Education

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SSB 1067: A bill for an act requiring the director of the department of education to develop and administer a purple star school initiative.

SSB 1067 requires Iowa's Department of Education to create and manage a "Purple Star School Initiative" that recognizes public schools demonstrating strong support for military-connected students and their families. The initiative will formally acknowledge schools meeting specific criteria for providing resources like counseling, transition assistance, and family engagement programs. Schools seeking recognition must apply and show commitment to addressing the unique needs of military-affiliated students. The bill aims to encourage more schools to expand such support by highlighting exemplary programs. This is a recognition program, not a direct funding mechanism, and does not mandate new services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires education department to develop initiative recognizing schools supporting military-connected students, enhancing resources and programs for this group within K-12 education.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2025

HF 333: A bill for an act providing for access to feminine hygiene products in public school restrooms and making an appropriation.

HF 333 requires Iowa public school districts to provide free feminine hygiene products (such as tampons and sanitary pads) in at least half of the restrooms serving students in grades 6-12, with regular refilling. The bill applies directly to all Iowa public schools educating middle and high school students. It appropriates state funds from 2025-2028 to reimburse school districts for the full cost of compliance, with the Department of Education managing the reimbursement process. The funding ends June 30, 2028, after which schools would use other state aid for ongoing costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds (2025-2028) to reimburse schools for feminine hygiene products, directly funding a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state-funded access to feminine hygiene products in school restrooms, enhancing student health and educational access for middle/high school students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SF 34: A bill for an act relating to physical activity requirements applicable to students in kindergarten through grade five.

This bill requires Iowa public schools to provide physically able kindergarten through grade five students with 30 consecutive minutes of daily physical activity, separate from the standard physical education curriculum. Schools must ensure this activity occurs unless specific exceptions apply, such as student safety risks, inclement weather requiring indoor relocation, early school dismissal, or student absence due to illness. The requirement does not apply to suspended or expelled students. This policy directly affects K-5 students and school district implementation practices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates daily physical activity for K-5 students within school curricula, enhancing student health programs without restricting existing requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 12, 2025

HSB 84: A bill for an act prohibiting school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in grades seven through twelve.

HSB 84 prohibits Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools from providing any instruction, curriculum, test, survey, or program related to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in grades seven through twelve. This bill extends an existing ban (previously limited to kindergarten through grade six) to cover all middle and high school students. The key provision explicitly bans all educational materials or activities addressing these topics in the specified grades, without requiring alternative content. The bill applies directly to all public schools in Iowa serving grades 7-12.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly prohibits curriculum content on gender identity/sexual orientation in grades 7-12, restricting educational materials and academic freedom per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SF 61: A bill for an act relating to robotics extracurricular activities, including requiring the department of education to provide technical assistance to school districts related to chartering career and technical student organizations related to robotics and authorizing high school athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic contests related to robotics.

SF 61 requires Iowa's Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts for starting robotics-focused career and technical student organizations. It also authorizes high school athletic organizations (that receive school district funding) to sponsor or host robotics competitions. The bill specifically supports schools in creating robotics teams and competitions that align with federal career education standards. This directly affects public and nonpublic high schools, students participating in robotics, and athletic organizations seeking to expand their programs. The policy change focuses on enabling school-based robotics activities through existing educational and athletic structures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires DOE technical assistance for robotics student orgs and authorizes competitions, expanding career-focused extracurricular programs in schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly promotes robotics education in schools through career technical programs, advancing technology-focused student development and aligning with federal tech education standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SF 12: A bill for an act relating to students who are pregnant or who recently gave birth who attend state institutions of higher education governed by the board of regents and community colleges.

This bill requires Iowa's public colleges and universities to provide reasonable accommodations for students who are pregnant or have recently given birth, such as rescheduling assignments, extending exam and degree deadlines by up to 12 months, and allowing leave of absence without academic penalty. It prohibits institutions from forcing students to withdraw or restricting their participation in classes solely due to pregnancy. Schools must create written policies on pregnancy accommodations, post these protections online, and assign a staff member to support affected students. The state Attorney General will handle complaints and forward verified cases to the federal Office for Civil Rights for review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires accommodations for pregnant students in higher ed, protecting educational access and preventing discrimination per civil rights provisions.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SF 72: A bill for an act establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.

SF 72 establishes a program to reimburse Iowa teachers up to 75% of tuition costs for obtaining a specialized dyslexia certification (an "advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement"). Teachers must work in Iowa schools or area education agencies while pursuing this certification and submit annual applications with proof of employment. The program provides two payments: 50% after the first year of teaching and the remaining 50% after the second year, with a maximum of two years of reimbursement per teacher. It is funded by a $335,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2025-2026, with unused funds carrying over to future years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly creates state appropriations to fund teacher tuition reimbursements (up to 75% of costs) through the College Student Aid Commission, directly allocating budget resources for an educational program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReimburses teachers 75% tuition for dyslexia certification, requiring continued Iowa school employment, directly funding teacher professional development to improve student literacy services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HSB 34: A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve.

This bill requires Iowa schools to include specific content about pregnancy and fetal development in health and human growth curricula for students in grades 7-12. It mandates that all public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools teach human biology related to pregnancy, womb development, and show two specific media resources: a 3+ minute ultrasound video of early fetal organ development and an animation comparable to the "Meet Baby Olivia" video illustrating fertilization and development stages. These requirements apply to the human growth curriculum in grades 7-8 and health curriculum in grades 9-12. The bill does not alter existing standards for other health topics like sexually transmitted diseases.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific health curriculum content on pregnancy/fetal development for grades 7-12, advancing educational standards in human biology education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 33: A bill for an act establishing an agriculture education grant program within the department of education and making appropriations.

HF 33 creates an Iowa Department of Education grant program to expand access to agriculture, food, and natural resources education for high school students (grades 9-12). School districts can apply for grants covering up to 100% of teacher costs for up to 60 days of additional instruction in new agriculture programs (under 10 years old), or 50% for established programs. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing district funding for similar purposes and will be tracked through a statewide system. The bill establishes a permanent state fund for these grants, with unused balances carrying over annually.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program funding agriculture education expansion for high school students, supplementing existing district funding to increase access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

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died · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 319: A bill for an act relating to public school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payments and transportation equity payments, modifying provisions relating to the regular program state cost per pupil and funding for shared operational functions, establishing a school district funding supplement, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

This bill establishes specific annual funding growth rates for Iowa public schools starting in 2025, setting a 2.25% "state percent of growth" and a similar "categorical state percent of growth" for state funding. It modifies how school districts receive property tax replacement payments and transportation equity aid, calculating these payments based on each district's student enrollment and state cost-per-pupil formulas. The bill also creates a new school district funding supplement and includes required state appropriations for the 2025 budget year. These changes directly affect all Iowa public school districts by determining their annual state funding levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes 2.25% annual state funding growth for public schools, modifies state aid formulas to increase allocations, and creates new school district funding supplement, directly advancing education budget priorities.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mandatory 2.25% annual state funding growth for Iowa public schools, creates new district funding supplement, and modifies formulas to increase predictability and adequacy of school finance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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