Education

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 26, 2026

HR 110: A resolution honoring the Phoenix Declaration.

HR 110 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for the "Phoenix Declaration," a set of educational principles. It does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses the declaration's emphasis on parental choice in education, transparency in schools, teaching foundational American history and values, and curricular focus on core subjects and character development. The resolution directly affects congressional record-keeping and symbolic recognition, not actual school operations or funding. It has no concrete policy impact beyond stating the House's belief in these educational principles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEndorses parental choice, core curriculum, and American history principles in education without policy changes, aligning with support indicators through symbolic recognition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice School Safety

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 2538: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the duties of the department of education, the discipline of students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools who exhibit disorderly conduct in the classroom, the responsibilities and powers of the department of education, school district teachers, and other educational staff related to students who have individualized education programs or plans under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, and school district professional development plans, and authorizing teachers to request a meeting of a student’s individualized education program team.

HF 2538 modifies Iowa's school performance grading system and student discipline rules. It requires schools to calculate performance grades using metrics like safety efforts (including suspending students for "disorderly conduct" like threats or classroom disruptions), academic growth, attendance, and parental engagement. The bill authorizes teachers to immediately exclude disruptive students from their classrooms and request principal involvement, with specific rules for repeat offenses (e.g., three exclusions in 30 days triggering suspension). It also mandates that charter and innovation zone schools follow the same discipline procedures as traditional school districts and allows teachers to request Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings for students with behavioral issues.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates suspensions for 'disorderly conduct' and ties school grades to safety metrics, restricting student behavior rather than advancing educational support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HSB 746: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to summative testing in schools and the educational program provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve.

This bill modifies Iowa's K-12 education standards by changing annual testing requirements. It mandates assessments in math, English language arts, science, and social studies for specific grades (e.g., math/ELA in grades 3-11, science in grades 5/8/10, social studies in grades 8/10), requiring alignment with Iowa's academic standards and federal accountability rules. The bill also updates health curriculum standards to include age-appropriate information on communicable and sexually transmitted diseases, adds suicide prevention protocols for schools, and establishes training for equity coordinators. These changes directly affect all Iowa public and nonpublic schools serving kindergarten through grade 12, requiring school districts to implement new testing schedules, curriculum content, and safety protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates aligned assessments and updates health curriculum standards, reinforcing educational requirements and accountability without restricting access or funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 16, 2026

HF 2488: A bill for an act prohibiting private institutions of higher education that participate in the Iowa tuition grant program from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

HF 2488 prohibits private colleges in Iowa that receive Iowa Tuition Grants from establishing or maintaining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices. The bill defines a DEI office as any unit creating or promoting policies related to race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, but excludes legal compliance offices, academic departments, student recruitment, and student organizations. Private institutions violating this could lose eligibility for the tuition grant program starting the next academic year. The law allows institutions to report disputes to the attorney general, who can suspend grant access if violations aren't resolved within 30 days.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits DEI offices at private colleges receiving tuition grants, restricting diversity initiatives in higher education curricula and campus policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2382: A bill for an act establishing the school resource officer grant program within the department of education, and making appropriations.

HF 2382 establishes a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help school districts cover costs for hiring or keeping school resource officers (SROs), as defined by federal law. School districts must contribute a 1:1 match (e.g., $1 for every $1 granted) and may receive up to $12,000 per SRO per grant. The program is funded by a $480,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027, with grants awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing district funding for similar SRO costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $480,000 in state appropriations for school resource officer grants, directly funding public safety programs through new budgetary spending.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state grant program to fund school resource officers, providing direct financial support for school safety within education context.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Safety

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2454: A bill for an act relating to the employment of temporary licensed mental health counselors by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.

HF 2454 creates a temporary license for mental health counselors who have met all licensing requirements except the postgraduate supervised clinical experience. This allows school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to hire such temporary counselors to provide mental health services to students under a qualified supervisor. The temporary license is valid for three years and renewable, with fees set by the licensing board to cover administrative costs. Schools must ensure these counselors work under supervision as defined by the board.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows schools to hire temporary mental health counselors, directly enhancing student mental health services and educational support programs in K-12 settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables schools to hire temporary mental health counselors, expanding student access to mental health services under supervision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Medical Licensing Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SF 2302: A bill for an act providing for career development information for students newly enrolling in institutions of higher education and including applicability provisions.

SF 2302 requires Iowa institutions of higher education to schedule a career development meeting for each new undergraduate student within their first year. During this meeting, institutions must review the student's interests, career paths aligned with their major (or potential majors), and provide specific job market data including local job availability, pay ranges, and high-demand occupations for the prior five years. The bill mandates that institutions also provide students with resources for resumes, networking, and employment opportunities during or before the meeting. This applies to first-time students enrolling at participating institutions (state-regulated or certain private schools with Iowa tuition grants) on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates career development meetings with job market data for new higher education students, enhancing student decision-making and workforce preparation within education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 675: A bill for an act relating to education programs and systems, including career and technical education expenditures and definitions, statewide lower division general education framework and common course numbering systems, and the implementation of a statewide corequisite model in Iowa community colleges.

This Iowa bill (HSB 675) establishes new standards for career and technical education (CTE) in K-12 schools and creates statewide transfer systems for community colleges. It requires schools to offer computer science instruction starting in 2023, mandate six specific CTE content areas (like health sciences and business), and define "high-demand" occupations to guide career planning. For community colleges, it implements a common course numbering system to simplify transfers and requires replacing remedial math/English with corequisite models by 2028-2029. The bill directly affects Iowa public schools, community colleges, and students pursuing CTE pathways or college transfers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science instruction, requires six CTE content areas, and creates transfer systems for community colleges, advancing educational access and curriculum standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2170: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program.

This bill (SF 2170) modifies Iowa's concurrent enrollment program, which allows high school students (grades 9-12) to take college courses at community colleges. Its key change requires students to enroll in in-person course sections at community colleges unless a school superintendent specifically authorizes online enrollment. The bill also maintains requirements for school districts to approve courses for academic rigor, provide written notices about course details to students and parents, and ensure comparable courses aren’t already offered locally. These changes aim to standardize enrollment procedures while preserving the program’s goal of offering rigorous academic options. The bill does not alter funding or eligibility but clarifies operational rules for the existing program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires in-person enrollment to maintain academic rigor, enhancing program quality and student engagement in concurrent education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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signed · Iowa · House Apr 30, 2026

HF 2539: A bill for an act repealing certain programs and other matters relating to higher education.

HF 2539 repeals multiple existing higher education programs and administrative requirements in Iowa. It specifically eliminates the Regent’s Minority and Women Educators Enhancement Program, the College Bound program, laboratory schools, and related reporting obligations. The bill also modifies a reporting requirement for the college student aid commission regarding program implementation. These changes remove specific state-funded initiatives and streamline administrative processes for institutions governed by the state board of regents.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals state-funded higher education programs (Minority Educators, College Bound), eliminating funding and initiatives supporting access/diversity in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education