The Des Moines Public School (DMPS) Board recently decided to pause the Agriscience Academy program for a year to reconfigure the curriculum. In a statement to students, the school district cited several problems with the ag education program, including a lack of student interest and diversity, and outlined their plan to correct it.
In response, current and former students from the program are asking for help to keep their ag education program running without a pause since ongoing ag education is a requirement for participation in the National FFA Organization.
In a call with reporters on Tuesday, RFD-TV News reporter Lily Raby asked Senate Ag Committee member Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for his opinion on the issue.
As a federal leader representing the State of Iowa, Sen. Grassley immediately emphasized that “education is a local issue.” He continued: “Washington D.C. will not interfere with what the local school district is doing with their education program—whether it deals with agriculture or anything else.”
However, he expressed the importance of ag education and supporting farmers — “especially new and beginning farmers” — and pledged to support FFA and 4-H programs “when we pass the five-year Farm Bill.”
He also said it would be a shame if local leaders decided the FFA program wasn’t worth the effort, but he wouldn’t interfere or “question” a local decision.
“If they decide they don’t think FFA programs are worth their effort, " Grassley says, “I just say I’m sorry to hear that, but I wouldn’t question their local decision.”
Here’s Sen. Grassley’s statement regarding the Des Moines FFA program and DMPS’ decision to pause its Agriscience Academy:
“Education is a local issue. Washington D.C. will not interfere with what the local school district is doing with their education program – whether it deals with agriculture or anything else. I’m aware of efforts to pause the Central Campus Academy program.
In regard to that—I think ag education is very important; farmers need our support, especially new and beginning farmers, and I don’t presume to think that people involved in the FFA in the Des Moines School District would necessarily want to go into agriculture, but probably some form of non-farm agriculture and I think the more we can invest in farmers and ranchers, the better off we are.
When we pass the new five-year Farm Bill, we’re going to be very active in supporting the 4-H and FFA authorizations, as we have for decades. Some of this stuff goes back to now—I’ll bet 105 years old—the Smith-Hughes Act of the World War 1 era that set up some of this stuff that we do in agriculture with federal government support. But I don’t know.
This Central Campus used to be called Des Moines Tech when I was in the state legislature 60 years ago, and they were very innovative at that time. And I wouldn’t question them. They’re just as innovative today. If they decide they don’t think FFA programs are worth their effort, I just say I’m sorry to hear that, but I wouldn’t question their local decision.”
- U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
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The legislation Grassley mentioned, The Smith-Hughes Act, passed in Feb. 1917 and established federal funding for vocational education programs like agriculture, home economics, and other trades. The act also outlined requirements for participating states and schools, such as matching federal funds, ensuring public control of schools receiving funding, and allocating funds to vocational teachers with vocational experience.
RFD-TV News has requested additional comment from the DMPS School Board and Central Campus leadership on this matter but has not heard back.
