Education (Testing & Assessment)

This bill (SF 2241) sets new requirements for Iowa charter schools, directly affecting charter schools and their relationships with school districts. Key provisions include limiting charter schools to one per 10,000 students statewide per grade level (elementary/middle/high), mandating that governing boards include at least 50% parents of enrolled students and a school district representative, and requiring detailed annual reports on student enrollment, withdrawals, finances (including management fees), and academic performance. Charter schools must also comply with public fund restrictions and assessment reporting similar to traditional public schools. The state board of education will develop oversight standards to monitor academic, financial, and operational performance, with enhanced monitoring for underperforming schools.

This bill requires all Iowa high school students in grades 9-12 to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test (60% correct) as a condition for graduation, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It also applies to individuals seeking high school equivalency diplomas. Schools cannot charge fees for administering the test, and students may retake it as many times as needed to pass. The law affects all public and accredited nonpublic high schools in Iowa and their students.

HF 150 prohibits Iowa public school districts from using standards-based grading for students in grades six through twelve. The bill defines standards-based grading as a method that evaluates students on mastery of specific, smaller learning objectives within subjects, rather than traditional letter grades or points. If passed, school districts would be required to switch to alternative grading systems for middle and high school students. The bill is currently under review by the education subcommittee after being introduced in January 2025.

This Iowa bill (HSB 137) modifies education requirements for K-12 schools, directly affecting public, nonpublic, charter, and innovation zone schools, along with teachers and students. It requires schools to administer math screeners three times yearly for K-6 students, identify those "persistently at risk" (scoring below benchmark twice), and provide weekly progress checks with personalized intervention plans. For civics, it mandates using the U.S. citizenship test (60% passing score) for high school graduation, with accommodations for students with disabilities. The bill also establishes a state math plan focused on foundational concepts like counting and number sense, and requires teacher training in evidence-based math instruction methods.