SF 2425 is an education bill modifying multiple areas, primarily affecting charter schools, nonpublic schools, and public school districts in Iowa. It increases funding for charter schools by adding teacher leadership, salary, and professional development supplements to their per-pupil state allocation. The bill also requires charter schools to participate in the state retirement system and establishes new rules allowing students at nonpublic schools or charter schools to join public school athletic programs under specific conditions. These changes apply to school budget years starting July 1, 2026, and include provisions for charter school closures and federal funding access.
This bill modifies multiple aspects of Iowa's education system. It changes how charter schools receive funding by adding specific supplements to per-pupil allocations, requires charter school employees to join the state retirement system, and allows students in charter or nonpublic schools to participate in public school sports under defined conditions. The bill also designates charter schools as local education agencies for federal funding purposes and creates bond authority for charter and accredited nonpublic school facility projects. These changes apply to school budget years starting July 1, 2026.
SF 2232, the "Increasing Civic Proficiency in Higher Education Act," requires Iowa's regents institutions (like the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa) to mandate that undergraduate students complete introductory survey courses in American history and American government, each worth at least three credit hours, as part of their general education requirements. These courses must cover all American history and government and fulfill social sciences or humanities requirements, applying to students starting at these institutions in academic years beginning July 1, 2028, while exempting three-year degree programs. The bill also directs three university centers to annually designate qualifying courses, host ongoing lecture and debate series promoting civil dialogue on American republic issues, and submit annual reports to state officials. This legislation directly affects undergraduate students and regents institutions by embedding specific civic education requirements into graduation criteria.
HF 2540 requires Iowa high schools to offer at least one semester of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) instruction to satisfy graduation requirements, beginning with the 2030-2031 graduating class. The bill mandates that all courses include foundational AI concepts, how AI works, and its societal and ethical impacts. Schools must provide this instruction starting in 2022 (for grade-level offerings), and the state must publish approved course lists and a teacher-training plan by 2027, with special support for small schools. This directly affects all Iowa public and accredited nonpublic high schools and their students, integrating AI education into graduation standards.
SF 2174 requires public schools and colleges in Iowa to ensure that all staff, contractors, and volunteers avoid teaching, promoting, or acting upon stereotyping or scapegoating based on demographic group membership (like race or gender) in curriculum, materials, or training. It prohibits using public funds or school resources for such content and mandates that school districts provide staff with training on these requirements. The bill also allows parents, employees, or residents to file lawsuits to stop violations without needing to prove personal harm. This affects all public school districts, higher education institutions, and their employees, contractors, and volunteers who create or deliver educational content.
HF 2610 mandates Iowa high schools to require students to complete sequential career and technical education (CTE) courses across six defined content areas (like health sciences, business, and manufacturing) starting in 2023. It establishes a statewide common course numbering system for Iowa community colleges by 2027 to standardize transfer pathways and ensure course equivalency across institutions. The bill also requires all Iowa community colleges to replace traditional remedial math and English courses with corequisite models by the 2028-2029 academic year. These changes directly affect K-12 students, community college learners, and educators by aligning CTE programs with high-demand, high-wage occupations and improving academic transfer consistency.
This bill changes how school districts handle foundation property taxes in urban renewal areas. It prohibits automatically dividing these taxes between school districts and municipalities for urban renewal projects, instead requiring school districts to collect and keep all foundation property taxes (under section 257.3). School districts may voluntarily choose to pay some or all of these taxes to municipalities for urban renewal projects via a board resolution, but this is optional and does not affect state foundation aid. The policy applies to property taxes due in fiscal years starting July 1, 2027.
HF 2670 requires Iowa public schools to administer annual assessments in math and English language arts for students in grades 3-11 during the last school quarter. It also mandates science assessments for grades 5, 8, and 10, and social studies assessments for grades 8 and 10. The bill specifies that assessments must align with Iowa’s academic standards, meet federal requirements, and be available in both paper and digital formats. These changes directly affect Iowa’s K-12 students and school districts implementing testing programs.
This bill establishes new formulas for calculating state funding increases for schools starting in 2026, directly affecting all public school districts. It modifies how property tax replacement payments are handled, changes transportation equity aid funding rules, and sets new methods for adjusting school district budgets based on enrollment changes. The bill also creates a salary supplement for education support personnel and includes funding appropriations to implement these changes. All provisions take effect for the 2026 budget year.
HF 2392 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to include specific health education components for students in grades 1-12. The law mandates evidence-based instruction on nutrition (including reading labels), physical activity, and heart health, with two student assessments per semester. Schools must also conduct blood pressure and heart rate checks using privacy protections and report results to the state education department. This applies to all K-12 schools, with implementation funded through existing state education aid.
