As parents and others interested in the education of PK-12 students in Iowa, and knowing that Iowa's per pupil spending is $970 per student below the national average and the gap is widening and it would take 16% allowable growth to just get to the average, we urge the Iowa Legislature and Governor Brandstad to swiftly pass 4% allowable growth for the coming school year and for 2014 before school districts come up against the April 15 deadline to certify their budgets, leading to potential cuts in services and programs for our children.