The Iowa House of Representatives has passed their version of the bill that will set the State Supplemental Aid (SSA) for public schools in the 2024 fiscal year.

Representative for District 23 Ray Sorensen says that SSA funding goes to all public schools in Iowa, and is used by the state to help make sure that school districts can cover costs they may incur during the year. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the House approved a three percent increase.

“The increase amounts to about, I think it’s $146.7 million for fiscal year 2024, and I think it’s $3.8 billion to the School Foundation Aid. So it’s a huge increase.”

Sorensen mentions that he believes that with this increase to the SSA, the House is continuing to give responsible raises, and that the bill is in line with other education bills that they are looking to pass, including the bill set to increase teacher pay from roughly $33,000 for starting educators, to $50,000, and increase pay of veteran teachers along with it.