Education

This bill requires Iowa public schools and athletic organizations to accept cash (legal tender) as a payment option for entry fees to school sports events. It mandates that organizations must accept cash as a condition of registering with the state education department. The law does not prohibit other payment methods like credit cards or digital payments, only ensures cash is accepted. It directly affects schools and athletic groups managing competition entries, not students or families.

This bill allows public schools and accredited nonpublic schools to hold practice-oriented scrimmages with nonaccredited home school sports organizations. It requires a written agreement covering safety protocols, date/location, and liability coverage before any scrimmage, with both parties assuming responsibility for their participants. Scrimmages cannot count toward official records, standings, or eligibility, must be voluntary, limit duration/intensity to practice standards, and cannot charge admission or use play-by-play commentary. The bill specifically defines "nonaccredited home school sports organization" as groups serving students in unaccredited private instruction settings.

This bill adds career and technical education (CTE) instructors to the list of shared operational roles eligible for additional state funding. School districts in Iowa that share CTE instructors (licensed for grades 5-12 in fields like agriculture, business, or IT) with other districts or political subdivisions for at least 20% of the school year will receive a supplementary weighting of two pupils per shared function. This supplemental funding aims to increase resources for student programming by encouraging shared staffing. The bill specifically defines CTE instructors as those holding a valid endorsement or authorization for grades 5-12.

SF 2095 requires Iowa postsecondary schools offering health-related degree programs (like nursing or medicine) to find clinical rotation placements where students can be exempt from vaccination rules during their training, upon student request. This applies specifically to students completing supervised health care training for academic credit. Schools failing to provide such exemptions lose eligibility to receive Iowa tuition grants for their students. The bill amends existing law to link school compliance with vaccination exemption placement to tuition grant eligibility.

SF 2044 requires Iowa school districts and charter schools to adopt specific discipline policies for students causing violent or nonviolent disruptions. These policies must include behavior correction strategies, require parent consent before counseling, and establish placement review committees to determine when students can return to classrooms after removal. Schools must also provide alternatives like therapeutic classrooms, document individualized education plans for students with disabilities, and comply with federal disability and privacy laws. The bill standardizes discipline approaches while ensuring schools address disruptions through structured, documented processes.