Top 10 quotes from Davenport schools cheating scandal

By   /  May 22, 2013  /  Iowa, Uncategorized  /  No Comments

Madison Elementary School exams were widely tampered with to boost scores.

By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog

DES MOINES – Iowa leaders have taken over an investigation into the state’s first publicly reported case of cheating on the standardized tests that determine the overall performance of schools.

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Gov. Branstad open to Medicaid expansion

By   /  May 21, 2013  /  Iowa WatchBlog  /  1 Comment

Gov. Terry Branstad says he might consider Medicaid expansion with federal assurances.

By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa’s top elected leader has had a change of heart when it comes to expanding Medicaid and trusting the federal government’s promised financing, according to recent remarks from Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.
Until just recently, Branstad has remained publicly opposed to expanding the state-federal Medicaid program. The move [...]

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Iowa withholds student cheating documents

By   /  May 21, 2013  /  Iowa  /  No Comments

Madison

By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog

DES MOINES – Officials with the Iowa Department of Education say they won’t release any information related to the student cheating in the Davenport School District.

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Iowa lawmakers still stalled on funding for transparency board

By   /  May 17, 2013  /  Iowa WatchBlog  /  No Comments

Iowa lawmakers continue to stall on funding for transparency board.

By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers have yet to settle on budget for the state’s newly formed Iowa Public Information Board, although the board members have met for months and lined up a director to lead the agency, according to Bill Monroe, president of the board.
Lawmakers have inched closer toward Gov. [...]

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Special interests drive Iowa education reforms

By   /  May 10, 2013  /  Accountability, Education, Ethics, Featured, Iowa, Issues, Lobbying, News, State Lobbying  /  1 Comment

federal aid

By Tushar Rae | Iowa Watchdog contributor

DES MOINES – Good intentions aren’t the only driving force behind Iowa’s education reform efforts.

State education agencies, special interest groups and for-profit education companies have spent thousands in 2012 and 2013 to hire lobbyists and pad the pockets of lawmakers who sit on key committees.

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