VAN METER, Iowa —

Better test scores showing accelerated student learning are leading to supplemental pay for educators through the Iowa Department of Education's Teachers Accelerating Learning grant.

The department announced an $8 million investment in a new round of grants. IKM-Manning, Okoboji, Tri-Center, and Van Meter school districts were the four previously awarded funding through first pilot round. According to the department, they were awarded approximately $180,000 to provide supplement pay to educators for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

"Anytime you have an opportunity to pay teachers more, we believe in that greatly," said Deron Durflinger, the superintendent of the Van Meter Community School District.

That's the mindset within the Van Meter Community School Distri

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