HF 2783 allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support various education agencies, including the Department for the Blind, the Department of Education, and the State Board of Regents. The bill provides specific amounts for salaries, operational expenses, and the hiring of full-time equivalent positions across areas such as general administration, career and technical education, and early childhood services. It also establishes new programs, including a statewide clearinghouse to expand work-based learning and summer college classes for high school students, while funding existing initiatives like birth-to-age-three services and statewide student assessments. This legislation directly affects school districts, educational institutions, and the agencies responsible for administering these programs throughout Iowa.
This bill allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the Department for the Blind, Department of Education, and State Board of Regents in Iowa. It provides specific amounts for various programs including early childhood services, career and technical education, school food services, student assessments, and initiatives to improve literacy and work-based learning opportunities. The funding covers administrative costs, program expansions, and direct services to students from birth through high school, with some funds designated for federal program matching and others for new pilot projects.
HF 2336 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to comply with federal standards for student religious, political, and ideological expression. The bill mandates that schools annually distribute federal guidance on religious expression to all staff, offer related professional development, adopt model policies, and certify annual compliance. Schools that fail to follow these requirements face civil penalties of at least $5,000 per violation. This legislation directly affects all public K-12 schools in Iowa by establishing specific administrative duties to ensure student speech rights align with federal law.
This bill modifies Iowa's education laws to require all high school students (grades 9-12) to participate in at least one cocurricular or extracurricular activity as a condition for graduation. It defines "cocurricular" activities (like student government or theater) and "extracurricular" activities (like sports or band) in detail, mandating school districts to ensure students meet this requirement. The bill also updates physical education rules, adding self-defense content for grades 6+ and adjusting weekly activity time requirements, but the new graduation requirement is the primary policy change directly affecting students. School districts will fund this through existing state aid, per the bill's funding provisions.
SF 2231 expands access to preschool and college programs in Iowa. It allows community-based childcare centers and preschool providers to participate in school district programs under specific agreements, ensuring eligible four-year-olds can access services regardless of their program type. The bill also creates pathways for high school students (grades 9-12) to enroll in nonsectarian college courses at community colleges for credit, requiring school districts to notify students and parents about these options. Additionally, it mandates that public school districts make textbooks available to accredited nonpublic school students upon request, using state funds if appropriated. These provisions directly affect preschool providers, public/private school districts, high school students, and nonpublic school students.
HF 2458 establishes a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Workforce Development to help two groups: high school students pursuing a para-educator certificate and associate degree, and current para-educators seeking a bachelor's degree. The program provides financial assistance for education costs and is funded by a $3.5 million appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027. It also allows prior work experience through this grant program to count toward the 14-week student teaching requirement for education students. The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to administer the program in consultation with the Department of Education.
HF 2540 requires Iowa high schools to offer at least one semester of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) instruction to satisfy graduation requirements, beginning with the 2030-2031 graduating class. The bill mandates that all courses include foundational AI concepts, how AI works, and its societal and ethical impacts. Schools must provide this instruction starting in 2022 (for grade-level offerings), and the state must publish approved course lists and a teacher-training plan by 2027, with special support for small schools. This directly affects all Iowa public and accredited nonpublic high schools and their students, integrating AI education into graduation standards.
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 2670 requires Iowa public schools to administer annual assessments in math and English language arts for students in grades 3-11 during the last school quarter. It also mandates science assessments for grades 5, 8, and 10, and social studies assessments for grades 8 and 10. The bill specifies that assessments must align with Iowa’s academic standards, meet federal requirements, and be available in both paper and digital formats. These changes directly affect Iowa’s K-12 students and school districts implementing testing programs.
HF 2392 requires all Iowa public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to include specific health education components for students in grades 1-12. The law mandates evidence-based instruction on nutrition (including reading labels), physical activity, and heart health, with two student assessments per semester. Schools must also conduct blood pressure and heart rate checks using privacy protections and report results to the state education department. This applies to all K-12 schools, with implementation funded through existing state education aid.
