Education (Teachers)

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SF 2043: A bill for an act relating to school district general fund flexibility accounts by expanding eligible funding sources and modifying expenditure approval requirements.

This bill (SF 2043) allows Iowa school districts to transfer unexpended and unobligated teacher salary supplement funds - calculated under section 257.10(9) - into their general fund flexibility accounts, provided all original funding requirements are met. It expands eligible funding sources for these accounts by explicitly including teacher salary supplements. The bill also removes the requirement for school boards to hold public hearings before approving expenditures from flexibility accounts, though it retains board resolution and reporting obligations. This change affects school districts managing these accounts, streamlining how leftover state funds can be reallocated.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows transfer of teacher salary funds to general accounts, expanding flexibility without reducing funding for schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 13, 2026

HF 2005: A bill for an act providing for education related to the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts.

HF 2005 requires Iowa public school districts to incorporate age-appropriate Holocaust education into middle and high school curricula by the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that this instruction cover the causes and consequences of the Holocaust, the history of antisemitism, resistance efforts, and the role of U.S. military forces - including African American, Native American, and Asian American soldiers - in defeating Nazi Germany. School districts must also provide teacher training on these topics as part of professional development, using approved resources like the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Department of Education will annually report on which districts implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates Holocaust curriculum inclusion and teacher training, enhancing historical education content for students per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5498XD: Educator Preparation Programs (5498XD) - Education, Department of

This bill requires Iowa's educator preparation programs (which train future teachers) to include specific clinical experiences focused on serving students with disabilities and English learners, starting July 1, 2027. All students must complete at least 15 practicum hours on differentiation strategies, while those seeking an English learner teaching endorsement must complete 40 hours of specialized training. The Department of Education will administer a summative assessment before program completion to measure content readiness, set minimum passing scores, and publish annual program performance data. These changes aim to improve teacher preparedness for diverse student needs through standardized training and accountability measures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specialized teacher training for students with disabilities and English learners, enhancing educator preparedness and student access to inclusive education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

5496XD: Gifted and Talented Programs (5496XD) - Education, Department of

This bill requires Iowa school districts to develop standardized procedures for identifying and serving gifted and talented students (K-12) using multiple data sources like assessments, teacher input, and observations - ensuring no single criterion blocks participation. It mandates districts to create an "advanced mathematics pathway" that automatically enrolls students scoring "advanced" in math (grades 5-7) in accelerated courses, aiming to have all students complete algebra I by grade nine. Additionally, districts must establish clear procedures for subject and grade acceleration, automatically enrolling high-performing students in advanced courses (with parent opt-out) and providing support for learning gaps. The bill directly affects all Iowa public school districts and gifted students, particularly those historically underrepresented in advanced programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standardized gifted identification and creates advanced math pathway, expanding access to accelerated programs for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1430XD: Department of Education, Programs and Duties (1430XD) - Education, Department of

This bill modifies Iowa's education reporting requirements, establishes a national board certification pilot program for teachers, and updates employee compensation for staff at Iowa's educational services for the blind and deaf. It requires community colleges to submit annual financial data directly to the Iowa Department of Education (DE) by March 15, with DE including a statewide summary in its annual report to lawmakers by February 1. The bill allocates $508,250 for teacher certification awards under the pilot program and mandates DE to establish annual compensation schedules for employees of the blind/visually impaired and deaf programs. These changes affect community colleges, public school teachers seeking certification, and staff at specialized educational programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $508,250 for teacher certification pilot and updates staff compensation, strengthening educator support and program requirements.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentUpdates compensation for educational staff at blind/deaf services, directly advancing wage protections for specific workers within Labor & Employment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Professional Licensing

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2025

SF 80: A bill for an act relating to the eligibility of students with individualized education programs to participate in extracurricular interscholastic athletic games or competitions.

This bill requires the lead special education teacher (not coaches or athletic directors) to determine if students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) can join school sports teams. The teacher must review the student’s attendance record and whether they are earning passing grades in their classes. It does not apply to students with severe or profound disabilities who receive special education under Chapter 256B. The law applies to both public and nonpublic schools in Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables IEP students' athletic participation with academic criteria, enhancing extracurricular access for special needs students within educational framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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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 · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 119: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to content specialist authorizations and career and technical secondary authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners and including applicability provisions.

HF 119 modifies Iowa's teacher licensing rules for two groups: content specialists (educators with advanced degrees in subject areas) and career/technical secondary educators. It eliminates the requirement for these educators to convert their initial teaching credentials to full authorizations after three years. Instead, they may continue teaching under their initial credentials for up to three years if working under a mentor with a full authorization. The bill also requires the Board of Educational Examiners to issue initial career/technical secondary credentials to eligible community college instructors who meet specific standards. These changes apply to anyone applying for these credentials before, on, or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEliminates unnecessary credential conversion requirement for teachers, easing retention and mentorship support within education workforce.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Iowa · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SF 450: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to mathematics instruction, practitioner preparation programs, and the duties of the director of the department of education, and including effective date provisions.

SF 450 requires Iowa's Department of Education to develop and distribute family resources supporting math learning at home, a statewide math plan by July 2025, and a list of approved screening tools for K-6 students. It mandates school districts to assess all K-6 students in math three times yearly using approved screeners and to provide targeted interventions for students identified as "persistently at risk" (not meeting benchmarks on two consecutive assessments). Schools must create personalized math plans and deliver small group or intensive support until students meet proficiency targets on state assessments. The bill also updates teacher preparation programs to include specific math pedagogy requirements for educators teaching K-12.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates math assessments, interventions, and resources to improve K-6 math outcomes, strengthening educational support and curriculum implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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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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