As students head back to class, Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley is pointing to several new education policies he says will affect the 2025–2026 school year. In his most recent newsletter, Grassley says the Legislature approved a 2 percent increase in Supplemental State Aid, along with an additional $5 per student to address funding inequities. According to Grassley, that raises per-pupil state funding to nearly $8,000.
He also says teachers will benefit from phase two of the state’s salary plan, which brings minimum starting pay to $50,000 and at least $62,000 for teachers with 12 or more years of experience.
Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford who represents District 57 in the Iowa House of Representatives, notes that students will notice a new statewide policy prohibiting cell phone use during class time, with exceptions for medical needs and emergencies. He also cites new laws focused on school safety, requiring threat assessment teams, and efforts aimed at improving math instruction and reversing declining test scores.
Grassley’s email newsletter is available here: https://mailchi.mp/78e98d00d91a/sign-up-for-my-newsletter
