Education (School Funding)

signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2026

HF 2493: A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

HF 2493 modifies Iowa's statewide preschool program to expand eligibility to include five-year-olds who turn five on or after March 15 but on or before September 15 of the school year, in addition to four-year-olds. It adjusts funding rules so children counted for state funding in prior years cannot be counted again, and updates terminology to refer to "young children" instead of exclusively "four-year-olds." The bill affects school districts operating approved preschool programs, children meeting the new age criteria, and state funding allocations for preschool services. These changes apply to school budget years starting July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands preschool eligibility to more children and adjusts funding to ensure efficient resource allocation, directly increasing educational access for young learners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding

passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 2363: A bill for an act relating to English learners, including by modifying provisions related to open enrollment and the payment of costs incurred in transporting English learners to nonpublic schools, and including applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's funding and open enrollment rules for English learners. It adds extra per-student funding (26% for intensive, 21% for intermediate learners) to cover both instructional costs and transportation to nonpublic schools. For open enrollment requests involving English learners, the receiving district must confirm it has appropriate program capacity and classroom space before approving the transfer. The home district must pay the receiving district any difference between actual special instruction costs and the standard funding amount, with these rules applying to requests filed after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds 21-26% extra per-student funding for English learners' instruction/transportation and ensures program capacity for open enrollment, directly advancing educational access and support for this student group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 19, 2026

HF 2492: A bill for an act providing for supplementary weighting for school districts that share career and technical education instructors.

HF 2492 adds career and technical education (CTE) instructors to the list of positions eligible for shared operational functions that qualify for extra school district funding. School districts sharing CTE instructors (defined as licensed teachers with specific endorsements in grades 5-12) with other districts or political subdivisions for at least 20% of the school year will receive a supplementary funding boost of three pupils per shared function. This change expands existing funding rules, which previously covered roles like counselors and special education directors, to specifically include CTE instructors. The bill aims to redirect resources toward student programming by incentivizing shared staffing arrangements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands school finance by adding supplementary funding for districts sharing CTE instructors, directly increasing state appropriations for public education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides supplementary funding (3 pupils per shared function) for districts sharing CTE instructors, expanding school finance support for career education programs and teacher collaboration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SF 2406: A bill for an act relating to charter schools and innovation zone schools, including by modifying provisions related to charter school funding and operations, services provided to charter schools by area education agencies, charter school contracts, and charter school student participation in extracurricular activities provided by public schools, striking provisions allowing for the establishment of innovation zone schools, and including applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's charter school laws by eliminating innovation zone schools entirely and centralizing authorization under the state board of education. It requires charter schools to operate as nonprofits, mandates specific curriculum resources (like math plans and civics tests), and ensures charter school students can participate in public school extracurricular activities. The bill directly affects charter schools, school districts, and students by changing how charter schools are authorized, funded, and required to provide educational services. Key provisions include the state board as the sole authorizer, new requirements for math and civics resources, and removing all references to innovation zone schools from the code.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates curriculum standards (math plans, civics tests) and ensures charter students' extracurricular access, strengthening educational requirements and equity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 23, 2026

HSB 717: A bill for an act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by taxation, including by modifying provisions related to the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school improvement advisory committees, the sale of public bonds, statewide school infrastructure funding, open enrollment, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards, and including applicability provisions.

This bill modifies school governance and funding rules in Iowa. It requires school districts to hold public hearings and potentially seek voter approval for new programs like instructional support and educational improvement funding, with smaller districts (under 1,200 students) allowed to post notices online instead of in newspapers. It also grants school board members new access rights to curriculum materials, library resources, and professional development content, while changing procedures for filling board vacancies. The bill directly affects school districts, their boards, and voters regarding funding decisions and board operations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires public hearings for educational improvement funding programs and modifies governance to enable school district program implementation, directly advancing educational access and funding structures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2026

HF 2699: A bill for an act relating to charter schools and innovation zone schools, including by modifying provisions related to charter school funding and operations, services provided to charter schools by area education agencies, charter school contracts, and charter school student participation in extracurricular activities provided by public schools, striking provisions allowing for the establishment of innovation zone schools, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2699 modifies Iowa's charter school laws by eliminating provisions for "innovation zone schools" and making the State Board of Education the sole authorizer for new charter schools. It requires charter schools to operate as nonprofit organizations, clarifies they are exempt from most state rules (except specific requirements), and mandates new state-developed resources for math education, student device policies, and civics testing. The bill directly affects charter schools, public school districts, and students by changing how charter schools are approved, funded, and governed, including new requirements for immunization communication and extracurricular participation. Key provisions include setting a 75-day timeline for charter application reviews and requiring all charter schools to adopt standardized civics tests by 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state resources for math education, student devices, and civics testing, enhancing educational programs and student access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 2092: A bill for an act relating to the statewide preschool program by modifying provisions relating to eligibility, funding, and compulsory attendance and including applicability provisions.

HF 2092 expands Iowa's statewide preschool program to include eligible five-year-olds who turn five between March 15 and September 15 of the school year, in addition to existing four-year-olds. It modifies eligibility rules so children must be four by September 15 (or five by that date for the new group) to qualify for state funding, and clarifies that children already counted for funding in prior years cannot be counted again. The bill also updates compulsory attendance rules to treat enrolled preschoolers as school-age, and changes references to "four-year-olds" to "young children" throughout related statutes. These changes apply to school budget years starting July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands preschool eligibility requiring increased state funding allocation for additional participants under school finance provisions, directly advancing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands preschool access to include eligible 5-year-olds, increasing early childhood educational opportunities and aligning with school finance provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SF 2005: A bill for an act providing for supplementary weighting for school districts that share career and technical education instructors.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides supplemental state funding (two pupils per shared CTE instructor) to school districts, directly increasing school finance resources for career education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds supplementary funding for CTE instructor sharing, increasing resources for student programming in career education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds IT career education programs via CTE instructor sharing, directly supporting technology workforce development in school districts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2026

HF 2217: A bill for an act relating to radon testing in schools, including responsibilities of nonpublic schools, applicability to charter and innovation zone schools, establishing a school testing and mitigation of radon grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2217 requires all public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa to test for radon gas in school buildings at least once by July 2027 and every five years thereafter, with testing limited to October-March. It creates a state grant program within the Department of Education to help schools cover the costs of radon testing and mitigation, using funds that remain available year-to-year rather than reverting to the general fund. Schools must follow specific testing protocols and address elevated radon levels (4 picocuries per liter or higher) by conducting follow-up tests or developing mitigation plans. The bill also mandates that testing results be published online and reported to health officials, with grants intended to supplement, not replace, existing school funding for radon-related work.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state grant program within DOE for radon testing costs, using year-to-year funds to fund school safety program, directly advancing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program within Dept. of Education to fund radon testing/mitigation in schools, improving school infrastructure safety for students and staff.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 21, 2026

HF 2143: A bill for an act authorizing school districts to use revenues from the district management levy for targeted staff retention incentives and including applicability provisions.

HF 2143 allows Iowa school districts to use revenues from their district management levy for targeted staff retention incentives. Specifically, it permits payments for retention bonuses or financial incentives for employees in critical roles, those with high-need credentials (like special education, math, science, or career-technical education), and classified staff in essential operational positions. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 298.4 to explicitly include these uses of levy funds. This change applies to school budget years starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows school districts to use existing levy funds for staff retention incentives, directly funding critical education roles with tax revenues.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes use of levy funds for teacher retention bonuses in critical roles (special ed, STEM, career-technical), directly strengthening educator support and staff retention in high-need areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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