Education (Teachers)

died · Iowa · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SF 2222: A bill for an act relating to teacher education and licensing, including by modifying provisions related to practitioner preparation programs and licenses issued by the board of educational examiners.

SF 2222 requires Iowa teacher training programs to increase clinical experience for future educators starting July 1, 2027. All students in these programs must complete at least 15 hours of practice focused on supporting students with disabilities and English learners, while those seeking English learner teaching endorsements need 40 hours of specialized training. The bill also mandates a new end-of-program assessment for each teaching specialty, with results reported to the state education department and published publicly starting in 2028. This directly affects all colleges offering teacher preparation programs and prospective teachers seeking licensure in Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates increased clinical hours for teacher training focused on disabilities and English learners, strengthening educator preparation standards and student support requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SF 2220: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the Iowa statewide assessment of student progress and programs for gifted and talented children, and by requiring school districts to develop an advanced mathematics pathway and implement procedures for subject acceleration and whole-grade acceleration, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2220 modifies Iowa's statewide student assessments, requiring math and English language arts testing in grades 3-11 and science in grades 5, 8, and 10. It mandates school districts to develop procedures for identifying gifted and talented students using multiple data points (like standardized tests and teacher input), ensuring equitable access across all student groups. The bill requires districts to create an "advanced mathematics pathway" enabling students to complete algebra I by grade nine and automatically enroll students scoring "advanced" in math or ELA assessments in the next rigorous course level. These provisions directly affect all Iowa public school districts, students in grades 4-12, and gifted education programs by changing assessment requirements, identification processes, and access to accelerated math courses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates statewide assessments, equitable gifted program procedures, and advanced math pathway to strengthen curriculum standards and student access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SF 2311: A bill for an act providing for education on the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts.

SF 2311 requires Iowa public school districts to incorporate age-appropriate Holocaust education into middle and high school curricula by the 2027 school year. The bill mandates that this instruction - integrated into existing courses - cover specific topics including the Holocaust's causes, history of antisemitism, U.S. military roles in defeating Nazi Germany, and connections to modern discrimination. School districts must also provide teacher training on these topics as part of professional development, using resources from approved organizations like the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Iowa Department of Education will annually report on district compliance to the governor and legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates Holocaust curriculum integration into K-12, enhancing historical education and teacher training requirements per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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passed · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SF 2224: A bill for an act relating to computer science education, including by modifying provisions related to standards for computer science education, the curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and practitioner preparation programs, and including applicability provisions.

SF 2224 requires all Iowa public high schools (grades 9-12) to include artificial intelligence fundamentals in computer science courses, mandating instruction on what AI is, how it works, and its societal impacts. It updates graduation requirements to mandate a half-unit of computer science starting in 2022, allowing schools to fulfill part of this requirement through applied science, technology, engineering, or manufacturing courses. The bill also adds new standards for teacher preparation programs, requiring future educators to complete training in AI and computational thinking relevant to their grade level. These changes apply to all Iowa public schools and teacher training institutions, directly affecting students, educators, and curriculum developers. The law modifies existing education codes (sections 256.7, 256.11, and 256.16) to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AI fundamentals in high school CS curriculum and updates graduation requirements to strengthen computer science education standards.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI fundamentals in high school CS curriculum, requiring instruction on AI's societal impacts, advancing tech education and digital literacy standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SF 2144: A bill for an act relating to school district general fund flexibility accounts by expanding eligible funding sources and modifying expenditure approval requirements.

SF 2144 allows Iowa school districts to transfer unspent teacher salary supplement funds (calculated under section 257.10(9)) into their general fund flexibility accounts after July 1, 2026, if all original funding requirements are met. This expands the list of eligible funding sources for flexibility accounts beyond current options. The bill removes the requirement for school boards to hold public hearings before approving expenditures from these accounts, though it retains board resolution approval and reporting requirements to the Department of Education. The policy directly affects Iowa public school districts managing their general fund flexibility accounts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands school district flexibility in using unspent teacher funds for general operations, enhancing financial management without restricting education funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SSB 3042: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the Iowa statewide assessment of student progress and programs for gifted and talented children, and by requiring school districts to develop an advanced mathematics pathway and implement procedures for subject acceleration and whole-grade acceleration.

This bill requires Iowa school districts to implement several education changes. It mandates annual math and English language arts assessments for grades 3-11 and science for grades 5, 8, and 10-11, while establishing new procedures for identifying gifted students using multiple data sources (like test scores and teacher input) and ensuring equitable access across all student groups. Districts must create an "advanced mathematics pathway" to help students complete algebra I by grade nine and automatically enroll students scoring "advanced" in math/ELA assessments into higher-level courses. Additionally, districts must develop clear procedures for subject acceleration (moving ahead in one subject) and whole-grade acceleration (skipping a full grade), including support for learning gaps and parental notification options.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual assessments, equitable gifted identification, and advanced math pathways to improve educational standards and access for all students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SSB 3048: A bill for an act relating to teacher education and licensing, including by modifying provisions related to practitioner preparation programs and licenses issued by the board of educational examiners.

This bill requires Iowa teacher training programs to add specific clinical experiences starting July 2027: all candidates must complete 15 hours focused on supporting students with disabilities and English learners, while those seeking English learner endorsements need 40 hours. It also mandates a new end-of-program assessment to measure teaching readiness in specific subject areas, with passing scores set by the state department. Programs must provide remediation for students who don't meet standards, and the department will publish pass rates and improvement efforts online starting 2028. These changes directly affect teacher training institutions and new teacher candidates seeking licensure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates enhanced clinical training for teachers in disability/ELL support and new readiness assessment to improve educator quality and student outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SF 2076: A bill for an act relating to a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at accredited private institutions and regents institutions for students during student teaching experiences in the state.

This bill requires Iowa public universities and private colleges participating in the state's tuition grants program to waive tuition and mandatory fees for education students during their student teaching semester. It directly affects teacher education students in their final year of training, who must complete a full-time, supervised teaching experience under a licensed instructor. The key provision mandates institutions to adopt this waiver policy as a condition of their participation in the Iowa tuition grants program, defining "student teaching" as the final-year clinical teaching experience. The policy applies only to the specific semester of student teaching, not the entire degree program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationWaives tuition/fees for teacher education students during student teaching, reducing financial barriers for future educators and aligning with teacher support and access indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 20, 2026

HSB 554: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the Iowa statewide assessment of student progress and programs for gifted and talented children, and by requiring school districts to develop an advanced mathematics pathway and implement procedures for subject acceleration and whole-grade acceleration.

This bill modifies Iowa's education requirements by updating statewide student assessments and creating new standards for gifted programs. It mandates that all students in grades 3-11 take annual math and English language arts assessments, with science tests for grades 5, 8, and 10-11. School districts must establish procedures to identify gifted students using multiple data sources (like test scores and teacher input) and develop an advanced math pathway to enable algebra I completion by grade nine. Additionally, districts must automatically enroll students scoring in the "advanced" range on math or ELA tests in more rigorous courses, with parent opt-out options, and implement subject/grade acceleration procedures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates advanced math pathways, updated assessments, and gifted program procedures to enhance educational standards and student progression in K-12 curriculum.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SF 2133: A bill for an act relating to administrator licenses granted by the board of educational examiners and including applicability provisions.

SF 2133 modifies Iowa's requirements for school administrator licenses. It requires new applicants for an initial administrator license to have taught as a teacher in Iowa for at least five consecutive years (across no more than two school districts) before applying. The bill also mandates that current administrators holding initial or professional licenses must maintain an active teacher license to keep their administrator credential. These rules apply to all new applications and licenses granted after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires 5 years teaching experience for admin licenses, strengthening leadership qualifications and maintaining teacher licensure for current admins to ensure classroom expertise in school leadership.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Tags Licensing

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