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  • Urban Education Network
    of Iowa
    Your partner in advocating for public schools
    at the Iowa Statehouse!
    About UEN
  • Making sense of legislation and
    what it means for Iowa schools
    Providing weekly updates during the legislative session
    View the Latest Update
  • Facilitating connections between members
    and member districts
    UEN Job Alike Groups meet regularly
    Learn More
Supporting Iowa's Urban Public Schools

Urban Education Network of Iowa

A consortium of Iowa's largest public school districts formed to represent the unique characteristics of urban public schools as well as issues related to all of Iowa's public schools.

Advocacy

Developing and identifying tools and resources to advocate for urban schools and connect with legislators

Connection

Facilitating connections and sharing resources among UEN members through job alike groups, our annual meeting, and more

Resources

Offering programs, services and resources to help members and supporters of UEN and public education

Who We Are

The Urban Education Network is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1993 and now includes twenty-four of Iowa's largest school districts as members. Our members are all classified as urban in nature.

 

Common Characteristics of Urban School Districts:

- Population density
- Cultural, social and economic diversity
- Broad ethnic representation
- Extensive transportation system
- Two or more comprehensive high schools and/or 10,000 or more students
- 3,000 students combined with certain concentrations of the student population identified as free/reduced-price lunch eligible, minority enrollment, special education services, English-language learners, and other metrics of diversity 

Learn More About UEN

UEN Mission

The Urban Education Network keeps the state's lawmakers, the media, and the public informed about the progress and problems in our state's largest and most diverse public school districts. We do this through advocacy, legislation, communications and research.

 

The UEN also helps to build capacity in urban education by facilitating connections between member districts to improve student academic performance and narrow achievement gaps, improve professional development; and strengthen leadership, governance, and management.

 

In addition, joint efforts with other state organizations and policymakers extend the UEN's influence and effectiveness outside member school districts to the broader community that will ultimately benefit from the contributions of today's urban students. All members of the UEN help determine program priorities. For guidance, the members rely upon data retrieved from local, state, regional and national sources. In addition, specific issues arise addressing contemporary events, legislative concerns and current trends.

 

The priorities of the UEN continually evolve, reflecting the changing needs of urban students, families and communities.

Our 2026 Legislative Priorities

Help Advocate for Public Schools

Support for public schools is needed now more than ever. After several years of low funding for public schools in Iowa, school districts are being asked to do more with less.

 

Here's how you can help.

  • Get to know your legislators – find out who represents your local school district and their core values and positions on issues
  • Learn about the priorities of your school district – learn about which issues are most important your local school board and students
  • Contact your legislators – ask them to support the issues important to you, your family, and your local school district
  • Support your local school district – join an advocacy committee, volunteer to help your local school, donate to your school's foundation, send a thank you note to school leaders, share the good news happening in your public schools around the community, or run for the school board

 

UEN has resources to help.

Advocacy Tools

Facts About UEN Members

During the 2024-25 school year, the UEN Membership was made up of 10 of Iowa's largest districts in urban communities with two or more high schools, along with 14 other large school districts with one high school and other urban tendencies. Below are some facts about the 24 UEN member districts based on the 2024-25 school year.

Number of Iowa's PK-12 Students Enrolled in UEN Member Districts
43%
Percentage of Iowa's PK-12 non-white students
67%
Percentage of Iowa's PK-12 black students
83%
Percentage of Iowa's PK-12 hispanic/latino students
59%
Number of Iowa's limited English speaking students (EL)
70%
Number of Iowa's students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
45%
Percentage of Iowa's K-12 low income students (free and reduced lunch eligible students)
51%
Percentage of Iowa's PK-12 certified staff
42%
Percentage of Iowa's school principals
33%
Learn about bills on the move, calls for action, recent UEN testimony and more

Latest Reports from the Statehouse

Our members serve students in urban schools across the state of Iowa.

Our Members

UEN offers many tools and resources to help with effective advocacy

Advocacy Tools

UEN Legislative Priorities

UEN Legislative Priorities

Representatives from UEN member districts come together to develop the Legislative Priorities for the organization. The Priorities are approved annually by the UEN Steering Committee. View UEN's 2026 Legislative Priorities.

UEN Issue Briefs

UEN Issue Briefs

UEN Issue Briefs explain why these legislative issues are important to UEN member districts, provide advocacy messages and talking points, and define actions we request be taken by the Governor and Legislators.

UEN Legislative Digest

UEN Legislative Digest

Produced annually, the UEN Legislative Digest is a summary of all of the details and legislative actions impacting schools that took place during the most recent legislative session.

 

UEN Advocacy Handbook

UEN Advocacy Handbook

The UEN Advocacy Handbook is designed to provide information to advocate on behalf of urban schools in Iowa, both at the Statehouse during the legislative session, and also at the local district throughout the year.

Connecting with Legislators

Connecting with Legislators

Tools and links to help you find your legislators and their contact information and committe assignments. Once you know how to reach your legislators and candidates, use these sample questions to learn about their priorities and help craft your message.

Advocacy Action Steps & Message Worksheet

Advocacy Action Steps & Message Worksheet

Use these tools to advocate successfully with legislators or candidates by knowing your legislators, finding common ground, preparing your message, and determining your advocacy action steps.

Contact Us

UEN can provide expertise on how legislation impacts schools and much more. Have questions, reach out to us today!

Contact UEN

Interested in Getting Involved?

Learn How