As Iowa's investment in public education declined over a 13-year period, the state's position as a leader in student achievement also declined, a new report shows. "Actions taken by the 2006 General Assembly began to reverse this trend on the investment side, but have taken only a first step to address this decline in investment, and the new Legislature has major challenges before it," said Charles Bruner, executive director of the Child & Family Policy Center (CFPC) and co-author of the new report for the nonpartisan Iowa Fiscal Partnership (IFP). ... "The report raises two important questions for Iowa policymakers," [CFPC senior associate Mike] Crawford said. "First, is it reasonable to be concerned that our decline in investment has affected achievement? And second, should we assure a greater commitment to education in Iowa?"