HF 204 requires Iowa's Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts for starting career-focused robotics clubs that comply with federal education rules. It also allows high school athletic organizations to sponsor robotics competitions using school district or state funds. The bill specifically supports robotics teams and competitions under existing career and technical education frameworks. This directly affects school districts, athletic organizations, and students participating in robotics programs.
HF 120 allows Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to apply to the Department of Education for authorization to implement year-round school calendars for students in grades nine through twelve. Currently, similar authorization only covers prekindergarten through grade eight, so this bill expands the eligibility to high school students. To apply, school boards must hold a public hearing on the proposal before submitting it to the Department of Education, with initial applications due by November 1 of the preceding school year. The bill directly affects high school students and school administrators by providing a new calendar option, while maintaining the existing requirement for public input before authorization.
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 (Note: The bill was withdrawn on March 21, 2025.)
HF 113 allows small Iowa school districts (with 200 or fewer students for three consecutive budget years) to redirect leftover funds from specific levy accounts - like the physical plant fund and public education fund - for general district purposes (excluding salaries or benefits) for up to five years. To do this, the school board must first get voter approval through an election requiring at least 60% of votes cast. The bill amends Iowa Code sections 298.3, 298A.6, and 423F.3 to establish this process, including requiring a new election every five years to renew the authorization. This applies only to unspent funds already in those designated accounts.
HF 68 modifies Iowa's open enrollment rules by requiring school districts to define "insufficient classroom space" in their policies to explicitly include standards about their capacity to teach English learners. This directly affects school districts managing enrollment and English learners, who are students whose primary language is not English and whose English proficiency may hinder academic success in standard classrooms. The bill changes current law by mandating that districts' space definitions must account for their ability to provide appropriate instruction to these students. This ensures space limitations considered during enrollment decisions specifically address the needs of English learners.
SF 278 requires the state Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts seeking to establish robotics-focused career and technical student organizations (CTSOs). It also authorizes high school athletic associations to sponsor interscholastic robotics competitions. The bill directly affects public high schools, students participating in robotics programs, and school administrators managing career and technical education. Key provisions create a structured pathway for schools to develop robotics clubs and integrate them into existing athletic or career-focused competition frameworks.
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.
HF 389 creates a new process for investigating student abuse by school employees in Iowa. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) to investigate reports within 24 hours and complete investigations within 30 business days. Schools must immediately place accused employees (including teachers, vendors, and volunteers) on administrative leave during investigations, and must terminate employment if DHS confirms abuse. This directly affects public and nonpublic schools, their employees, and the DHS, replacing current procedures with a standardized, time-bound system for handling such reports.
SF 8 prohibits Iowa school districts and charter schools from disciplining employees, contractors, or students for using legal names, names listed in school registration records, or for not using personal pronouns in official communications (like emails or forms). It specifically bans actions like termination, suspension, or fines for these reasons and defines "disciplinary action" broadly to include all such penalties. Employees wrongfully terminated under this law can seek reinstatement, back pay, and up to three times their annual wages through civil court. The bill applies directly to all public and charter schools in Iowa, affecting staff, contractors, and students in daily school interactions.
