We are two weeks from the first funnel deadline, which means a bill must pass out of a committee in one chamber to remain alive. Bills continue to be introduced at a rapid pace which translates into so many subcommittees!    

The Senate Education Committee passed their version of SSA, setting the rate at 1.75%.  Their bill also includes language that sets a second count date on February 1. Districts would be allowed to keep the higher of the two enrollment counts. In addition, their bill provides funding to cover the cost of the budget guarantee and $5 toward the district cost per pupil inequity. The governor proposed a 2% SSA rate and provides funding to cover the cost of the budget guarantee. The House has yet to release their proposal. 

Due to all the subcommittee work, little progress has been made to reconcile differences between the three property tax proposals.  We anticipate that more attention will be given to this after February 20. 

The number of bad education bills far outpaces the number of good ones. We continue to work with legislators to try to slow down the process of consideration, but it’s likely that most will come out of two chambers’ respective Education Committees. Our attention will be focused on either stopping them from coming to the floor or trying to “fix” them to be less bad. 

Contact your legislators about setting supplemental state aid (SSA) soon and at a sustainable level. The Senate introduced their proposal this week, which they emphasized is a starting point. They proposed setting SSA at 1.75% and providing state aid to cover the budget guarantee amount at that level. Remind legislators that is a win for your local property taxpayers, but it doesn’t actually provide your district with any new money. 

When you talk to your senator, share what low school funding will mean for your district: 

HF 2106 —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 bill passed the House Education Committee. 

HF 2121—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 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 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.  

SF 2201—Supplemental State Aid (SSA): This is the Senate’s proposal on SSA. It includes:

• 1.75% increase in overall new money.
• Budget guarantee covered by state aid for 206 districts that would be eligible at this SSA level. That amounts to $47.6 million.  
• $5 toward district cost per pupil (DCPP) equity. This brings the largest inequity down to $130. 
• Establishes a second count date of Feb. 1. It would allow districts to keep the larger of the two enrollment counts in a given year to determine funding. 

IASB is registered undecided on the bill. We appreciate the continued effort to bring down the DCPP inequity, 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 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.