Education (Curriculum)

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SSB 1164: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve by allowing instruction related to technology, engineering, or manufacturing to meet a portion of the unit requirements related to computer science.

SSB 1164 modifies Iowa's high school curriculum requirements to allow students in grades 9-12 to fulfill part of their computer science graduation requirement through courses in technology, engineering, or manufacturing. This includes classes covering topics like transportation, logistics, architecture, and construction, which can be offered as standalone courses or integrated into existing career and technical education programs. The bill applies to all public schools, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. The state board of education must develop implementing rules for this change.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands curriculum flexibility by allowing tech/engineering courses to fulfill computer science requirements, enhancing educational relevance and student program options in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 322: A bill for an act establishing completion of a course on American history and civil government as a requirement for the completion of a baccalaureate degree program at a public institution of higher education.

SF 322 requires all public Iowa colleges and universities offering bachelor's degrees to mandate a 3-credit survey course in American history and civil government for graduation, beginning in the 2027 academic year. The course must cover specific content like the U.S. Constitution, founding documents (including the Declaration of Independence and Federalist Papers), key Supreme Court cases, and the historical development of U.S. government. It must fulfill general education social science requirements and cannot be repeated if a student transfers to another public Iowa institution. This bill directly affects all undergraduate students at public Iowa higher education institutions seeking bachelor's degrees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates American history/civics curriculum requirement, enhancing civic education standards in higher education per bill's explicit content requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SF 138: A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.

This bill allows Iowa public school districts to offer elective high school courses (grades 9-12) focused on biblical texts, including the Old Testament, New Testament, or both. School boards must approve such courses after a school improvement committee recommends them by majority vote. Courses must teach biblical content to help students understand culture and society, while strictly following religious neutrality rules - no endorsement of any faith, and students may use alternative Bible translations. The bill also permits displays of religious materials in class if educationally appropriate, without requiring students to engage with texts conflicting with their family's beliefs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows elective biblical text courses in social studies, expanding curriculum options while maintaining religious neutrality per bill's intent.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2025

HF 734: A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction, including instruction in United States government, provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve.

HF 734 increases Iowa's requirement for U.S. government instruction in high schools (grades 9-12) from half a unit to one full unit. It mandates that all students in public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools complete this course, covering voting procedures, Constitution/Bill of Rights study, and civics education. The bill also updates curriculum standards to align with this new requirement and ensures schools comply with these changes. This directly affects all high school students and educators in participating Iowa schools by expanding the mandated social studies content. The change raises the current standard from a half-unit to a full-unit requirement for U.S. government instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates increased U.S. government instruction (1 unit) for all high schools, strengthening civics curriculum standards and requiring Constitution/Bill of Rights study.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 5, 2025

SF 127: A bill for an act establishing a school of intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa.

SF 127 establishes a School of Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic unit within the University of Iowa's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The school must teach courses on historical ideas shaping U.S. constitutional order, free speech, civil discourse, and responsible citizenship to all university students. It requires at least five tenure-eligible faculty, mandates that all funding directly supports the school (not university overhead), and sets rules for its governance and curriculum through required bylaws. The bill aims to expand intellectual diversity and civic engagement across the university community through its academic programming.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes dedicated university school teaching free speech/civil discourse courses to all students with mandated faculty and direct funding - enhances higher education curriculum and intellectual freedom.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 19, 2025

HF 513: A bill for an act relating to participation in high school extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions by students enrolled in grade eight.

HF 513 requires Iowa school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to allow 8th-grade students who meet the school's academic standards to participate in high school athletic competitions designed for grades 9-12. The bill mandates that schools must permit these students to join existing interscholastic athletic programs on the same basis as older students. It does not change eligibility requirements but ensures schools cannot exclude qualified 8th graders from participating in current high school sports offerings. This policy directly affects 8th graders seeking athletic opportunities and the schools managing those programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by mandating school districts to permit qualified 8th graders to join high school athletic programs, increasing student participation opportunities in school activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 520: A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction, including instruction in United States government, provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and including applicability provisions.

HF 520 increases Iowa's required social studies curriculum for grades 9-12 by mandating one full unit of United States government instruction (up from one-half unit), replacing the current standard. It requires all students in public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to complete this instruction, which must cover voting procedures, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and civics. The bill also specifies that U.S. government instruction must include an assessment of students' knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. This requirement applies to all affected schools starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates increased U.S. government curriculum (1 unit vs 0.5) covering Constitution and civics for all high schools, strengthening civic education standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 845: A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.

HF 845 allows Iowa public high schools (grades 9-12) to offer elective social studies courses focused on the Bible's Old and New Testaments, subject to school board approval. School districts must get a recommendation from a school improvement committee and a majority vote from the school board to implement such courses. Courses must teach how biblical content influences modern culture, literature, and society while maintaining religious neutrality - prohibiting endorsement of any faith and requiring students to choose their own Bible translations. The bill affects Iowa high school students and teachers, who must follow state guidelines for course content and professional development.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows elective social studies courses on biblical influence, enhancing curriculum options in K-12 education while maintaining religious neutrality.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 270: A bill for an act requiring regents institutions to make certain course syllabus information available to the public online and including effective date provisions.

HF 270 requires Iowa's public universities to post key syllabus details online for every undergraduate course meeting in a classroom. The syllabus must include the instructor's name, descriptions of major assignments/exams, and required readings. Institutions must make this information searchable, accessible without login within five clicks from their homepage, available by the first day of classes, and kept online for at least a year. The bill does not apply to non-classroom courses like internships or study abroad programs and takes effect December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires public syllabus transparency for university courses, enhancing student access to course details and improving educational transparency.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education

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died · Iowa · House Apr 17, 2025

HF 391: 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.

Bill HF 391 requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to incorporate specific content related to pregnancy and fetal development into their curricula. This affects students in grades seven through twelve. The bill mandates that human growth and development (grades 7-8) and health (grades 9-12) curricula include instruction on human biology related to pregnancy and development inside the womb. Key provisions require the use of a high-definition ultrasound video, at least three minutes long, showing early fetal organ development. It also requires a computer-generated rendering or animation, similar to the "Meet Baby Olivia" video, depicting fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus until birth.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of pregnancy/fetal development content in required health and human growth curricula for grades 7-12, expanding educational content standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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