Education (K-12 Education)

vetoed · Iowa · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SF 2320: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program.

SF 2320 modifies Iowa's concurrent enrollment program, which allows high school students (grades 9-12) to take college courses at community colleges. The bill requires students to enroll in in-person course versions unless a school superintendent (or designee) authorizes online enrollment, considering if the student is prepared for and likely to succeed in online learning. School boards must annually approve courses for high school credit based on academic rigor and college readiness. Written notice about course details, hours, and earned college credit must be provided to students and parents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires in-person enrollment for concurrent courses with academic rigor standards, ensuring college readiness and program quality for K-12 students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2457: A bill for an act establishing the credential-attainment program within the department of workforce development, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

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).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides employer tax credits (up to 10% of wages) and makes appropriations to fund workforce program, directly using tax policy to support funding and incentives.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes K-12 career credential program with employer partnerships, expanding student access to industry certifications and job guarantees, directly supporting educational access and career pathways.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGuarantees high-wage jobs (200% poverty level) and provides employer tax credits to fund workforce program, advancing employment standards and career pathways for students.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Workforce Development

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died · Iowa · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SF 2361: A bill for an act establishing a seal of civics excellence program administered by the department of education to recognize student excellence in civics.

This bill would establish a "seal of civics excellence" program administered by Iowa's Department of Education to recognize high school students who demonstrate proficiency in civics. The program requires students to show knowledge of American government and participate in civic activities, with the department setting the specific requirements for earning the seal. Participating schools would voluntarily notify the department of qualifying students, and the department would provide a seal (such as a sticker for transcripts or a certificate) that can be affixed to diplomas. The department may charge a nominal fee to cover printing and mailing costs for the seals.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes civics recognition program to enhance student civic education and engagement within K-12 schools, directly strengthening curriculum and student programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 11, 2026

HF 2510: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve and the educational programs provided by the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents.

HF 2510 modifies Iowa's K-12 social studies curriculum requirements. It mandates specific instruction on U.S. founding documents (including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Federalist Papers), "admirable Americans" like Lincoln and Douglass, and Holocaust education for both students and teachers. The bill requires grades 5-6 to study key historical documents, adds a semester of civics focusing on U.S. founding principles and government structures, and specifies that U.S. history instruction must emphasize "exceptional and praiseworthy history" using primary sources. It directly affects all public school students in grades 1-12 and their educators across Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific curriculum content including founding documents, Holocaust education, and civics, strengthening educational standards per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 5, 2026

HF 2285: A bill for an act requiring schools to establish and offer a junior fire fighter program to high school students.

HF 2285 requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to offer a junior firefighter program to students in grades 9-12. The program must teach about fire service work in a safe environment, build life skills like teamwork, and connect students with emergency responders to encourage future careers in firefighting. Schools can create the program themselves or partner with national organizations, and it may be offered as an extracurricular activity or part of career education. The bill specifies that schools will fund this requirement using existing state school foundation aid, with no new state funding needed for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to establish new student program enhancing career pathways in firefighting, directly expanding curriculum and student opportunities in education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 2547: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to career academies, the collective statewide articulation agreement between community colleges and the state board of regents, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, and individual career and academic plans, and by requiring the state board of regents to submit a report related to establishing a performance-based funding model for the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens career pathways, ensures course alignment, enables seamless credit transfer, and requires job-focused planning - directly advancing educational access and program quality per bill summary and subjects.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

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introduced · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2026

HF 2339: A bill for an act regarding student admission factors to regents universities.

HF 2339, the "Admissions Reform Act," requires Iowa's regents universities to accept the Classic Learning Test as an additional standardized test option (alongside ACT/SAT) for calculating the Regent Admission Index (RAI) starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. It also mandates that for students not meeting RAI criteria, universities must consider only "merit and likelihood of employment in Iowa after graduation" when making admission decisions, with a policy deadline of December 31, 2026. The bill directly affects prospective students applying to Iowa's public universities and the admission policies of those institutions. The RAI currently combines ACT/SAT scores, high school GPA, and core course completion to predict student success. This bill changes admission factors for non-RAI applicants and expands test options within the existing RAI framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds Classic Learning Test as admission option, expanding access to regents universities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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died · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2026

HF 2308: A bill for an act relating to state participation in the federal tax credit program for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations.

HF 2308 would allow Iowa to join a federal tax credit program, enabling Iowa residents who donate to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) to claim a state tax credit. The bill requires the governor to elect participation in the federal tax credit (under IRS Section 25F) and mandates the departments of Revenue and Education to follow federal rules to administer the program starting tax years after January 1, 2027. This would let SGOs provide scholarships of up to $1,700 per year per student for eligible elementary and secondary school expenses, directly benefiting families using nonpublic schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state tax credit for donations to SGOs, providing tax relief and aligning with federal program to fund private education scholarships.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax credits for private education scholarships, expanding student access to educational options beyond public schools through SGO funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits K-12 Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Iowa · House Feb 26, 2026

HR 110: A resolution honoring the Phoenix Declaration.

HR 110 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for the "Phoenix Declaration," a set of educational principles. It does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses the declaration's emphasis on parental choice in education, transparency in schools, teaching foundational American history and values, and curricular focus on core subjects and character development. The resolution directly affects congressional record-keeping and symbolic recognition, not actual school operations or funding. It has no concrete policy impact beyond stating the House's belief in these educational principles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEndorses parental choice, core curriculum, and American history principles in education without policy changes, aligning with support indicators through symbolic recognition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice School Safety

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HSB 746: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to summative testing in schools and the educational program provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve.

This bill modifies Iowa's K-12 education standards by changing annual testing requirements. It mandates assessments in math, English language arts, science, and social studies for specific grades (e.g., math/ELA in grades 3-11, science in grades 5/8/10, social studies in grades 8/10), requiring alignment with Iowa's academic standards and federal accountability rules. The bill also updates health curriculum standards to include age-appropriate information on communicable and sexually transmitted diseases, adds suicide prevention protocols for schools, and establishes training for equity coordinators. These changes directly affect all Iowa public and nonpublic schools serving kindergarten through grade 12, requiring school districts to implement new testing schedules, curriculum content, and safety protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates aligned assessments and updates health curriculum standards, reinforcing educational requirements and accountability without restricting access or funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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