DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Education today announced statewide voting is now open for Iowans to help select the state’s next education license plate design. Replacing the current decades-old design, these new license plate designs feature original artwork from 16 student semifinalists from across the state.
“Earlier this school year, the Department asked students to help us reimagine Iowa’s education license plate, and now it’s time for you to pick your favorite submissions,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “This first-of-its-kind design challenge is helping us celebrate education across Iowa while recognizing the incredible artistic talent of our students.”
A committee representing art teachers from across the state reviewed and selected the 16 semifinalists from over 100 qualified designs submitted by Iowa K-12 art classes. Each entry was reviewed for creativity, originality, artistic skill and its representation of celebrating Iowa education. Iowans can access the online voting form to select their top three overall favorite designs in each of the following grade bands: 3-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12. They can also select their top three overall favorite designs.
From the results of the public voting, three or four finalists will be selected for final consideration. The winning design will be announced at the end of the school year, replacing the current design that has been in place since 1997. The redesigned license plates will tentatively go into production this summer and all semifinalist and finalist art designs will be permanently displayed at the Department’s Grimes State Office Building.
The Iowa Education License Plate Contest was introduced last fall to redesign the state’s current education license plate. Iowa K-12 students were invited to create original designs for the education license plates that will be featured on the vehicles of drivers supporting Iowa education across the state. Iowa K-12 art teachers could select up to 10 student designs to submit for the contest this spring.
Specialized education license plates are a great way for Iowa drivers to show their support of education across the state. All education license plates are purchased through the Iowa Department of Transportation. The fees collected from the purchase of specialized education license plates support school districts with the highest per pupil transportation costs, including schools serving rural communities.
The contest voting period is open through April 15. The voting form can be accessed on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
More information on the contest can be found on the Iowa Education License Plate Contest webpage. Iowa Education License Plate Contest
