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.
HB 278 requires all public school students in grades 7-12 (including charter and innovation zone schools) in Iowa to meet specific physical education (PE) requirements. Male students must complete weightlifting (3 days/week), cardiovascular training (1 day/week), and one extracurricular activity annually, while female students must participate in one extracurricular activity per year. Students may be excused with a physician's note for medical reasons or a parent's written request for non-medical reasons. The bill applies to all public school districts and sets new graduation-level PE standards, replacing previous requirements.
This bill requires all Iowa public schools to add specific nutrition education to health curricula for students in kindergarten through grade 8. It mandates instruction emphasizing the importance, benefits, and role of animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables, and fruit in a balanced diet. The bill also updates career and technical education (grades 9-12) to include agriculture, food, and natural resources instruction focused on food production, local sourcing, and sustainable farming. These changes apply to public school districts and must be implemented per the bill's effective date provisions.
HF 522 amends Iowa's therapeutic classroom incentive program to allow school districts using grant funds to cover specific nutritional items for students. It directly affects students in therapeutic classrooms - those whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with learning - and the school districts administering these programs. Key provisions authorize funding for micronutrient access (like vitamins D and K2), assessments of macro-nutritional needs, provision of whole foods (fresh produce, healthy proteins), restrictions on artificial food additives, and initiatives addressing digital screen use and natural light exposure. The bill expands allowable uses of existing grant funds to support nutrition-based strategies within therapeutic classrooms.
HF 114 would require school districts operating therapeutic classrooms - designed to support students with emotional, social, or behavioral needs that interfere with learning - to incorporate specific nutritional and environmental changes. Key provisions mandate providing access to micronutrients (like vitamins D and K2), assessing students' macro-nutritional needs, serving minimally processed whole foods (fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins), restricting artificial food additives, limiting excessive digital screen use, and increasing natural light exposure. These changes would apply to classrooms funded through the state’s competitive grant program for therapeutic classrooms. The bill aimed to integrate science-backed health initiatives into these classrooms to improve student outcomes. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on March 21, 2025.)
This bill modifies Iowa school funding rules by changing how certain shared staff positions count toward a school district's annual funding cap. Starting July 1, 2024, funding for college/career transition counselors no longer counts toward the 21-pupil maximum. Starting July 1, 2025, funding for master social workers, licensed social workers, mental health professionals, and school resource officers also won't count toward this cap. School districts using these staff will have more flexibility to allocate funding toward other shared operational functions within the 21-pupil limit. The change affects all Iowa school districts receiving supplementary funding for shared staff services.
HF 851 requires all Iowa public and nonpublic schools offering kindergarten through grade 12 to include specific nutrition education in their health curricula. It mandates that students learn about the importance, benefits, and role of animal-based proteins, dairy, vegetables, and fruits in a balanced diet across multiple grade levels. The bill also modifies career and technical education to include agriculture, food, and natural resources instruction, emphasizing local food sourcing. These changes apply to all schools meeting state curriculum standards, with requirements beginning in the 2023-2024 school year for certain grades.
SF 525 requires all Iowa public schools (and nonpublic schools offering kindergarten) to add specific nutrition instruction to health classes for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill mandates that this instruction emphasize the importance, benefits, and role of animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables, and fruit in a balanced diet. It also updates career education standards to include food production and local sourcing benefits within agriculture, food, and natural resources programs for high school students. These curriculum changes apply to all schools meeting state accreditation standards and take effect upon enactment.
HB 173 requires all Iowa public and nonpublic schools (K-12) to include specific nutrition education in their curricula. It mandates instruction emphasizing the importance and benefits of animal-based proteins, dairy, vegetables, and fruit in balanced diets for students in kindergarten through grade 8, and updates health education standards to include these topics. The bill also modifies career and technical education for grades 9-12 to add agriculture, food, and natural resources content focused on local sourcing and sustainable farming. Additionally, it updates school meal program requirements and specifies that these changes apply to all schools meeting state accreditation standards.
