Education (K-12 Education)

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1461XD: Career Education, Development and Industry Credentials (1461XD) - Education, Department of

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Education to create and maintain a list of industry-recognized credentials (like job certifications) for high school students (grades 9-12) aligned with career and technical education programs. School districts must report students who earn these credentials and recognize them by affixing a state-developed seal to high school transcripts or providing a certificate with the seal. It also updates middle school curricula to include career planning in grades 5-6 and career exploration in grades 7-8, focusing on local job opportunities and career pathways. The policy directly affects Iowa public school students, districts, and the Department of Education, with no new state funding required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires career credentials in curriculum, recognizes industry certs on transcripts, expands student career pathways through K-12 integration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HSB 44: A bill for an act relating to career education, including middle school career exploration and industry-recognized credential seals and certificates for high school students.

This bill requires Iowa public schools to create a list of industry-recognized credentials for high school students (grades 9-12) aligned with career pathways, and develop a transcript seal for students earning these credentials. It mandates career exploration in middle school (grades 5-6 and 7-8) through curriculum including career investigation and connections, helping students plan their academic paths. School districts must confidentially report student credential attainment to the education department and apply the seal to transcripts or issue a certificate for qualifying graduates. The policy directly affects Iowa public school students, districts, and the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates career exploration in middle school and industry-recognized credentials for high school students, enhancing curriculum and student program access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 11, 2025

HF 215: A bill for an act relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual assault awareness and prevention.

HF 215 requires Iowa school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools to provide age-appropriate child sexual abuse and assault awareness education to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. It mandates schools to develop and distribute materials for parents covering topics like recognizing unsafe touch, internet safety, and reporting resources, and to incorporate model guidelines into K-6 curricula. The bill also establishes continuing education requirements for educators on prevention topics and specifies that school districts will fund implementation using existing state foundation aid. This legislation directly affects all K-6 students and schools across Iowa by creating standardized prevention education and resource materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-6 safety curriculum integration, parent materials, and educator training, directly enhancing educational content and student protection within school programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SF 61: A bill for an act relating to robotics extracurricular activities, including requiring the department of education to provide technical assistance to school districts related to chartering career and technical student organizations related to robotics and authorizing high school athletic organizations to sponsor interscholastic contests related to robotics.

SF 61 requires Iowa's Department of Education to provide technical assistance to school districts for starting robotics-focused career and technical student organizations. It also authorizes high school athletic organizations (that receive school district funding) to sponsor or host robotics competitions. The bill specifically supports schools in creating robotics teams and competitions that align with federal career education standards. This directly affects public and nonpublic high schools, students participating in robotics, and athletic organizations seeking to expand their programs. The policy change focuses on enabling school-based robotics activities through existing educational and athletic structures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires DOE technical assistance for robotics student orgs and authorizes competitions, expanding career-focused extracurricular programs in schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly promotes robotics education in schools through career technical programs, advancing technology-focused student development and aligning with federal tech education standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 150: A bill for an act prohibiting school districts from using standards-based grading in grades six through twelve.

HF 150 prohibits Iowa public school districts from using standards-based grading for students in grades six through twelve. The bill defines standards-based grading as a method that evaluates students on mastery of specific, smaller learning objectives within subjects, rather than traditional letter grades or points. If passed, school districts would be required to switch to alternative grading systems for middle and high school students. The bill is currently under review by the education subcommittee after being introduced in January 2025.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits standards-based grading method for middle/high schools, restricting educational practice and mandating alternative systems per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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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 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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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SF 382: A bill for an act relating to education, including by prohibiting the use of certain mascots to represent schools and institutions of higher education, establishing grant programs to assist schools and institutions of higher education in adopting alternative mascots, modifying provisions related to the Iowa tuition grants program, and making appropriations.

SF 382 prohibits Iowa public schools and colleges from using mascots, team names, or logos that reference disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act). It requires these institutions to adopt new, non-discriminatory representations by the bill's effective date, with a transition period allowing continued use of existing materials until September 1, 2027, under specific rules. The bill establishes two grant programs: one administered by the Department of Education to help K-12 schools and nonpublic institutions cover costs for changing mascots, and another by the State Board of Regents for public universities, both funded starting July 2025. These grants cover expenses like new signage, uniforms, and materials, with funding ending September 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant programs to help schools adopt inclusive mascots, promoting equitable educational environments and non-discriminatory practices under education policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SF 335: A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to trainings and curricula provided by school districts and prohibited sexual orientation and gender identity instruction, and implementing prohibitions related to the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, community colleges, and public schools.

SF 335 prohibits public schools, community colleges, and state universities from including sexual orientation or gender identity instruction in curricula and restricts diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It allows parents or school employees to file lawsuits against school districts to stop alleged violations, with the school district facing a $50,000 civil penalty per violation if sued successfully. The bill also requires school administrators to report known violations of these restrictions to the district. These provisions apply to all public K-12 schools, community colleges, and state universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits LGBTQ+ curriculum content and restricts DEI efforts in schools/universities, imposing penalties for violations, directly limiting educational content and academic freedom.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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died · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HF 120: A bill for an act authorizing school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to apply to the department of education for authorization to maintain a year-round school calendar at an attendance center or school for students enrolled in grades nine through twelve.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands year-round school calendar eligibility to high school students (grades 9-12), enhancing educational access options beyond current K-8 coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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