Public education in Iowa was created through community initiatives and continues to rely heavily on the public for support and direction. This report is designed to keep the public informed of the current condition of education as well as issues that may have an impact on education. It provides a comprehensive view of kindergarten through 12th-grade education. Three types of indicators are described: (1) input indicators, which are somewhat fixed by outside constraints (such as student population, the value of existing land and real estate, and the financial aid formula); (2) process indicators, which can be controlled or varied to some extent by school districts (such as specific policies, program design and development, and expenditure allocations); and (3) outcome indicators, which result from planned educational programs of the school district (such as student achievement and attendance rates). The most current information is compared to information for the 1985-86 school year and to that for the year 1990. A section entitled "Reform Initiatives" describes a few of the initiatives implemented to ensure quality and expand educational opportunities in the state. Several indicators are treated extensively in textual and tabular form: pupil outcomes, enrollment, finance, staff, and program (curriculum). Appendix A presents Iowa's standing relative to the nation on selected indicators (nine tables). Appendix B is the executive summary of Iowa's Progress Toward the National Education Goals. (LAP)