Education

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HSB 47: A bill for an act relating to school safety by requiring the creation of threat assessment teams and authorizing information sharing between certain governmental agencies.

HB 47 requires all Iowa school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools (under chapters 256E/256F), and certain agencies (like law enforcement, mental health providers, and juvenile justice) to create multidisciplinary threat assessment teams for K-12 students. These teams must assess and intervene when students exhibit behavior posing a threat to school safety, and they can share relevant information with other covered entities to ensure student safety or access to services. The bill also provides legal immunity for good-faith reports about credible threats of serious harm. It directly affects schools, mental health services, and law enforcement agencies working with students at risk of emotional disturbance or safety threats.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires threat assessment teams to enhance school safety, protecting students and staff within educational settings per bill's intent.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HSB 6: A bill for an act relating to in-state residency for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at regents institutions and community colleges for certain military personnel and family members.

This bill expands Iowa's in-state tuition residency rules to include more military-connected students. It allows qualified military personnel (including those stationed in Iowa or at Rock Island Arsenal), their spouses, dependent children, and survivors (spouses/children of deceased veterans) to be classified as Iowa residents for undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges and universities. To qualify, military members must be stationed in Iowa or have filed an Iowa tax return recently, while survivors must be the spouse or child of a veteran meeting specific federal benefit criteria. The bill clarifies that dependents remain eligible if they maintain continuous enrollment during military relocations. It directly affects active-duty service members, veterans, and their families enrolled in Iowa's public higher education institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands in-state tuition access for military-connected students, reducing costs and enhancing affordability at public colleges and universities.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands in-state tuition benefits to include survivors (spouses/children) of deceased veterans, directly advancing veteran family support through education access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 30, 2025

SSB 1023: A bill for an act relating to participation in cocurricular and extracurricular activities offered by school districts by pupils who open enroll for purposes of receiving educational instruction and course content primarily over the internet.

This bill clarifies that Iowa students enrolled in online open-enrollment programs can participate in their district's sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities only if the online school does not sponsor those same activities. It limits participation to two activities per school year unless the district approves additional ones, and requires these students to follow the same eligibility, conduct, and other rules as in-person students. The change updates existing law to prevent conflicts where online schools might sponsor competing activities, ensuring consistency for district-sponsored programs. This is a technical clarification to the education code, not a new policy.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts online students' extracurricular access to two activities/year unless approved, limiting participation opportunities under district rules.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HSB 46: A bill for an act relating to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students.

This bill amends Iowa law to clarify the definition of "grooming behavior" by licensed school employees toward students. It specifies that grooming behavior includes "building trust and emotional connections with a student with the intent to exploit such student," replacing the prior definition focused on "enticing or entrapping." The change directly affects school employees whose conduct meets this definition, requiring school districts and administrators to report such behavior to the Board of Educational Examiners. The bill does not create new reporting requirements but refines what constitutes reportable conduct under existing law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies mandatory reporting for grooming behavior to protect students, strengthening school safety protocols under education policy.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HSB 33: A bill for an act relating to the administration of the statewide summative assessment of student progress to students of online schools by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.

This bill (HSB 33) allows Iowa school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools providing primarily internet-based instruction to administer statewide student assessments online. It requires that online assessments must be conducted synchronously (in real-time), monitored via video by proctors at a 10:1 student-to-proctor ratio, scheduled by school staff, and verified by an administrator. The bill specifies that the online assessment environment must mirror students' regular academic instruction. These requirements apply to all state assessments mandated under Iowa law for online students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables online schools to administer required assessments, supporting educational access for virtual students and compliance with state standards.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SSB 1027: A bill for an act authorizing school districts to use revenues from the district management levy for teacher recruitment and retention incentives.

This bill (SSB 1027) allows Iowa school districts to use funds from their district management levy to pay for teacher recruitment and retention incentives. It permits school boards to create programs offering monetary bonuses or other incentives to attract new teachers and retain current staff, but limits annual incentives to 10% of an initial teacher's salary and restricts payments to no more than five school years. The bill prohibits using the levy for both teacher incentives and early retirement benefits in the same fiscal year, and requires public comment before adoption. It directly affects school districts and their teaching staff by changing how levy funds can be allocated for workforce strategies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes use of district management levy (tax revenue) for teacher recruitment/retention incentives, funding essential public education programs within school budgets.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes use of levy funds for teacher recruitment/retention incentives, directly supporting educators and addressing K-12 staffing challenges through funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes school districts to fund teacher recruitment/retention incentives within salary limits, directly advancing labor & employment through wage retention measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 6, 2025

SF 115: A bill for an act relating to human growth and development course enrollment at school districts and to pupil attendance at educational conferences or seminars in which human growth and development information is provided.

SF 115 requires Iowa school districts to obtain written parental consent before enrolling students in human growth and development courses or facilitating attendance at related educational conferences. It mandates that school boards annually provide parents with specific information about such courses, materials, and conferences. The bill prohibits schools from requiring student participation in these programs without a parent's written request for excusal. School districts must cover the costs of compliance using existing state school foundation aid, as specified in the bill.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires parental consent for human growth courses, restricting school curriculum implementation without parental permission, limiting program access.90% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2025

HF 223: A bill for an act relating to mental health resources for students enrolled in public schools.

HF 223 requires Iowa public schools and accredited nonpublic schools to publish mental health resources provided by "your life Iowa" on their websites or link to those resources. It also mandates that schools partner with enrolled students to develop additional methods for increasing awareness of mental health resources and information. This applies to all school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa. The bill creates specific, concrete requirements for resource visibility and student involvement without altering the content of mental health services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to provide mental health resources and increase awareness, directly enhancing student well-being and support systems in K-12 education, aligning with educational access and student program advancement.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates schools to publish mental health resources and partner with students for awareness, directly advancing student mental health services as specified in the bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2025

HSB 142: A bill for an act prohibiting community colleges offering a curriculum in barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences if a licensed school of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences operates in the same merged area.

This bill prohibits Iowa community colleges from offering barbering and cosmetology programs if a state-licensed private school already operates in the same "merged area." It specifically blocks the state education director from approving such programs for community colleges when a licensed school of barbering/cosmetology exists in the area. The law requires community colleges to continue existing programs for current students enrolled before the bill's effective date until they complete or leave the program. The policy aims to prevent duplication of services with licensed private institutions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts community college curriculum options for barbering/cosmetology programs where private schools operate, limiting educational program availability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2026

HF 96: A bill for an act establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.

HF 96 establishes a tuition reimbursement program for Iowa teachers pursuing an advanced dyslexia specialist certification. It provides up to 75% of tuition costs (capped at two years) to teachers working in Iowa schools or area education agencies who are obtaining this specialized certification. The program, funded with $335,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026, requires annual applications and verification of current teaching status. Teachers must apply each year and complete the certification process to receive payments, with the first payment after year one and the second after year two. The College Student Aid Commission administers the program and reports annually on participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $335,000 from state budget for teacher dyslexia specialist program, directly funding an educational initiative through appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds tuition for teachers pursuing dyslexia specialist certification ($335k appropriation), directly supporting educator professional development and addressing student learning needs in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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