SF 278 requires the state Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts seeking to establish robotics-focused career and technical student organizations (CTSOs). It also authorizes high school athletic associations to sponsor interscholastic robotics competitions. The bill directly affects public high schools, students participating in robotics programs, and school administrators managing career and technical education. Key provisions create a structured pathway for schools to develop robotics clubs and integrate them into existing athletic or career-focused competition frameworks.
SF 369 requires students to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test to earn a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma. This law directly affects all high school students in the state and those pursuing equivalent credentials. The key provision mandates passing this specific civics test, which covers U.S. history, government, and civic principles, as a graduation requirement. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025.
HF 835 requires schools to train personnel on emergency care for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It mandates specific emergency care planning, authorizes staff to assist students during seizures, and limits their liability when acting in good faith. The bill also directs the Department of Education to form a work group to develop health care training standards for school staff. These changes directly affect school personnel and students with seizure disorders across the state.
HF 393 modifies how Iowa schools calculate performance grades by excluding students who drop out from certain school performance profile metrics. This change directly affects Iowa public schools and their published performance ratings, which are used to inform parents and the public. The bill alters the Department of Education's methodology to ensure dropout rates do not negatively impact a school's overall grade. It became law after passing the Senate unanimously and receiving the Governor's signature on May 27, 2025. The policy change specifically adjusts how student enrollment data is processed for grading purposes.
SF 515 requires Iowa courts to prioritize a child's current educational setting during custody disputes. It creates a legal presumption that children should remain in their existing school (public, private, or homeschool) unless a parent provides strong evidence showing it harms the child's best interests. The bill applies specifically to cases where parents disagree about schooling, including those with joint legal custody. Court orders must now explicitly outline each parent's rights regarding school access, records, and decisions about the child's education.
This bill modifies Iowa's existing law concerning school concussion and brain injury policies. It specifically expands the definition of "licensed health care provider" for the purpose of clearing students to return to extracurricular interscholastic activities after experiencing a concussion or brain injury. Under this bill, a person who holds a doctorate in psychology with specialty training in neuropsychology or concussion management would be added to the list of professionals who can provide such clearance. This change directly affects students participating in school activities and the range of medical professionals involved in their return-to-play protocols.
This bill expands which grades are eligible for a year-round school calendar in Iowa. It authorizes public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to apply to the Department of Education for permission to implement a year-round calendar for students in grades nine through twelve. This extends an existing provision that currently only allows year-round calendars for students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Before applying for authorization, school boards are required to hold a public hearing on any year-round calendar proposal.
SF 277 is a bill that modifies existing laws related to compulsory education, truancy, and chronic absenteeism. This legislation directly affects students, their parents or guardians, and school districts by altering the legal framework surrounding school attendance requirements. Without the full bill text, specific details on how these provisions are modified, such as changes to definitions or new intervention strategies, cannot be provided.
This bill expands career education opportunities and recognition for Iowa students. It mandates new career planning and exploration curriculum for public school students in grades five through eight, designed to help them understand career pathways and prepare for future academic and career plans. For high school students, the bill directs the Department of Education to establish a list of industry-recognized credentials and create a corresponding seal. School districts would then report students who achieve these credentials and recognize them by adding the seal to their transcripts or providing a certificate.
This bill, known as the "College Affordability Act," aims to address tuition, degree programs, and employment for students at Iowa's public universities. It limits annual tuition and mandatory fee increases for in-state resident students to no more than three percent, and starting in 2026, requires tuition for in-state undergraduates to remain frozen at their first-year rate for subsequent academic years. The bill also directs universities to offer at least one three-year bachelor's degree program by 2027 and establish a "work plus" program where employers cover tuition and fees for participating part-time student employees.
