Education (School Choice)

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2025

HF 359: A bill for an act relating to disclosures on property tax statements concerning school district funding reductions and individual taxpayer payments to the education savings account program.

HF 359 requires Iowa property tax statements to include three specific disclosures for each taxpayer: (1) how much less funding their school district received this year compared to last year due to students using education savings accounts (ESAs), (2) how much of their state income taxes funded the ESA program, and (3) a standardized statement showing the exact amount of reduced school funding linked to ESA payments. These disclosures directly affect property owners and taxpayers by making visible the connection between their payments and school funding changes caused by the ESA program. The bill mandates the Department of Management to calculate the funding reduction data and collaborate with the Department of Revenue to determine the tax contribution figures, then transmit both to the treasurer for inclusion on tax statements. This is a transparency measure focused on informing taxpayers about ESA program impacts, not altering the program itself.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates disclosures showing school funding reductions due to ESA usage, highlighting defunding of public schools through taxpayer-facing disclosures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 25, 2025

HF 407: A bill for an act relating to open enrollment by requiring the payment of certain moneys received from the secure an advanced vision for education fund.

HF 407 requires Iowa school districts to transfer a portion of funding from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund to receiving districts for students participating in open enrollment. Starting July 1, 2026, for each student enrolled in a district other than their home district, the home district must pay the receiving district an amount equal to the per-pupil SAVE funding the home district received the previous year. This redirected money must be used solely for statewide school infrastructure projects under Chapter 423F. The bill affects home and receiving school districts by changing how existing SAVE fund allocations are distributed for open enrollment students.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing SAVE fund moneys to receiving districts for open enrollment, ensuring proper fiscal management of state education funds per bill requirements.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects SAVE fund money to receiving districts for open enrollment, ensuring funding follows students to support school resources and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 453: A bill for an act relating to school district and area education agency funding and education savings accounts, and including applicability provisions.

SF 453 changes transportation reimbursement rules for students at nonpublic schools: school districts no longer must pay for transportation if parents use education savings accounts (section 257.11B) to cover school costs. It also adjusts funding for area education agencies based on enrollment of nonpublic school students who do not use these accounts, requiring agencies to provide comparable services or face potential budget reductions. The bill affects public school districts, nonpublic schools, and area education agencies by altering reimbursement eligibility and funding calculations. These changes apply to school budget years beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill redirects public school funds to private education via ESA program, eliminating transportation reimbursements for nonpublic school students using accounts and risking AEA budget cuts, weakening public school funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding School Transportation

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HSB 105: A bill for an act relating to charter schools, including by modifying provisions related to charter school board member requirements and charter school student participation in the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program.

This bill modifies two key aspects of Iowa's charter school system. First, it removes a requirement that non-resident charter school board members must be Iowa state residents (only requiring geographic area residency). Second, it expands student access to dual enrollment programs: charter school students can now choose to enroll through either their school's district or their home district, including for online charter schools. These changes directly affect charter school boards and students seeking college course access. The bill aims to provide greater flexibility for charter schools and their students within existing educational pathways.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands dual enrollment access for charter students, allowing choice between districts and enabling online charter participation - directly increases educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 7, 2025

HF 613: A bill for an act relating to the maximum driving distance for persons issued a special minor’s restricted driver’s license who participate in open enrollment.

HF 613 modifies Iowa's driving restrictions for minors aged 14-18 holding a special minor's restricted license who participate in open enrollment. It increases the maximum allowable driving distance between a minor's home and school from 25 miles to 40 miles for these students, while maintaining the existing unlimited distance rule for those attending public school within their district. The bill specifically applies to students enrolled in open enrollment programs under section 282.18. It does not change the 25-mile limit for other restricted license holders or alter the current penalties for violations. This change aims to provide greater flexibility for students attending schools outside their home district through open enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases driving distance for open enrollment students (expanding access to non-district schools), facilitating educational access under §282.18.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Transportation

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SF 286: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the national board certification pilot project and establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission, and including effective date provisions.

SF 286 modifies Iowa's national board certification program for teachers and creates a new tuition reimbursement program for dyslexia specialist training. It establishes the "advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program" administered by the College Student Aid Commission (CSAC), providing tuition reimbursement to Iowa teachers working toward an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement. Eligible teachers must be employed by an Iowa school district, charter school, nonpublic school, or education agency and can receive reimbursement for up to two years, covering actual tuition costs (capped at total costs incurred). The program is funded through dedicated state appropriations that roll over annually if unspent, with CSAC reporting annually on participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition reimbursement for dyslexia specialist training, supporting teacher development and student access to specialized education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 26, 2025

HF 445: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to application periods for the education savings account program.

HF 445 modifies Iowa's education savings account program by creating two application windows for parents or guardians of eligible students attending nonpublic schools. It allows applications for the full school year (due Jan 1-June 30) or for a semester (due Dec 1-Dec 20). Applications submitted for a semester receive only 50% of the standard payment amount (instead of 100%), while school-year applications receive the full amount. The bill affects families seeking funds to cover qualified educational expenses like tuition, tutoring, or materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands access to education savings accounts with flexible application windows, increasing funding options for nonpublic school families while maintaining full-year funding eligibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SSB 1211: A bill for an act modifying supplemental aid and modified supplemental amounts for certain school districts relating to open enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

This bill modifies how Iowa school districts receive supplemental funding based on open enrollment. It sets a 35% threshold for open enrollment (students from outside the district) to qualify for aid, requires districts to hold a public hearing before applying, and caps aid at 50% of the net enrollment increase multiplied by specific per-pupil costs (like teacher salaries and professional development). Districts where over half of open-enrollment students use private online instruction are excluded. The changes apply to school budgets starting July 1, 2025, and repeal a prior tax levy limitation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill caps supplemental aid at 50% of net enrollment increase, restricting school district funding access under budget management rules.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationCaps supplemental aid at 50% of net enrollment increase, restricting funding for districts with open enrollment beyond 35% threshold.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HF 187: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to eligibility for payments under the education savings account program, and including effective date provisions.

HF 187 modifies Iowa's education savings account program eligibility rules. It requires that students attending nonpublic schools must have household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for payments, starting July 1, 2024. The bill removes a prior provision that would have eliminated this income requirement for school years beginning July 1, 2025. This change directly affects Iowa students in nonpublic schools seeking state-funded education savings accounts. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts eligibility for education savings accounts to lower-income households, limiting state spending on nonpublic school funding by maintaining income caps and removing future eligibility expansion.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts access to education savings accounts by imposing income requirements, limiting eligibility for nonpublic school students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 3, 2025

HF 199: A bill for an act repealing the education savings account program.

HF 199 repeals Iowa's education savings account program, which provided state funds to cover tuition and related expenses for students attending nonpublic schools (including tutoring, materials, and therapy). The bill removes Section 257.11B of the Iowa Code, ending eligibility for this funding starting July 1, 2025. It also updates related funding formulas in Sections 257.10 and 422.7 to exclude students using these accounts. The repeal directly affects nonpublic school students and families previously enrolled in the program. The bill makes no new funding changes beyond eliminating this specific program.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals state funding for private school accounts, reducing government spending on education subsidies and updating budgets to exclude these programs.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals state funding for private school tuition accounts, defunding the education savings program and removing eligibility for nonpublic school students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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