Politics & Government

Should Price Lab Lawsuit Be Tossed Over Word Choice?

State lawyers are asking to throw out a lawsuit trying to block the closure of Price Lab.

Multiple news outlets are reporting that the Iowa Board of Regents has asked to dismiss a of the teaching laboratory school at University of Northern Iowa.

A number of local parents and teachers of Price Lab, a K-12 school for nearly 400 kids and a teaching lab for students, have signed on as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The call for dismissal, filed by the Iowa Attorney General's Office, which is representing the regents, is based on the language in the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks to block the closure of the "Iowa Research and Development School." While the regents voted in February to close "Price Lab."

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Is this just a technicality? The Iowa Code seems to suggest the two terms are synonymous.

Here is what the Iowa Code has to say about the "Iowa Research and Development School" and "Price Lab."

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CHAPTER 256G RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL For transition provisions for establishment of the research and development school in Cedar Falls, including requirements for an infrastructure feasibility study, a proposed timeline, appointment of a transition team, and reporting requirements, see 2009 Acts, ch 177, §56, 57 ...

"It is the intent of the general assembly to develop a state research and development prekindergarten through grade twelve school in order to do the following...

256G.2 DEFINITIONS. ... 4. "Research and development school" means a prekindergarten through grade twelve research, development, demonstration, and dissemination school using expanded facilities at the center for early development education, also known as the Price laboratory school, in Cedar Falls.


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