan Juel Nitzschke, Management Information Systems; Nicole Renee Oldfather, Animal Science; Emily Paige Rheinhart, Child, Adult, and Family Services; Carleigh A. Rose, Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production; Caleb D. Schulze, Electrical Engineering; Cortney Jay Sievert, Marketing; Benjamin Timothy Stecker, Kinesiology and Health; Erin Cathleen Toohey, Biology (AGLS); Kelly Ann Wagner, Dietetics (H SCI); Paige Nicole Wear, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design; Chad Edward Wisham, Civil Engineering; David Thomas Zimmerman, Industrial Engineering;

Davenport, IA

Hannah Marie Adams, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design;Joshua John Arguello, Architecture-Professional Degree; Ashley M. Arnold, Anthropology; Whitney Ann Bacon, Elementary Education; Heather Nicole Bennett, Community and Regional Planning; Callie Renee Blake, Elementary Education; Nicholas C. Borcherding, Nutritional Science (H SCI); Molly E. Bridges, Elementary Education; Rebecca Joy Briesmoore, Civil Engineering; Matthew Allen Burmeister, Mechanical Engineering; Allison Eckert Bush, Early Childhood Education; Margaret Marie Carlin, Community and Regional Planning; Abigail Nicole Clevenger, Animal Science; Timothy O'Toole Corlett, Kinesiology and Health; Neal Robert Crooks, Aerospace Engineering; Matthew T. Darmour-Paul, Architecture-Professional Degree; Karen Arlene Dau, Chemical Engineering; Matthew Lee Decker, Aerospace Engineering; Elizabeth Marie Doebel, Mathematics; Kalynn Dawn Doebel, Biology; Melanie Joy Drenter, Computer Science; Brett Christopher Ebert, Mechanical Engineering; Trevor Murphy Fennelly, Pre-Business; Marinda R. Gacke, Biology (AGLS); Alexander Joseph Gowey, Accounting; Travis John Hattery, Chemical Engineering; Alicia Rhea Hendrix, Journalism and Mass Communication; Emily Nicole Hill, Elementary Education; Kelsey Jane Hoeksema, Elementary Education; Kathleen Marie Hoil, Performing Arts; Kayla Marie Kaasa, Biology; Malcolm Andrew Kelly, Mechanical Engineering; Lance David Keltner, Civil Engineering; Emily Marie Kenneke, Elementary Education; Nicholas Aaron King, Landscape Architecture; Austin Miles Laugen, Computer Engineering; Megan Elizabeth Maller, Music; Vanessa Lynn McNeal, Child, Adult, and Family Services; Samantha Leigh McPherson, Psychology; Britney Jean Meier, Child, Adult, and Family Services; Alexandra Eleni Menard, Anthropology; Gregory Paul Miers, Supply Chain Management; Colin Narby, Pre-Business; Matthew Douglas Neubauer, Kinesiology and Health; Kara Nhu Nguyen, Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management; Thanh Kim Nguyen, Mechanical Engineering; Alison Margaret Perkins, Interior Design; Nathan S. Premo, Software Engineering; Stephen James Quist, Marketing; Bailey Christine Randone, Communication Studies; Brittany Michelle Redmond, Biochemistry; Aleah Nicole Salisbury, Finance; Bryce Taylor Sandry, Management Information Systems; Erin Bates Sickels, Kinesiology and Health; Brian Vincent Skalak, Pre-Advertising; Matthew J. Skoglund, Chemical Engineering; Brian Michael Smith, Journalism and Mass Communication; Sally Ann Stringham, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design; Michal-Marie Tillotson, Child, Adult, and Family Services; Ian Jeno Toppler, Materials Engineering; Mary Therese Van Camp, World Languages and Cultures; Jeramie Lee Vens, Electrical Engineering; Benjamin M. Wells, Mechanical Engineering; Kelsie Deanne Witt, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design; Connor S. Young, Preparation For Human Medicine;

Moline, IL

Kelsey Breann Carlson, Animal Science;Alex James Michl, Architecture-Professional Degree; Hans William Schaeffer, Mechanical Engineering; Kevin Craig Shedd, Mechanical Engineering; Caleb Jack Spiegel, Architecture-Professional Degree;

Riverdale, IA

Amy K. DCamp, Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration;

Rock Island, IL

ROLLA, MO (01/24/2012)(readMedia)-- Adam Reab of Blue Grass, Iowa, a senior in electrical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo., has been named to the honor list for the 2011 Fall semester.

Honor list recipients must have carried a minimum of 12 hours and had grade point averages of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0

For more information, visit www.mst.edu or contact the admissions office at 800-522-0938.

Founded in 1870 as the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, Missouri S&T is a technological research university of 7,500 students and part of the four-campus University of Missouri System.

New School Report Cards to Help Parents and Communities
Measure Performance

CHICAGO - January 24, 2012. As part of his ongoing commitment to reform education in Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will give parents and communities more information about their schools' performance than ever before. The new law makes changes to school report cards, and report cards for school districts, in an effort to continue improving the state's primary and secondary education system. This law was the result of ongoing work by the Governor's P-20 Council, which was formed in 2009 to work with teachers, administrators and other stakeholders to improve education in Illinois.

"Every child in Illinois deserves access to a good, well-rounded education and we want every parent to know how their child's school is performing," Governor Quinn said. "Empowering parents and communities with this information increases accountability in our schools and allows us to better judge what works and what can be done better."

Sponsored by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), House Bill 605 makes changes to the report cards submitted to parents, the Governor, the General Assembly and the State Board of Education starting in the 2013-2014 school year for elementary, middle and high schools statewide. The new cards will help the state better evaluate the success of schools, programs and districts by allowing comparisons between similar schools across the state, as well as current and past outcomes and progress.

The revamped report cards will include :

• School characteristics and student demographics (school enrollment; racial and ethnic background; # of low income students; per pupil expenditure)
• Curriculum information (availability of AP classes; availability of foreign language classes; school personnel resources; dual credit enrollment)
• Student outcomes (percentage of students meeting and exceeding state standards; graduation rates; percentage of college-ready students)

• Student progress (number of students entering kindergarten ready to learn; student growth measures; percentage of students entering high school on track for college or career)

• School environment (teacher and principal retention; percentage of students and teachers with fewer than 10 absences; measures of school learning climate)

"Every child in Illinois, regardless of background or ethnicity, deserves an effective education," P-20 Council Chairman Miguel Del Valle said. "Knowing how schools serve students and their communities is key to understanding how we improve our education system as a whole."

"The first step towards improving our schools is knowing where we stand," Rep. Chapa LaVia said. "Giving parents, teachers, administrators and lawmakers the information they need to make decisions about the future of our children is the responsible thing to do for our communities and our education system."

"Parents have a right to know how their child's school is performing," Sen. Lightford said. "The new report card is important from both an informational and a transparency standpoint, and will allow us to track vital information about student progress and determine what policies and practices are working and how we can do better. It's an essential tool for parents and educators alike."

HB605, which passed the General Assembly unanimously, follows historic education reform Governor Quinn signed into law last year, which facilitated longer school days and stronger standards for teachers. The new cards (example attached) are a result of collaboration between the Governor's P-20 Council, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, school districts, state lawmakers and education advocacy groups from across the state.

The new law goes into effect immediately.

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