2026 Legislative Session Bill Summaries
HF 621—Firearms in School Vehicles and on School Property: This bill prohibits firearms in a school vehicle when transporting students, except if authorized by the school district. Additionally, a person could have a firearm in their vehicle while in the parking lot or driveway on the grounds of a school. The firearm must remain in the vehicle, and the vehicle must be locked if unattended.
IASB is registered undecided. We think the bill addresses problems we have heard about in districts – ensuring a trap shooting team can transport their firearms if necessary and parents or others concerned they will commit a crime if they have a firearm in their car during pickup or drop off times. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2171—Eliminating School Vaccine Requirements: This bill would eliminate the requirement of all vaccines that are currently required to attend school.
IASB is registered against the bill. Students and parents already have ample exemptions to the required vaccines if they do not wish to be vaccinated. Additionally, the current requirements keep students and staff safe and healthy at school, and this elimination could compromise that health. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2189/SF 2365—Notice Requirements for Construction Contracts: This bill requires public entities, like a school district, to provide written notice to contractors and subcontractors within 14 days of accepting a final bid. There is no liability if a district does not comply.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think contractors can already attend a board meeting or look at board meeting minutes to receive this information, but it is not a large burden on districts. The bill passed the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
HF 2203—Epi Pens and Nasal Sprays: This bill simply adds nasal sprays that deliver epinephrine as allowable for students to use at school, in addition to an epi-pen.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. It does not substantially change anything for schools or require anything extra. The bill passed the House Health and Human Services Committee.
HF 2230—Teacher Prep Programs: This bill, introduced by the Department of Education (DE), would make changes to the requirements of the state’s teacher preparation programs:
Require all students complete a minimum of 15 hours of practicum related to differentiation of instruction for special education students and English learners.
For an endorsement in English learner instruction, a minimum of 40 hours of practicum will be required.
Administer an end-of-program summative assessment, designed to assess the student’s content endorsement area preparedness.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We are supportive of providing more instruction and experiences for all teacher candidates in differentiated instruction and English language instruction. We appreciate clarification from the DE that the summative assessment is not required for either graduation or licensure, but question if it’s necessary. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2231—Civics Excellence Program and Seal: This bill directs the Department of Education to develop a civics excellence program that can lead a student to receive a civics seal on their high school diploma.
IASB is registered in favor of the bill. We appreciate that participating in the program will be voluntary from districts and want to recognize students who take an interest in civics. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2244—Social Studies Instruction Requirements: This bill requires school districts to offer and teach one unit of government, increasing it from the currently required one-half unit. The committee amended the bill to also include that districts must teach civics and U.S. government in 7th or 8th grade.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We appreciate the emphasis on ensuring students have adequate knowledge of civics and government but want to ensure that schools have time to adjust to provide the required instruction. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2294—Filing Complaints with IPIB: This bill extends the time period from 60 to 90 days for someone to file a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) for an alleged violation of open meetings or open records laws.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It passed the House State Government Committee.
HF 2324—Prohibiting Sharing Agreements with Public Libraries: This bill would prohibit school districts from entering into sharing agreements with a public library in their community that allows students to use their school ID card to check out books and materials from the public library. It would also prohibit mobile libraries from school property and prevent students from borrowing materials from them.
IASB is registered opposed to the bill. Some school districts or buildings do not have a library and rely on these sharing agreements to provide books and other materials to their students. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2330—Acknowledgement of Public Records Requests: This bill would require school districts to “promptly” respond to public records requests to provide an approximate date by which the records will be made available and inform the requester of any expected delays.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It passed the House State Government Committee.
HF 2336/SF 2300—Speech and Expression Rights of Students: This bill outlines the protections that students have at school related to speech and expression. It prohibits school districts from discriminating against or punishing students for religious, political, or ideological speech and viewpoints. This includes during class, homework assignments, organizing clubs, and wearing clothes or accessories that display a message.
School districts would also be required to provide the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression to all employees and offer professional development on the topic.
Any individual or club organized by a student would be allowed to bring a civil action if they allege a violation of these protections.
IASB is registered against the bill. We believe these protections already exist and are not being violated by schools. Additionally, the bill adds language about these protections applying to “similarly situated students,” which would create a new standard for First Amendment protections. Currently the protections apply to the speech itself, rather than if the speech would be protected for similarly situated students. The bills passed the House and Senate Education Committees.
HF 2338—Prohibition on Instruction Related to Gender Theory and Sexual Orientation: Currently, school districts are prohibited from providing instruction on gender theory and sexual orientation to grades kindergarten through 6th grade. This bill would add grades 7-12.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We would prefer to keep this limited to lower grades, because this becomes harder as districts provide instruction to older students. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2347—Immunization Exemption Information: This bill requires school districts to provide immunization exemption information any time a district sends information on immunization requirements. The same information must be on the school’s website.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. This bill is not much different from the requirements passed last year that require the information to be provided in registration documents and on the school’s website. It passed the House Health and Human Services Committee.
HF 2358—Direct Participation by Community-Based Providers: This bill would allow community providers of preschool to participate directly in the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program, instead of having to partner with a school district as they do now.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. Community providers will still have to follow the same rules to provide high-quality preschool education, but school districts won’t have to perform the administrative duties. It also has the potential to provide more capacity for four-year-old preschool. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2363—Open Enrollment for English Learners: If an English learner requests to open enroll, the receiving district must have a program to provide the special instruction required and the program must have space for the student. If the student is entering a general education classroom, the receiving district must have sufficient space. The bill also requires a sending district to send the funding that follows the EL student, including the weighting received for an English learner. If the cost to educate the student is more than that funding, the sending district must provide the difference.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We appreciate the consideration of receiving districts and what would be required if they allowed an English learner to open enroll. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2441—Teach Iowa Scholar: This bill makes changes to prioritize applicants for the Teach Iowa Scholar grant. 20% will be awarded to special education teachers and 50% will be awarded to teachers in rural school districts, which includes districts with enrollment less than 1,000 students.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We know that special education and rural schools are two areas where the teacher shortage is especially noticed, so we hope these grants can help alleviate some of that shortage. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2486—Student Dress Code Policy: This bill requires districts to adopt a prescriptive dress code policy that would require student attire to be:
Appropriate for an educational setting.
Presentable, promoting personal hygiene, neatness, and modesty.
Clean and in good repair.
Adequately cover the body; cannot expose undergarments or midriff.
The dress code would apply during the school day, at extracurricular activities, and school-sponsored events.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think districts should be able to adopt policy locally or provide a dress code in the student handbook, rather than prescriptive policy outlined in code. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2490—Public Notice Requirements: This bill would require districts to post a public notice in a place designated for notices that is visible at all times, like the door or window of an administrative building, and posting the notice on the district website. If a posted agenda is changed, the district must mark the agenda as “amended” and identify which agenda item has been changed.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. This is best practice and already being done by most districts, so it won’t be a large burden moving forward. The bill passed the House State Government Committee.
HF 2492—Operational Sharing for CTE Instructors: This bill would add CTE teachers as a position eligible for supplementary weighting under operation sharing. School districts would receive a weighting of two pupils.
IASB is registered for the bill. We’re supportive of any opportunities for districts to utilize operational sharing, especially in an area like CTE that is more expensive to provide. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2493—Five-Year-Old Eligibility for Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP): This bill would allow a five-year-old, with a birthday between March 15 and September 15 of the school year in which they would be five, to enroll in preschool through the SWVPP. If the child attended preschool as a four-year-old and was counted for state, they would not be counted for state funding purposes as a five-year-old.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think the SWVPP should prioritize four-year-olds but understand the need for some five-year-olds to have another year before kindergarten that isn’t available if a district doesn’t have a transitional kindergarten program. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2494—Required Reports from the Department of Education: This bill would require the Department of Education to provide reports to the legislature on reading and math proficiency. The reports would assess the impact of recent legislation requiring individual reading and math plans for students who are not proficient. It would also require a report on the ongoing impact to AEAs as a result of legislation passed two years ago.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. Districts would likely have to provide this information, and it could be hard to know if recent legislation is directly related to proficiency. We would welcome a further look at how the AEAs have been impacted in recent years. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2496—School District Speed Limit: This bill reduces the speed limit in a school zone from 25 to 20 miles per hour.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It passed the House Public Safety Committee.
HF 2510—Social Studies Curriculum: This bill provides a long and prescriptive list of what must be covered in social studies instruction. It places an emphasis on western civilization and includes Holocaust instruction.
IASB is registered against the bill. This is mainly due to the process. We think the legislature should set broad requirements for courses to be taught in schools, the Board of Education adopts standards, and school districts choose a curriculum to meet those standards. Additionally, Iowa recently updated and adopted new social studies standards which include much of what is outlined in the bill, making it unnecessary to pass legislation on the topic. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2512—Revoking Licensure for Celebrating Politically Motivated Violence: This bill would require the Board of Educational Examiners to revoke the license of an educator who publicly celebrates politically motivated violence, including the murder of Charlie Kirk.
IASB is registered against the bill. This would be a First Amendment violation of a teacher’s right to free speech, especially outside of school. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2517—Flags at Half-Staff at School Buildings: This bill would require districts to fly the U.S. and Iowa flags at half-staff if directed to do so by a proclamation from the governor.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. Districts are already doing this, but we want to ensure that an innocent omission, rather than purposeful, is not punished. The bill passed the House Local Government Committee.
HF 2538—Addressing Violent and Disruptive Students: This bill attempts to provide a process for instances of violent or disruptive student behavior. The bill addresses “disorderly conduct” by students which includes violence or threats of violence but is also defined as “disturbs the peace, order, or discipline within the classroom.”
A teacher would be allowed to remove a student from their classroom for disorderly conduct, threatening another student or teacher, or using abusive or profane language. Students in kindergarten through 5th grade won’t be allowed back into the teacher’s classroom until the principal provides written notice. Students in grades 6-12 won’t be readmitted until the next school day and with written notice from the principal. Additionally, if the older students are removed three times in a 30-day period, the student must either be suspended, or the principal must recommend an alternative learning environment for the student.
When students are removed from the classroom and the principal determines there should be disciplinary action taken, the principal will inform the parents.
Teachers could appeal the following to the school board:
Principal’s refusal to allow the teacher to remove a student.
A student being readmitted to the classroom before they are allowed.
An amendment by the committee aims to add creating a safe learning environment to a school’s performance grade. This would be done by:
Suspending or expelling students for disorderly conduct
Calling law enforcement for a student’s disorderly conduct
The amendment also requires a student’s IEP team to meet after a classroom removal to consider whether the student’s current educational programming is appropriate, if the IEP should be changed to address behavior, if an alternative learning placement would be better, and accommodations to allow the student to be successful in a general education setting.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill, but we have serious concerns after the amendment. We are hopeful the legislature continues to work toward a proposal that is both feasible and effective for districts. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2540—Computer Science Graduation Requirement: This bill would require students to take one semester of computer science in order to graduate. The instruction would be required to include what artificial intelligence is, how it works and impacts society, and the ethical considerations of using it.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think the offer and teach requirement is sufficient but have some concern over making it a graduation requirement; however, computer science is important and being integrated into instruction already. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2544/SF 2336—Antisemitism Report: This bill requires school districts to compile a report identifying each complaint or incident of antisemitism that occurred in the past school year. Antisemitism must be treated in the same manner as other forms of discrimination prohibited by law. School districts must integrate a policy prohibiting antisemitic conduct into the district’s code of conduct for both students and employees.
IASB is registered for the bill. It passed the House and Senate Education Committees.
HF 2546—Statewide Data Collection System: This bill requires the Department of Education to issue a request for proposals to procure a data collection system that would allow them to facilitate data collection between their system and all the student information systems currently in use by school districts. The intent is to modernize data collection by the DE to make the process of collecting data and reports simpler.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We appreciate this approach rather than requiring all districts to have the same student information system and hope it will lead to more efficient data collection. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2610/SF 2391—CTE Definitions, Common Course Numbering: This bill, proposed by the Department of Education, proposes changes to ensure the CTE content areas are aligned with a national framework. The DE will develop a common numbering system for all community college courses to make transferring credits easier.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It passed the House and Senate Education Committees.
HF 2623—School District Elections: This bill would move school board elections to even-numbered years, instead of their current odd-numbered years. It provides for transition time for current board members who may be affected by the change.
IASB is registered against the bill because we hope to keep school board elections as non-partisan as possible, which is much harder when the races are on the same ballot as the general election. The bill passed the House Local Government Committee.
HF 2649—Baccalaureate Degrees at Community Colleges: This bill allows community colleges to offer degree programs that lead to a baccalaureate degree in high-demand areas.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We think this could lead to more opportunities for students to earn an education degree and become teachers, helping to alleviate some of our teacher shortage. The bill passed the House Higher Education Committee.
HF 2652—Play-Based Learning in Preschool and Kindergarten: This bill requires 90 minutes of play-based learning during each half day and at least 180 minutes during a full day of preschool. In kindergarten, it would require 45 minutes of play-based learning during each school day.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We know the advantages of preschool for students both academically and socially, and play-based learning supports much of the social development of young learners, which makes them more prepared for school going forward. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2670—Summative Assessment Changes, Curriculum Changes: This bill would add social studies to the summative assessment requirements. It would be administered in 8th and 10th grades.
It would make small changes to the health curriculum requirements, making instruction on physical fitness, food and nutrition, and personal health required. The bill also removes the prescriptive personal finance literacy curriculum requirements from code. The half unit of personal finance is still required.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. The changes are not overly burdensome, and we appreciate the removal of personal finance literacy curriculum in the code. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2681—Cameras in Special Education Classrooms: This bill requires districts to install cameras in all special education classrooms. All recordings must be consistent with privacy laws.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. While it can be beneficial to have video from classrooms, there would be a substantial cost for districts to meet this requirement without any additional funding provided. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2684—Flexibility for Categorical Funds: This bill would allow districts to use the money they receive for each resident student who is using an ESA for any general fund purpose, rather than the categorical fund that it was originally generated for.
IASB is registered in support because it allows more flexibility for districts to use this money as they need. It passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2685—Limiting Technology Use and Digital Instruction: This bill limits digital instruction, which includes lessons, assessments, or instructional activities, to 60 minutes per school day for kindergarten through 5th grade students. Districts will have to adopt a policy on technology use for these grades, which will include a list of digital platforms and applications used for instruction.
Districts will also have to complete a technology adoption checklist before renewing a one-to-one digital device program at any grade level. It will include items like the instructional purpose of the device and the age appropriateness of the device and associated software.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill, but we do not have any major concerns with the bill. It would require some changes from districts, but we think those changes could be beneficial for student learning. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2686—Provisional Coaching License: This bill creates a provisional coaching license issued by the Board of Educational Examiners. It still requires training courses, health-related trainings, and a background check.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. There has been little explanation for which this is needed since there is already a transitional coaching license available to fill gaps until a full coaching authorization can be obtained. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2699/SF 2406—Governor’s Charter School Proposal: Governor Reynolds has proposed her own bill related to charter schools and their students:
Teacher salary supplement (TSS) state cost per pupil funding will follow a student who goes to a charter school.
Charter school students will generate media and educational services funding for the AEA, with that money flowing directly to the AEA, in order to receive AEA services.
Allows charter school students to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident district in the same manner as nonpublic school students do now.
School districts must offer driver education to resident charter school students. The charter school will be responsible for paying the district’s costs related to providing the course to their students.
IASB is registered against the bill, mainly because of the TSS money that will follow students to a charter school. Districts will still need that money to pay required minimum teacher salaries, even if one or two students choose to attend a charter school. The bill passed the House and Senate Education Committees.
HF 2705—Flexibility and Deregulation: This bill makes several small but needed changes that provide some flexibility and regulatory relief for school districts:
Districts will only have to publish their list of claims in the newspaper, but not the purpose.
Salaries will only need to be published on the district website for 30 days instead of in the newspaper.
The Student Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) will have an “including but not limited to” list of recommendations.
Electronic signatures will be allowed by the board president.
Teacher salary supplement funds will be allowed to be moved to the flexibility account.
Students who are chronically absent will not be allowed to open enroll, unless the receiving district approves it.
If a school board member chosen to be the district representative on a county conference board cannot attend, a different board member can attend in their place.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We were hoping to make more changes to provide regulatory relief, but this is a good start. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2713/SF 2425—Charter School and ESA Omnibus: This bill includes several divisions related to charter schools, their funding, and changes for accredited nonpublic schools.
Division I: Allows the teacher salary supplement (TSS) state cost per pupil funding to follow a student to a charter school.
Division II: Allows charter school employees to participate in IPERS, if the charter school satisfies all federal requirements for participation.
Division III: Allows charter school students to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident district in the same manner as nonpublic school students do now.
Division IV: Designates charter schools as a local education agency (LEA) for federal purposes, which allows them to receive federal funds.
Division V: Allows the Iowa Finance Authority to assist charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools with purchasing and reconstructing school buildings. It creates a revolving loan fund for charter schools to purchase and develop school buildings. The same type of revolving loan fund will be created for accredited nonpublic schools. It also requires the Iowa Finance Authority to work with charter schools and accredited nonpublic schools to create and fund a bond program to acquire and develop school buildings.
Division VI: Requires a school district to enter a 28E sharing agreement for preschool if a community provider requests it. It also limits the authority the state or a school district would have over the community providers. The bill is somewhat unclear on whether this would mean community providers have to meet the same standards as other providers of the statewide voluntary preschool program.
Division VII: Allows a parent to request an ESA for the second semester if requested between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15. The ESA will only be half of the normal ESA amount if requested for only the second semester.
Division IX: This section emphasizes that the state does not have authority over nonpublic schools to require them to modify programming or standards.
Division X: Requires the Department of Education to convene a task force to study the required teacher trainings required by state law and to make recommendations to change current law to make the trainings more manageable.
IASB is registered against the bill. We have serious concerns about removing authority and regulations surrounding community-based providers of statewide voluntary preschool. Additionally, we think TSS money should stay with the school district because we use it to meet minimum teacher salary requirements and must retain staff, even if one or two students choose to attend a charter school. The bill passed the House and Senate Education Committees.
HF 2724—Teaching Authorizations: This bill would establish, through rules, additional teaching authorizations for fine arts, math, science, and agriculture. This authorization would be similar to the CTE authorizations that have been added recently which allow for those with industry experience to become teachers.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. This is another avenue to address the teacher shortage, especially in these high-need areas. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
HF 2725/SF 2407—Department of Education Reports: This bill combines several reports issued by the Department of Education into the annual Condition of Education report. It also requires the Department of Workforce Development to provide wage data and return on investment information to evaluate secondary and post-secondary outcomes.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We can appreciate the DE wanting to streamline their reports but want to ensure continued access to data throughout the year. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 176—Extracurricular Participation by Online Students: The bill allows students who attend an online school to participate in extracurricular activities in their resident district if the attendance center providing the online instruction doesn’t sponsor the activities. An amendment by the House Education Committee clarifies that students can participate in two activities per semester.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill, but we appreciate the clarity this bill provides on which students can participate in their resident district’s extracurricular activities. The bill, as amended, passed the House Education Committee.
SF 274/HF 2247—Requiring Schools to Accept Cash at Events: This bill requires school districts to accept cash at athletic and extracurricular events hosted in their district.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We would prefer that this is a local decision and caution that dealing with cash can lead to misplaced funds or fraud. The bill passed the Senate and House Education Committees.
SF 2005—Operational Sharing for CTE Instructors: This bill would allow districts to receive supplemental funding through operational sharing if they choose to share a career and technical education instructor. The weighting would be equal to three pupils.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We are always supportive of operational sharing opportunities, especially in a hard-to-fill and expensive areas like CTE. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2006—Recess Requirements: This bill requires schools to provide at least 30 minutes of physical activity outside of PE each day for students in grades K-5.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We understand that activity throughout the day is important for younger students, but we think the decision on how to accomplish that should be decided locally. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2007—Operational Sharing for School Resource Officers (SRO): This bill would increase the weighting for supplemental funding that districts receive through operational sharing if they choose to share a school resource officer. The weighting would increase to four pupils.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We are always supportive of operational sharing opportunities, particularly this increased weighting because the SRO position is expensive. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2144—Transfer of Funds to Flexibility Account: This bill allows districts to transfer unexpended Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS) funds to their flexibility account. It also removes the requirement that a board hold a public hearing prior to transferring funds to the flexibility account.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. We like that it offers districts more flexibility and takes away the burdensome requirement of a public hearing. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2201—Supplemental State Aid (SSA): This is the updated deal made on SSA for this year. It includes:
2% increase in overall new money.
Budget guarantee covered by state aid for 199 districts that would be eligible at this SSA level. It amounts to $42.9 million.
Transportation equity; the payment to a district will be capped at $1 million.
Education support personnel salary supplement: $7 million
Establishes a second count date of Jan 15. Districts would average their two enrollment counts to establish their basic enrollment.
State aid payments would be sent out quarterly, beginning in July.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We appreciate that this is higher than the Senate’s original proposal, but the overall funding is not enough to keep up with the increasing costs districts are facing, from utilities to meeting increased minimum teacher salaries. The bill passed the House by a vote of 58-35.
SF 2218—Verification of Employee Identity and Authorization to Work: The bill would require the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) to verify that an applicant for initial licensure is lawfully present in the U.S. Additionally, school districts must verify that employees are lawfully present in the U.S.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We are working to get the wording changed and clarified to have the bill say “authorized to work” rather than “lawful presence” because there is a significant difference when it comes to employment. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2219—Excused Absences for FFA and 4-H: This bill requires school districts to grant students an excused absence for FFA and 4-H activities. Districts must allow students to make up the classwork missed during these absences.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think schools are already accommodating for these activities. We don’t like adding specific reasons for absences in code. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2220—Talented and Gifted Programming, Advanced Math Pathways, Whole Grade Acceleration: This bill, proposed by the Department of Education, includes several different components.
- Talented and Gifted (TAG) Identification and Programming
Districts must establish procedures for identifying and serving TAG students.
The district must ensure all populations of students are properly screened and identified, including special education and English learners.
Provide programming and services that fit the educational talents of students.
Review the progress of TAG students each year.
- Advanced Math Pathway
Students will automatically be enrolled in advanced math if they perform at the advanced level on the statewide assessment or demonstrate proficiency in math coursework in grades 5-7.
Districts must provide a pathway designed to increase the number of students who complete higher-level math in high school.
- Whole Grade Acceleration
Districts will implement procedures for either subject or whole-grade acceleration.
Districts will automatically enroll students in the next most rigorous course in either math or English if a student performs at the advanced level on the statewide assessment in the subject.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We support providing programming to fit and challenge all students, but districts should be able to make these decisions on their own. An advanced math pathway requires upper-level math teachers, which are often hard to find, making this hard to implement effectively. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2221—Teaching Authorizations: This bill would establish, through rules, additional teaching authorizations for fine arts, math, and science. This authorization would be similar to the CTE authorizations that have been added recently which allow for those with industry experience to become teachers.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. This is another avenue to address the teacher shortage, especially in these high-need areas. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2223—Concurrent Enrollment: This bill removes the language that summer concurrent enrollment classes will be paid for subject to an appropriation. Instead, the summer courses will be included for weighting in the full school year’s calculation of students who took concurrent enrollment courses.
IASB is registered for the bill. We are supportive of all opportunities for students to take advantage of concurrent enrollment courses. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2224—Computer Science: This bill would allow courses in a variety of areas, including technology, engineering, or manufacturing, to meet the computer science offer and teach requirement.
IASB is registered for the bill. This offers flexibility to districts in how they meet the requirement to offer computer science instruction.
HF 2231/SF 2361—Civics Excellence Program and Seal: This bill directs the Department of Education to develop a civics excellence program that can lead a student to receive a civics seal on their high school diploma.
IASB is registered in favor of the bill. We appreciate that participating in the program will be voluntary from districts and want to recognize students who take an interest in civics. The bill passed the House Education Committee.
SF 2287—Secretary of State Elections Bill: This is a large elections bill proposed by the Secretary of State. It removes the board secretary as being responsible for collecting and filing papers for school board candidates and transfers that duty to the county auditor.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill, but we think this would be a welcome change to streamline the process of filing to run for the school board. The bill passed the Senate State Government Committee.
SF 2299—Payment for Failed Concurrent Enrollment Course: This bill would require a student or their parent to pay the school district the amount they spent on a concurrent enrollment course if the student fails the course.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We have concerns that this may dissuade students from enrolling in these courses but understand there should be accountability when students decide to take a community college class. It passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2319—Your Life Iowa Information on Website: This bill would require school districts to publish information about Your Life Iowa on their district website.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We know the information is important for students to have, but district websites are required to have more and more information included on them, so we wonder how accessible this information will be. It passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2320—Require In-Person Concurrent Enrollment: This bill would require a student that is enrolled in a concurrent enrollment course to take the in-person option if it is available, rather than the online version. It allows the superintendent to authorize a student to take the online version if necessary.
IASB is undecided on the bill. We appreciate the local flexibility to allow students to take the online course if needed. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2335—Impact of Technology Study: This bill would direct the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services to convene a workgroup to examine the impact of school-provided technology on the cognitive function and academic performance of students.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. As we integrate more technology into instruction, it’s important to look at the impact on students. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2351—Open Enrollment Denial for Chronically Absent Students: This bill allows a receiving district to deny an open enrollment request if the student is deemed chronically absent and currently required to participate in a school engagement meeting or absenteeism prevention plan. The student can transfer if the receiving district approves the request.
IASB is registered for the bill. We know some students are abusing the open enrollment process to avoid penalties for chronic absenteeism, and this helps to prevent some of that. Our hope would be to establish the same requirement for students requesting to open enroll to an online school. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2390—Cardiac Emergency Response Plans: This bill, proposed by the American Heart Association, requires school districts to establish a cardiac emergency response team and plan to respond to cardiac emergencies on school property. It would require automated external defibrillators (AED) at every building to meet the requirement of getting an AED to an individual experiencing cardiac arrest within three minutes.
A competitive grant program is established to offset the costs of implementing the plan; however, there is no money appropriated to the fund.
IASB is registered against the bill. We aren’t against having a plan altogether, but the cost could be prohibitive for many districts. We think the plan could be adding to existing emergency response plans in districts, and would be more supportive if funding was made available for all districts to purchase AEDs. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2403—Whole Grade Sharing and Reorganization Incentives: This bill extends the incentives for whole grade sharing or reorganization through 2031, meaning districts who approve either whole grade sharing or reorganization by July 1, 2031, will be eligible for the incentives.
IASB is registered in support of the bill. These incentives help districts through the process of reorganization. It passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2404—Pilot Program for Alternative Attendance Centers: This bill would direct the Department of Education to establish a pilot program in one rural and one urban school district that would create an attendance center to provide educational services, including special education services, to eligible students. These students would include special education students and students whose emotional or behavioral needs interfere with their ability to be successful in the regular classroom. The funding would come from a district’s special education allocation that normally goes to the AEA for those services.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We think it is well-intentioned and aims to provide an alternative learning environment for students who need it, just like therapeutic classrooms. We don’t think the funding should come from the 90% allocation districts receive to contract with the AEA, as it hurts the AEA’s ability to provide services. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2413—Civics and U.S Government Instruction: This bill requires at least a half-semester of civics and U.S. government instruction during grade 7 and 8.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It will require districts to add instruction in 7th and 8th grade, but this is preferable to adding additional graduation requirements at the high school level. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
SF 2428—Addressing Violent and Disruptive Student Behavior: This is the Senate’s proposal to address student behavior issues. The first section of the bill requires school districts to adopt policies that:
Create an oversight review committee at each attendance center, made up of two teachers selected by the other teachers in the building and a staff member selected by the principal.
Authorize a teacher to remove a student for a nonviolent disruption and put the student under the principal or their designee’s supervision for at least 30 minutes.
Prevent the principal from returning the student to the classroom without the teacher’s consent.
The principal must inform the teacher of the student’s discipline.
If a student is removed more than once in a school year, the teacher, principal, guidance counselor, parent, and student will have a meeting to discuss the student’s behavior and establish a behavioral plan to correct it, including an alternative learning environment.
Require a teacher to remove a student for a violent disruption and place them under the supervision of the principal and have the teacher’s consent to return the student.
Principal must determine if a violent disruption that required removal warrants suspension, expulsion, or an alternative learning environment.
A nonviolent disruption can be: disorderly conduct, abusive or profane language, bullying, or repeatedly disruptive behavior. A violent disruption can be: injury, property damage, or assault.
An amendment by the committee added a second section to the bill, which relates to procedures following a disruption by a student with an individualized education plan. Principals are required to:
Carry out manifestation determination review meetings after a student is placed in a new learning environment.
Impose discipline according to policy if a student’s disruption is determined not to be a manifestation of their disability.
Perform functional behavior assessments as needed.
Adjust behavioral intervention plans as needed.
A student’s IEP team is required to meet within ten 10 days after the student’s removal from the classroom to determine if an alternative educational location is best for the student. The teacher who removed the student must be given the opportunity to provide input.
The IEP team must discuss:
Whether the student’s disability is such that their education cannot be achieved satisfactorily in regular classes.
Appropriateness of the student’s current educational programming.
If adjustments should be made to the IEP to address the disruptions.
If the student’s current location or an alternative learning environment would best provide the student with a free appropriate public education.
Accommodations the student requires and whether those can be provided in the general education environment.
The impact providing special education services in the general education environment will have on the student and other students in the classroom.
After considering least restrictive environment requirements, the team may determine the student’s education needs cannot be achieved in regular classes. The student must be placed in an alternative learning environment to best suit the student’s needs.
IASB is registered undecided on the bill. It is a work in progress, and we appreciate the committee being willing to take suggestions on how to improve this legislation to ensure it can work in school districts while ensuring all students and teachers are protected. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee.
Dead Bills
HF 2078—Nonpublic Education Opportunity Tax Credit
HSB 608—Your Life Iowa on Student ID Cards
SF 2345—Notice of Immunization Exemptions
HF 2187—Allowing Youth-Oriented Community Organizations Access to School Property
HF 2306—Responsibilities of Teachers & Educational Staff Relating to IEPs and 504 Plans
SF 2253—Food Nutrition & Preparation Graduation Requirement
HSB 719—School Health-Related Emergency Response Plan Competitive Grant Program
SF 2119—Obscenity Exemptions for Public Libraries and Educational Institutions
SF 2238—An Act Relating to Public Records & the Duties of Lawful Custodians
HF 2336—Modifying Provisions Related to Private Instruction and Dual Enrollment
HF 2470—Instruction in Logic & Critical Thinking
HF 2450—Modifying Provisions Relating to Eligibility, Funding, and Compulsory Attendance for the Statewide Preschool Program
HF 2475—Public Examination of Donations Made to a Government Body by a Nonprofit Organization
HF 2077—Authorizing the Expenditure of Funding from the SAVE Fund for Insurance Costs
SF 2177—Policies & Protections for Libraries Offering Digital Library Services
SF 2200—School Email Security Standards
HSB 680—Authorizing Community-Based Providers to Directly Participate in the Statewide Preschool Program
SF 2211—Limitations on Requiring Medical Interventions by Businesses, Governmental Entities, and Educational Institutions
HF 2309—Public Library Requirements for Materials Harmful to Minors
HF 2368—Limitations on Requiring Medical Interventions by Businesses, Governmental Entities, and Educational Institutions
HF 2399—Awarding of Public Improvement Contracts
HF 2420—Inspector General for School Safety
HF 2435—Kindergarten Enrollment, Promotion to First Grade, and Discipline
HF 564—Contracts for the Construction of Public Improvements
HF 2026—The Display of Flags on Public School Buildings
SF 2120—School Support Staff Retirement and Reemployment
SF 2132—Retirement Benefits of Retired Members Reemployed as School Resource Officers
SSB 3109—Success-Sequence Education
HSB 683—Extracurricular or Cocurricular Activity Participation Graduation Requirement
HF 2392—Health Education and Instruction Requirements
HF 2398—Firearms on School Property and in Vehicles
HF 2404—Holding School Bond Elections During the General Election
HF 2029—Public School Personnel Health Coverage
HF 2004—Nonpublic School Student Participation in Public School Extracurricular Activities
HF 2123—Prohibiting DEI Offices, Officers, Training, and Curricula
HF 2211—Nonpublic School Student Participation in Marching Band and Show Choir
SSB 3130—School Food & Beverage Restrictions
HF 2379—Carrying Weapons on School Grounds
SF 2118—Student Participation in Non-School-Sponsored Athletic Contests or Competitions
HF 2285—Junior Fire Fighter Program Requirement
HF 2286—Modifying Provisions Related to Social Studies Curriculum
HF 2073—Ballot Contents for Certain Elected Officials
HF 2052—Community-Based Providers in the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program
SF 2183—Iowa Individual Income Tax Checkoff for Public Schools and the Public-School Checkoff Fund
HF 2271—Modifying Provisions Related to World Language Instruction
HF 2272—Renewal Requirements Associated with Licenses Issued by the Board of Educational Examiners
HF 2282—A Bill Relating to the Sale of School District Buildings or Structures
SF 2152—Modifying Provisions Related to the Executive Officers of School Boards
SF 2160—The Ability of a Person to Examine the Public Records of School Districts
SF 2149—Civil Actions Against School Board Members and Superintendents for School Policies that Violate State Law.
SSB 3110—Preschool for Low-Income Students, Minimum Hours, and Funding Calculations
HF 2235—Fine Arts Instruction Authorizations From the BOEE
SSB 3004—Online Platform for Career Information for Students
HF 2003—Attendance Centers for Special Needs Students and Students With Behavioral Issues
SSB 3026—Dates for Elections to Issue Bonds or Other Indebtedness
SF 2066—Human Growth and Development Course Enrollment and Educational Conferences
SF 2061—Nonpublic School Safety Infrastructure Grant Program
SF 2094—Computer Science and AI Education Requirements
HF 2186—Modifying Application Periods for ESAs
HF 2051—Supplementary Weighting for Districts Who Share School and Career Specialists
SF 2072—Prohibiting DEI Offices, Officers, Training, and Curricula
SF 2090—Authorizing Residents and Employees to Request Audits of School Districts
HF 2172—Testing Requirements for ESA Participants
HF 2151—Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant Program Within the Department of Education
HF 2019—School Board Nomination Requirements
SF 2004—Using SAVE Funds for Certain Insurance Costs
SF 2003—Prohibiting Gender Theory or Sexual Orientation Instruction in Grades 7–12
SF 2010—Transportation of Students Participating in Open Enrollment
HF 2050—A Bill Relating to the Discipline of Students Who Disrupt the Educational Process
HF 2116—Prohibiting DEI Training, Instruction, Curricula, and Discrimination Based on Political Ideology
HF 2143—Using Revenues From the District Management Levy for Targeted Staff Retention Incentive
HSB 554—Requiring the Development of Advanced Mathematics Pathway Education for Gifted & Talented Students
HF 2080—School Support Staff Retirement and Reemployment Act
SF 2008—Requirements Related to Nonpublic Schools That Receive Tuition Payments
HF 2005—Holocaust Education Requirements for Teachers and Students
HF 2002—Required Review of Iowa’s Public Education System by a Qualified Person
6000 Grand Ave., Ste. A
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 288-1991
© 2017–26 Iowa Association of School Boards®
15.3.2025.8