Education

signed · Iowa · Senate May 27, 2025

SF 369: A bill for an act requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas.

SF 369 requires students to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test to earn a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma. This law directly affects all high school students in the state and those pursuing equivalent credentials. The key provision mandates passing this specific civics test, which covers U.S. history, government, and civic principles, as a graduation requirement. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civics test as graduation requirement, directly enhancing curriculum standards and civic education in K-12 system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SF 510: A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.

SF 510 allows Iowa public school districts to offer elective social studies courses focused on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), New Testament, or both to students in grades 9-12. School boards must approve such courses after a school improvement advisory committee recommends them by majority vote. The bill requires courses to teach biblical content, history, and cultural influence for understanding society, while mandating strict religious neutrality - prohibiting endorsement of any religion and requiring accommodation of diverse student perspectives. Students may use alternative Bible translations, and schools may display religious materials only if educationally appropriate and consistent with neutrality guidelines.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables elective religious scripture courses in social studies for grades 9-12, expanding curriculum options while mandating religious neutrality per educational standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 525: A bill for an act relating to student nutrition, including by modifying the curricula provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve to include instruction related to nutrition, modifying provisions related to the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and modifying provisions related to school meal programs, and including effective date provisions.

SF 525 requires all Iowa public schools (and nonpublic schools offering kindergarten) to add specific nutrition instruction to health classes for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill mandates that this instruction emphasize the importance, benefits, and role of animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables, and fruit in a balanced diet. It also updates career education standards to include food production and local sourcing benefits within agriculture, food, and natural resources programs for high school students. These curriculum changes apply to all schools meeting state accreditation standards and take effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates nutrition curriculum additions in K-12 health classes, strengthening educational content standards per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SF 178: A bill for an act relating to civil actions against school board members and superintendents for school policies that violate state law.

SF 178 allows any resident of a school district to notify their county attorney if they believe a school board policy or superintendent action violates state law. The county attorney can then sue the specific board members who voted for the policy and the superintendent to force compliance with state law. If the county attorney wins, the court must award either $1,000 per defendant or the attorney’s actual legal costs, with funds deposited into the county’s general fund for the attorney’s use. This bill creates a direct legal pathway for enforcing state law compliance in school policies, targeting only those who voted for the violating policy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnforces compliance with state law for school policies, protecting educational integrity through legal accountability against non-compliant board actions.85% confidence

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signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2025

HF 784: 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.

HF 784 modifies Minnesota's education laws to change mathematics instruction standards, update teacher training program requirements, and clarify the duties of the state education director. It directly affects K-12 schools, math teachers, and educator preparation programs by setting new guidelines for how math is taught and how teachers are trained. Key provisions include requiring specific math teaching methods and updating the process for approving teacher education programs. The bill also includes provisions for when these changes take effect. It was signed into law by the governor in June 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies math instruction standards and updates teacher training programs to strengthen educational quality and teacher preparation, directly advancing K-12 education standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

in committee · Iowa · House May 15, 2025

HF 167: A bill for an act relating to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students.

HF 167 modifies the definition of "grooming behavior" for licensed school employees. Currently, school districts and agencies must report employees who engage in grooming behavior, defined as actions to entice or entrap a student for a sex act. This bill changes that definition to "the process of building trust and emotional connections with a student with the intent to exploit such student." This revised definition would be used when school authorities make mandatory reports to the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies mandatory reporting for grooming behavior to protect students, strengthening school safety protocols and holding educators accountable.95% confidence

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signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 6, 2025

SF 288: 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.

SF 288 requires public colleges and universities governed by the Board of Regents and community colleges to provide academic accommodations for students who are pregnant or who recently gave birth. The law specifically allows these students to withdraw from courses without academic penalty if pregnancy or childbirth prevents them from continuing their studies. Institutions must also provide clear information about available support services, including health care and childcare resources. This policy directly affects pregnant and postpartum students enrolled at these specific public higher education institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates academic accommodations and support services for pregnant/students, directly enhancing educational access and equity in higher education institutions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates institutions to provide health care resource information, improving student access to health services for pregnancy-related needs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education Women's Health

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 393: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa school performance profiles published by the department of education, including how dropout students affect school performance grades contained in the profiles.

HF 393 modifies how Iowa schools calculate performance grades by excluding students who drop out from certain school performance profile metrics. This change directly affects Iowa public schools and their published performance ratings, which are used to inform parents and the public. The bill alters the Department of Education's methodology to ensure dropout rates do not negatively impact a school's overall grade. It became law after passing the Senate unanimously and receiving the Governor's signature on May 27, 2025. The policy change specifically adjusts how student enrollment data is processed for grading purposes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExcludes dropouts from performance metrics to prevent negative school ratings, protecting schools from unfair penalization under education performance profiles.85% confidence

signed · Iowa · House Jun 6, 2025

HF 787: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.

HF 787 modifies several education policies in the state. It changes how school districts calculate teacher salary supplements, updates requirements for teacher training programs, and sets rules for placing students needing special education services out of state. The bill also defines the Department of Education's duties and establishes minimum salary levels for teachers. These changes directly affect school districts, educators, and students requiring special education services. The bill became law after passing the legislature and being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum teacher salaries, updates teacher preparation requirements, and modifies salary supplement calculations to support educators and special education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

passed · Iowa · Senate May 15, 2025

SF 515: A bill for an act relating to consideration of the educational setting of a minor child in a child custody proceeding.

SF 515 requires Iowa courts to prioritize a child's current educational setting during custody disputes. It creates a legal presumption that children should remain in their existing school (public, private, or homeschool) unless a parent provides strong evidence showing it harms the child's best interests. The bill applies specifically to cases where parents disagree about schooling, including those with joint legal custody. Court orders must now explicitly outline each parent's rights regarding school access, records, and decisions about the child's education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects educational stability by mandating courts prioritize a child's current school setting in custody disputes, preventing disruption to education.95% confidence

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