Will Bill That Passed Iowa Senate Save Price Lab?

The Iowa Senate passed a bill today that would save Malcolm Price Laboratory School at University of Northern Iowa, at least for now.

The bill would require UNI to fund, staff and operate Price Lab, according to a Des Moines Register report. Price Lab is a K-12 school for more than 350 kids and a lab for UNI students training to become teachers.

State Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, told Patch that the bill requires a study this fall to be submitted to the legislature next year, $3 million in appropriations directed to the research and development school, which is how the Iowa Code refers to Price Lab, and that Price Lab remain open through July 2013.

The bill will now go to negotiations between the Senate and the House, which means nothing is final yet.

"I have had discussion with House members including Republicans. I do believe there is an interest in the study and keeping the school open while we provide for the thoughtful process to continue," Danielson said.

UNI officials recommended, and the Iowa Board of Regents endorsed, at the end of the school year due to budget cuts. There has been outcry about the plans, and there is a to block the closure.

Danielson called the Regents decision to close the school "unconstitutional."

After the bill made it through a Senate committee last week, UNI released a statement backing the plans to close the school, touting the new model for developing teachers over the Price Lab model:

The University of Northern Iowa appreciates the Iowa General Assembly's interest in Pre-K through 12 education in Iowa. However, we think it's important to reiterate that while Malcolm Price Laboratory School has served the university and community well, the school was not the foundational element of the UNI teacher-education program. The new model for the Iowa Research and Development Center for Education Innovation will allow faculty more time to do research, professional development and create partnerships statewide.

There currently are 345 K-12 students enrolled at MPLS. The Cedar Falls, Waterloo and surrounding districts have opened their doors to welcome these students and plans continue to move forward to close MPLS by June 30.