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Iowa lawmakers propose delay to reading program over money

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April 12th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers in a legislative budget group plan to propose delaying a state-mandated summer reading program for struggling third-graders because there’s no money to pay for it. Leaders in the joint Education Appropriations Subcommittee say the roughly $14 million needed to support the program is not available. They want to add language to a budget bill that would delay implementation from 2017 to 2018.

Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, an Arlington Democrat and co-chairman of the group, says there’s bipartisan support to delay the program. He called it an “unfunded mandate.” At least one education group applauded the move. Gov. Terry Branstad did not include money in his budget recommendations for the program, which could hold back some third-graders who don’t complete it.