HF 2393 allows Iowa school districts to use specific categorical funds - generated from students enrolled in the state's education savings account program - for any general school budget purpose, rather than restricted uses. This change applies only to funds tied to students participating in the education savings account program under Section 257.11B. Previously, these funds had to cover teacher salary supplements, professional development, or leadership program costs, but the bill removes those restrictions starting July 1, 2026. The policy directly affects school districts receiving these funds and provides greater budget flexibility for general operations.
HSB 719 establishes a competitive grant program within Iowa's Department of Education to help schools develop cardiac emergency response plans. It requires participating schools (including public districts, nonpublic schools, and charters) to implement specific safety measures like placing AEDs accessible within three minutes, training staff in CPR/AED use, and conducting annual emergency drills. The grants, funded through a new state treasury account, offset costs for creating these plans but must supplement, not replace, existing school funding. The program applies to all schools starting with the 2027-2028 school year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
