Education

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HSB 52: A bill for an act establishing a school of intellectual freedom at the university of Iowa.

This bill establishes a School of Intellectual Freedom as an independent academic unit within the University of Iowa's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It requires the school to teach courses on the historical foundations of the American constitutional order, free speech, civil discourse, and responsible leadership, directly affecting university students, faculty, and programming. The bill mandates that all funding (including private donations) be used solely for the school's direct operations, not university-wide costs, and requires the school to develop bylaws emphasizing intellectual diversity and open inquiry. The school will operate under a dean appointed by a board-selected academic council, with annual reports to state officials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes School of Intellectual Freedom at UI with mandated curriculum on constitutional foundations, free speech, and civil discourse, enhancing higher education programming and curriculum.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HF 422: A bill for an act relating to statewide voluntary preschool program quality standards and renewals.

HF 422 establishes quality standards for Iowa's statewide voluntary preschool program (SVPP), directly affecting school districts, early childhood providers, and families with preschool-aged children. The bill requires programs to meet specific standards including teacher-child ratios, student learning goals, parent involvement, and collaboration with families and community partners like Head Start and childcare centers. It mandates 5-year program renewals and clarifies that state preschool funding can cover staff training, materials, and transportation but cannot be used for facility construction. The bill also requires programs to demonstrate ongoing community partnerships and integrates children from other preschool programs with parental consent.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes quality standards (teacher ratios, learning goals) and clarifies preschool funding to improve early childhood education access and program quality.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 17, 2025

SF 262: A bill for an act requiring the establishment of the state percent of growth and categorical state percent of growth for two consecutive budget years during the first regular session of the general assembly, and including effective date provisions.

This bill requires Iowa's legislature to set two specific budget growth percentages during the first regular session of each general assembly: the "state percent of growth" (a statewide funding rate) and the "categorical state percent of growth" (a rate for specific education programs like teacher supplements and transportation aid). For the 2022-2024 budget years, it fixes these rates at 2.5% or 3% as specified, and mandates that future rates be set within 30 days after the governor submits the budget. After initial setting, the legislature may only increase - never decrease - these percentages for the second budget year covered. The bill directly affects state budget planning for education funding and requires these rates to be established for two consecutive budget years.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates fixed 2.5-3% annual funding growth for education programs (including teacher supplements and transportation aid) over two budget years, ensuring stable and increased school finance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2025

HF 447: A bill for an act authorizing the use of revenues from the district management levy to pay costs related to school safety and security and including applicability provisions.

HF 447 allows Iowa school districts to use funds from their district management levy to cover school safety and security costs. Specifically, it permits using these funds for installing and operating safety infrastructure (like weapons detection and door monitoring systems) and for hiring security personnel. This change applies to school budget years starting July 1, 2025, and modifies existing law to expand the allowable uses of these levy revenues. The bill directly affects school districts seeking to fund safety measures through their existing local levy system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing school levy tax revenues to fund essential safety infrastructure and personnel, advancing public safety funding through fiscal management of current tax resources.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill redirects existing school levy funds to cover safety infrastructure and personnel, directly enhancing school security within educational funding framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 18, 2025

HF 262: A bill for an act providing for a teacher minimum salary budget adjustment for school budget years beginning July 1, 2025, and including effective date provisions.

HF 262 creates a budget adjustment for Iowa school districts that face higher actual costs than their current teacher salary funding covers. Specifically, districts would receive state funds if their costs (including retirement contributions and taxes) exceed existing teacher salary supplements for roles like classroom teachers, counselors, nurses, and teacher leadership positions. Districts must formally request this adjustment annually and spend the funds solely on teacher salaries within the same year. The bill aims to help districts comply with minimum salary requirements without creating budget shortfalls.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides state funds to school districts for teacher salary costs (including retirement/taxes), increasing budget allocation for education. Directly funds essential public services per topic description.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state funds to cover teacher salary costs exceeding current supplements, directly supporting educator compensation and school budgets.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds teacher salary increases for school districts, directly advancing wage standards for education workers per bill's salary-focused budget adjustment.92% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding Student Health Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SSB 1030: A bill for an act requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas.

This bill requires all Iowa high school students in grades 9-12 to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) civics test with at least 60% accuracy as a condition for graduating high school or earning a high school equivalency diploma. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, public and accredited nonpublic schools must administer the test, which consists of multiple-choice questions from the USCIS naturalization civics test, without charging students any fees. Students who fail may retake the test as many times as needed to achieve the required score. The law applies to all students seeking these diplomas, not just non-citizens, and mandates the state board of education to create implementing rules.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civics test as graduation requirement, directly enhancing curriculum standards for K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SSB 1065: A bill for an act relating to electronic devices in schools, including student access during instructional hours, school safety plans, and instruction related to the effects of social media in grades six through eight, and including effective date provisions.

This bill requires Iowa public schools to adopt policies restricting personal electronic device use during classroom instruction starting in 2025, with specific guidelines for device storage, emergency communication, and exemptions for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans. It also mandates that health classes in grades six and eight include instruction about social media's effects, as specified in amended curriculum standards (sections 256.11, subsections 3 and 4). School districts must develop model policies for device use, and teachers must receive professional development to deliver the new social media curriculum. The law directly affects all public school students in grades six through eight and their educators, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates social media curriculum in grades 6-8 and device restrictions during instruction, enhancing educational standards and safety policies.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student device use during instruction, mandates social media education, and limits technology access in classrooms per bill requirements.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Social Media

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 243: A bill for an act relating to tuition, degree programs, employment, and related matters pertaining to students enrolled at regents institutions.

SF 243, the "College Affordability Act," limits annual tuition increases for in-state undergraduate students at Iowa's regents institutions to 3% and requires institutions to freeze tuition for resident students after their first year of enrollment (starting in 2026). It mandates that institutions offer at least one baccalaureate degree program that can be completed in three years by 2027 and establish a "work plus" program where employers cover tuition and fees during part-time employment semesters. The bill also requires the board to notify student governments 30 days before tuition decisions and hold final approval meetings by December 31 of the prior fiscal year. These provisions directly affect in-state undergraduate students at Iowa's public universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLimits tuition increases to 3%, freezes fees after first year, mandates 3-year degrees, and creates employer-tuition programs to improve affordability and access to higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SSB 1119: A bill for an act creating a deduction available against the individual income tax for educational expenses at institutions of higher education for career-related programs and apprenticeship programs, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill creates a new deduction for Iowa individual income tax filers covering expenses for career-focused education and apprenticeships. It allows deductions for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment paid for: (1) non-college-credit career programs at qualifying institutions (like community colleges or state-regent schools), and (2) registered Iowa apprenticeship programs. Payments from education savings plans do not qualify, and the deduction applies retroactively to tax years starting January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for career education expenses, reducing individual tax burden. Direct tax relief aligns with support indicators for middle-income education access.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax deduction for career education/apprenticeship expenses, expanding access to higher education programs and reducing financial barriers for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Career & Technical Education

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died · Iowa · House Mar 9, 2026

HF 460: A bill for an act relating to play-based learning in preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten.

HF 460 requires Iowa public and accredited nonpublic schools to incorporate specific play-based learning time into preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten programs. It mandates at least 90 minutes of play-based learning per half-day and 180 minutes per full day for prekindergarten, and 45 minutes per day for kindergarten. The bill defines "play-based learning" as child-directed activities promoting development through play, excluding recess or physical education. These requirements apply to all school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools operating early childhood programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific play-based learning time in early education curricula, advancing developmental educational practices per bill's requirements for preschool/kindergarten.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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