Education

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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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 332: A bill for an act relating to the transportation to and from school of pupils participating in open enrollment.

This bill modifies Iowa school transportation rules for students using open enrollment. It removes mileage restrictions for districts of all sizes: for districts under 2,000 students, it eliminates the requirement that a student's home must be closer to the receiving school than their assigned school in the sending district. For districts with 2,000+ students, it removes the previous two-mile limit on transportation routes, allowing vehicles to travel farther without distance restrictions. The change directly affects students in open enrollment programs and their receiving school districts, streamlining transportation logistics regardless of residence location relative to school assignments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves transportation barriers for open enrollment, expanding student access to schools outside assigned districts and strengthening educational access for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Transportation

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 4, 2026

HF 332: A bill for an act relating to administrators employed by school districts, including requiring administrators to provide instruction to students and modifying the responsibilities of the board of educational examiners.

HF 332 requires school administrators in Iowa to teach regularly, with specific mandates based on their role and school size. For example, high school principals must teach at least three semester-long classes every three years, while elementary principals must cover two subjects in a classroom for one semester every three years. School districts must ensure compliance and report annually to the state education department, with non-compliance potentially leading to license suspension by the Board of Educational Examiners. The bill applies to administrators like superintendents, principals, and assistant principals across all public school districts in Iowa.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires principals to teach regularly, connecting leadership to classroom instruction to strengthen school leadership's educational role.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HF 236: A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction, including instruction in United States government, provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve.

HF 236 requires all Iowa high school students (grades 9-12) in public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to complete one full unit of U.S. government instruction as part of their social studies curriculum, increasing the current requirement from half a unit. The course must cover voting procedures, voter registration, paper ballots, absentee voting, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and civics education including citizen roles in government. This bill directly affects high school students and school districts by mandating specific content within the required social studies curriculum. The change aligns with existing standards but strengthens the depth of civic education for students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates increased U.S. government curriculum requirements, strengthening civics education in Iowa high schools by raising unit requirement from half to full unit.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HF 252: A bill for an act incorporating preparation in computer science, artificial intelligence, and computational thinking into the preparation required in approved practitioner preparation programs, and including applicability provisions.

HF 252 requires Iowa's approved teacher preparation programs to incorporate computer science, artificial intelligence, and computational thinking training tailored to the grade level and subject a future teacher will instruct. This requirement takes effect for students admitted on or after July 1, 2026, and allows colleges to meet it through a dedicated course, module, or by integrating the content into existing programs. The state board of regents must provide guidance to all higher education institutions on implementing these changes. The bill directly affects future teachers in Iowa by updating their training requirements to include foundational digital literacy skills.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science/AI training for teacher prep programs, strengthening educator readiness in tech-focused curricula.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HF 504: A bill for an act relating to robotics, including by establishing a robotics grant program within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics collaborative initiative and requiring the university of northern Iowa to develop a public-private partnership to support robotics competitions, and making appropriations.

HF 504 establishes a robotics grant program within Iowa's STEM collaborative initiative to provide funding for school robotics programs. It appropriates $400,000 to offset costs like team stipends, competition fees, kits, and travel for public school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The bill also allocates $100,000 to the University of Northern Iowa to develop a public-private partnership supporting the Iowa regional FIRST robotics competition. These provisions directly support K-12 robotics education and competition participation through targeted financial assistance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $400,000 for school robotics grants under STEM initiative, funding student programs, competitions, and teacher support within K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $400k for school robotics programs and $100k for UNI partnership, directly funding technology education initiatives under STEM.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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