This bill allocates state funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support various education agencies, including the Department for the Blind, the Department of Education, and the Department of Workforce Development. The legislation provides specific funding for administrative operations, teacher quality programs, early childhood services, and initiatives aimed at expanding work-based learning and career technical education. Additionally, it authorizes money for statewide student assessments and establishes a clearinghouse to promote job training opportunities for students.
This bill expands career education opportunities and recognition for Iowa students. It mandates new career planning and exploration curriculum for public school students in grades five through eight, designed to help them understand career pathways and prepare for future academic and career plans. For high school students, the bill directs the Department of Education to establish a list of industry-recognized credentials and create a corresponding seal. School districts would then report students who achieve these credentials and recognize them by adding the seal to their transcripts or providing a certificate.
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.
HF 2457 establishes a state program where community colleges partner with employers and school districts to help high school students (grades 9-12) earn industry credentials while still in school. Employers agree to fund at least 20% of program costs and guarantee high-wage jobs (minimum 200% of federal poverty level for a family of two) for students who complete the program. In return, employers receive tax credits based on wages paid to participants, calculated as up to 10% of gross wages, which are applied against their state withholding taxes. The program requires annual budget adjustments, includes employer default procedures, and allows employers to pause hiring during economic downturns. It directly affects students, community colleges, and qualifying employers in manufacturing, construction, R&D, and services (excluding retail).
HF 2649, the "REACH Act," creates a pilot program allowing eligible Iowa community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in specific high-demand fields like nursing, IT, and education. To qualify, colleges must be at least 50 miles from existing bachelor's programs and limit offerings to three degrees per institution, with upper-level courses taught on campus (not online). The bill requires annual reporting on enrollment, student outcomes, and workforce alignment to the state education department and legislature. It directly affects community colleges in rural or underserved areas seeking to expand local higher education options without replacing university programs.
This bill establishes a statewide framework for career and technical education (CTE) in Iowa high schools and community colleges. It requires high schools to offer computer science instruction aligned with CTE standards and mandates students complete sequential CTE courses across six defined career pathways (e.g., health sciences, business, agriculture). For community colleges, it implements a common course numbering system to simplify transfer between institutions by 2027 and replaces traditional remedial math/English courses with corequisite models by the 2028-2029 school year. The bill directly affects Iowa high school students, community college students, educators, and school districts through new curriculum requirements and funding alignment with high-demand, high-wage occupations.
HF 2547 modifies Iowa's education policies to strengthen career pathways and college credit transfer. It requires community colleges to develop regional high-demand job lists (up to five per college) for career planning, updates career academy standards to ensure secondary courses align with postsecondary programs, and revises the statewide articulation agreement to allow seamless transfer of career-technical credits from community colleges to four-year institutions without uniform credit limits. The bill also adjusts funding weights for high school students taking community college courses (70% for career/tech courses, 50% for liberal arts) and mandates the state board of regents to report on implementing performance-based funding for public higher education institutions.
This Iowa bill (HSB 675) establishes new standards for career and technical education (CTE) in K-12 schools and creates statewide transfer systems for community colleges. It requires schools to offer computer science instruction starting in 2023, mandate six specific CTE content areas (like health sciences and business), and define "high-demand" occupations to guide career planning. For community colleges, it implements a common course numbering system to simplify transfers and requires replacing remedial math/English with corequisite models by 2028-2029. The bill directly affects Iowa public schools, community colleges, and students pursuing CTE pathways or college transfers.
This bill, the "Iowa Skilled Workforce Act," updates Iowa's apprenticeship framework to support career training. It creates clear definitions for "intermediary sponsors" (entities training multiple employers) and clarifies that partner employers (those using intermediaries) must follow the intermediary's standards. The bill also adds financial assistance for apprenticeship programs meeting a minimum of 100 training hours per apprentice annually and updates plumbing/mechanics licensing rules to allow up to three apprentices per licensed supervisor. It directly affects apprenticeship sponsors, employers, and training programs across Iowa.
SF 2223 modifies Iowa's career education system to better align high school programs with workforce needs. It requires the workforce development board and community colleges to create statewide and regional lists of high-demand jobs, which will guide apprenticeships, scholarships, and summer programs. The bill updates credit transfer agreements between community colleges and four-year universities to prioritize seamless transfer of career and technical education credits. Additionally, it expands funding for high school students taking college-level classes at community colleges through concurrent enrollment programs.
