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.
SSB 1240 appropriates funds from the sports wagering receipts fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates $14 million to the Department of Education to supplement the compensation of non-salaried education support personnel in school districts. School districts must report staff information by July 1, 2025, to receive these funds, which will be distributed based on student enrollment. Additionally, the bill appropriates $8 million to the Department of Public Safety for its public safety equipment fund.
HF 315 modifies the process for budget adjustments available to Iowa school districts impacted by natural disasters. Currently, school districts can receive a budget adjustment based on the difference between their current and 101% of their previous year's regular program district cost. This bill introduces an additional year of budget adjustment for districts that have already received an adjustment and were affected by a federally declared major disaster or state disaster emergency in the base year or the year prior. This additional adjustment would be equal to the amount of the district's budget adjustment from the base year.
This bill changes how Iowa school districts receive state funding for approved preschool programs. It increases the enrollment figure used for funding from 50% to 100% of actual eligible student enrollment on October 1 (the "base year"), directly affecting school districts participating in the preschool program. For districts new to the program, it also modifies the initial year funding calculation to use 60% of enrollment multiplied by the state cost per pupil. The changes apply to school budget years starting July 1, 2026.
SF 91 updates how Iowa school districts calculate student enrollment for funding purposes. It sets specific dates (October 1 and March 1) for determining enrollment counts, including additional students served through special education and supplementary weighting programs. School districts must report these calculated enrollment figures to the Department of Education by set deadlines each year. These changes directly affect school districts and the state's funding formula for public education.
This bill sets a 2% annual growth rate for state school funding starting in the 2025 budget year (July 1, 2025), affecting Iowa school districts through their state aid calculations. It establishes two specific rates: a "state percent of growth" (2% for 2025) for general funding and a "categorical state percent of growth" (2% for 2025) for targeted programs like teacher pay supplements and early intervention. School districts receive property tax replacement payments based on these rates, calculated using a formula tied to enrollment and per-pupil funding adjustments. The rates for 2025 are fixed, but future rates will be set annually by the legislature.
This bill changes how Iowa calculates minimum state funding for public school districts. It sets the minimum foundation aid at $300 per pupil, but this amount now specifically covers four teacher-related costs: salary supplements, professional development, early intervention, and teacher leadership programs. If a district's total state aid plus local property tax exceeds its total costs, the state will reduce the required property tax rate. The changes apply to school budgets starting July 1, 2026.
HF 222 allocates hotel and motel tax revenue collected between August 23 and Labor Day to schools that begin their academic year after Labor Day. It creates an "alternate school start date fund" in the state treasury, managed by the Department of Education, which distributes funds to qualifying schools based on enrollment. Schools must meet the standard 1,080 hours of instruction (as if starting August 23, excluding weather-related closures) to receive funding. The funds are deposited into school districts' general funds as "miscellaneous income" but are not counted toward district costs.
This bill sets the state funding growth rate at 2.25% for Iowa's 2025 school budget year, directly affecting all public school districts in the state. It modifies how property tax replacement payments are calculated using student enrollment and previous funding formulas, while also adjusting transportation equity payments. The bill establishes a new school district funding supplement and updates the regular program state cost per student. These changes determine annual state contributions to schools for the 2025 budget cycle.
SF 206 allows Iowa school districts to use revenues from their district management levy to fund teacher recruitment and retention incentives. The bill sets specific limits: incentives cannot exceed 10% of an initial teacher's salary annually and must end after five school budget years. School districts may choose between this program or early retirement benefits, but cannot use both simultaneously or within five years of adopting the other. It requires public comment before adoption and prohibits using levy funds for early retirement costs in the same fiscal year as recruitment/retention incentives. This directly affects school districts seeking to address teacher staffing challenges through financial incentives.
