Newsletter archives

The 2021 legislative session continues at breakneck speed, with lawmakers proposing flurry of bill — most of which do little, if anything, to support Iowa kids, families and communities. This week we unpack legislation related to funding for public schools, child care assistance, business tax breaks and unemployment insurance. Read...

It's time to use your voice for equity. HF 228 would remove the authority of local school districts to use voluntary diversity plans to guide open enrollment decisions. State law currently give Iowa school districts the ability to develop these plans to help achieve socio-economic balance in their schools. Read...

Buckle up — the Iowa legislature is moving fast. When the Iowa legislature moved subcommittee and committee hearings online due to coronavirus, it looked like an opportunity to use technology to allow more Iowans to participate in the legislative process, despite the pandemic. The reality, though, has been less than...

Welcome to our first update of the 2021 legislative session. Governor Kim Reynolds opened her Condition of the State address this week with a long list of examples of individuals and businesses giving valuable help in their communities in tough times. Voluntary initiatives are deeply reflective of Iowa values and...

Hi friend. The time is now for Congress to pass a robust relief package that will help Iowans get through this crisis. You've most likely been hearing this message from us all summer — and we certainly had hoped Congress would reach a bipartisan deal, one that puts people first,...

As Census deadline nears, can Iowa reach a complete count? Nearly 30 percent of Iowans have yet to be counted in the 2020 Census — and the September 30 deadline is quickly approaching. A complete, accurate count is key to receiving funding to meet our communities' needs, including health care,...

Dear friend, I am writing today with exciting news. The Child and Family Policy Center is joining with the Iowa Policy Project to create a new organization, Common Good Iowa. Look to Common Good Iowa for the solid research, rigorous policy analysis and focused advocacy that Iowans have come to...

On the podcast: Iowa's wishy-washy back-to-school guidelines What will school in the fall look like? It’s a question Iowa families, educators and administrators are asking. But with only six weeks until classes begin, the answer is still unclear. Late last month, the state’s education and public health departments issued their...

When the Iowa legislature recessed in March due to Covid-19, we knew things would be different when lawmakers reconvened ... and they sure are. Since returning last week, the legislature has tried to make accommodations for the public to watch and participate in the process, but the results have been...

Dear friend, We at the Child and Family Policy Center have been working through feelings of sadness, anger and frustration over the last week watching the violence and pain convulsing our communities. It’s a fire lit by the murder of George Floyd, built out of racism rooted in our nation’s...