Education (Special Education)

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 11, 2025

HF 914: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the duties and powers of area education agencies, the department of education, and area education agency funding, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

HF 914 modifies Iowa's education structure by changing how area education agencies (AEAs) operate and interact with the Department of Education. It removes outdated sections and updates key provisions, including requiring AEAs to provide evidence-based professional development and special education oversight through a new "division of special education" within the Department (not AEAs). The bill also revises budget processes, mandating that AEA annual budgets must be approved by both the Department of Education and the State Board of Education before final adoption. These changes directly affect AEAs, local school districts, and students - particularly those with disabilities - by clarifying service responsibilities and oversight for educational programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based professional development and centralizes special education oversight under DE, strengthening oversight and quality within education structure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

died · Iowa · House Mar 14, 2025

HF 122: A bill for an act relating to school districts that share the operational functions of a school resource officer, and including applicability provisions.

HF 122 increases funding for Iowa school districts that share operational functions with other entities, specifically raising the supplementary weighting for sharing a school resource officer (SRO) from 2 to 4 pupils. This policy change directly affects school districts sharing SRO services (or other eligible roles like counselors or special education directors) for at least 20% of the school year. The bill provides additional state funding by assigning districts extra weighted pupils based on shared functions, with SRO sharing now earning 4 pupils instead of 2. The change applies to school budget years beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state funding for school districts by raising supplementary weighting for shared SRO services, directly allocating additional state resources for public education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases state funding for school districts sharing SRO services by raising weighted pupil count from 2 to 4, directly advancing school resource allocation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety Special Education

Track

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2025

SF 91: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the determination of school enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

SF 91 updates how Iowa school districts calculate student enrollment for funding purposes. It sets specific dates (October 1 and March 1) for determining enrollment counts, including additional students served through special education and supplementary weighting programs. School districts must report these calculated enrollment figures to the Department of Education by set deadlines each year. These changes directly affect school districts and the state's funding formula for public education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies school funding formula via enrollment calculation, ensuring accurate budget allocation for public education under school budgets subject.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates enrollment calculation for school funding, ensuring accurate resource allocation to districts and special education programs per state formula.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SSB 1100: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's education funding and teacher policies. It establishes a tiered system grouping school districts by enrollment size to calculate teacher salary supplement costs, ensuring districts meet minimum salary requirements ($50,000 starting, $62,000 for 12+ years' experience) and related retirement/insurance costs. It also requires 80 hours of pre-student teaching field experience for new teacher candidates and sets new criteria for out-of-state placements of students needing special education, requiring state department approvals. The changes directly affect school districts, teacher preparation programs, and students with special education needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates minimum teacher salaries ($50k-$62k) and related costs, requiring state budget allocation for education funding under school finance provisions.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationSets minimum teacher salaries ($50k starting, $62k for 12+ years) and mandates 80-hour field experience, directly advancing educator compensation and preparation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HSB 147: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.

HB 147 modifies several Iowa education policies. It establishes tiered school district funding based on enrollment size to help districts meet new minimum teacher salary requirements ($50,000 starting, $62,000 for 12+ years experience) by adjusting state aid. The bill also requires teacher preparation programs to include specific pre-teaching field experiences (80 hours for initial programs, 50 hours for interns) and clarifies criteria for out-of-state special education placements, including health care eligibility and residency requirements. These changes directly affect Iowa school districts, teachers, and students requiring special education services. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modifies state aid to fund new teacher salary requirements ($50k-$62k), directly increasing state education spending through adjusted school district funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationSets minimum teacher salaries ($50k/$62k) and adjusts state aid to fund them, requiring teacher prep field experiences to strengthen educator support and school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education Teachers

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died · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SF 442: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.

This bill modifies several education policies in Iowa. It establishes tiered school district cost calculations for teacher salary supplements based on enrollment size (over/under 3,500 students), sets minimum teacher salaries ($50,000 starting, $62,000 for 12+ years experience), and requires districts to cover retirement and payroll costs. It also updates teacher preparation rules to mandate 80 hours of field experience for new teachers (including 10 hours before program entry) and clarifies requirements for out-of-state special education placements, requiring coordination between health, education, and residency criteria. These changes directly affect school districts, teachers, and students with special education needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSets minimum teacher salaries ($50k-$62k), mandates 80-hour field experience for new teachers, and requires districts to cover retirement costs, strengthening educator compensation and preparation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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signed · Iowa · House Jun 6, 2025

HF 787: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.

HF 787 modifies several education policies in the state. It changes how school districts calculate teacher salary supplements, updates requirements for teacher training programs, and sets rules for placing students needing special education services out of state. The bill also defines the Department of Education's duties and establishes minimum salary levels for teachers. These changes directly affect school districts, educators, and students requiring special education services. The bill became law after passing the legislature and being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum teacher salaries, updates teacher preparation requirements, and modifies salary supplement calculations to support educators and special education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers