Open Meetings & Public Records Training

Required Training for New Board Members—and a Valuable Refresher for All

Iowa law requires all newly elected and appointed school board, AEA, and community college board members to complete Open Meetings & Public Records Training. IASB makes this simple with a 90-minute session that is:

• Approved by the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB)
• Tailored specifically for Iowa board members
• Convenient and affordable with multiple training options
• Completed with a certificate of completion

While only new board members or those appointed after July 1, 2025, are required by law to participate, IASB encourages all board members to attend each year. Staying current with open meetings and open records laws builds confidence, ensures compliance, and supports best practices in governance.

Training Options:

• In-person at BoardCon (Nov. 20) REGISTER NOW!
• Online module via AEA Learning Online ($100) AVAILABLE EARLY OCTOBER
• Digital Trainings ($25 per person, $125 max per entity) AVAILABLE EARLY OCTOBER
  • Thursday, Dec. 4 | 5:30–7 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 18 | 5:30–7 p.m.
  • Thursday, Jan. 8 | 5:30–7 p.m.

   

Opinion from the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) Open Meetings & Public Records Training

All newly elected or appointed officials must complete an approved training within 90 days of 1. taking the initial oath of office; 2. assuming the responsibilities, if the member is not required to take an oath of office; or 3. after being elected to the office. IASB has received a lot of questions on what newly elected or newly appointed individuals mean. Part II of the "Executive Summary" section addresses this. Here is a short summary of that section: 

What does Newly elected or newly appointed mean? According to IPIB's Advisory Opinion, training requirements only apply to public officials, elected or appointed to a governmental body on or after July 1, 2025. Those already serving as of June 30, 2025 are exempt, even if reappointed or reelected to the same role. However, the exemption doesn’t apply if they leave and return later, or if they move to a different governmental body. Once someone completes certified training, it satisfies the training requirements for all future service on any governmental body or its committees.

For more Q/A and detailed information see IPIB's Advisory Opinion here: 25AO:0011 New Training Requirements Under Iowa Code Section 21.12 | Iowa Public Information Board