A new report ranks Iowa’s K-through-12 education system 31st in the nation. The report comes from the American Legislative Exchange Council. It gave Iowa an overall grade of C-minus. Iowa had very low marks in college programs that prepare teachers and in keeping effective teachers in the classroom. Iowa got a D-plus for failing to do enough to get rid of ineffective teachers. Republican Governor Branstad suggests the report should be a “wake-up call” for state policymakers who’re reviewing his education reform plan. Democrats suggest the report from the Republican-leaning group is skewed. They point to other reports indicating, for example, that Iowa high schoolers who took the A-C-T had an average score that ranked second in the nation.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)