This Iowa bill modifies property tax rules and budget limits for state and local governments, affecting cities, counties, and other public entities that levy property taxes. It establishes a new cap on general fund reserves, limiting unassigned funds to 35% of prior year expenditures starting in fiscal year 2027, and creates a new property tax levy limit that allows annual increases of up to 102% for existing property valuations. The legislation also updates audit requirements for local governments, clarifies how unliquidated obligations are recorded, and excludes school districts from certain reserve and levy limitation provisions.
HF 2670 requires Iowa public schools to administer annual assessments in math and English language arts for students in grades 3-11 during the last school quarter. It also mandates science assessments for grades 5, 8, and 10, and social studies assessments for grades 8 and 10. The bill specifies that assessments must align with Iowa’s academic standards, meet federal requirements, and be available in both paper and digital formats. These changes directly affect Iowa’s K-12 students and school districts implementing testing programs.
SF 2222 requires Iowa teacher training programs to increase clinical experience for future educators starting July 1, 2027. All students in these programs must complete at least 15 hours of practice focused on supporting students with disabilities and English learners, while those seeking English learner teaching endorsements need 40 hours of specialized training. The bill also mandates a new end-of-program assessment for each teaching specialty, with results reported to the state education department and published publicly starting in 2028. This directly affects all colleges offering teacher preparation programs and prospective teachers seeking licensure in Iowa.
HF 2339, the "Admissions Reform Act," requires Iowa's regents universities to accept the Classic Learning Test as an additional standardized test option (alongside ACT/SAT) for calculating the Regent Admission Index (RAI) starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. It also mandates that for students not meeting RAI criteria, universities must consider only "merit and likelihood of employment in Iowa after graduation" when making admission decisions, with a policy deadline of December 31, 2026. The bill directly affects prospective students applying to Iowa's public universities and the admission policies of those institutions. The RAI currently combines ACT/SAT scores, high school GPA, and core course completion to predict student success. This bill changes admission factors for non-RAI applicants and expands test options within the existing RAI framework.
SF 2220 modifies Iowa's statewide student assessments, requiring math and English language arts testing in grades 3-11 and science in grades 5, 8, and 10. It mandates school districts to develop procedures for identifying gifted and talented students using multiple data points (like standardized tests and teacher input), ensuring equitable access across all student groups. The bill requires districts to create an "advanced mathematics pathway" enabling students to complete algebra I by grade nine and automatically enroll students scoring "advanced" in math or ELA assessments in the next rigorous course level. These provisions directly affect all Iowa public school districts, students in grades 4-12, and gifted education programs by changing assessment requirements, identification processes, and access to accelerated math courses.
This bill modifies Iowa's K-12 education standards by changing annual testing requirements. It mandates assessments in math, English language arts, science, and social studies for specific grades (e.g., math/ELA in grades 3-11, science in grades 5/8/10, social studies in grades 8/10), requiring alignment with Iowa's academic standards and federal accountability rules. The bill also updates health curriculum standards to include age-appropriate information on communicable and sexually transmitted diseases, adds suicide prevention protocols for schools, and establishes training for equity coordinators. These changes directly affect all Iowa public and nonpublic schools serving kindergarten through grade 12, requiring school districts to implement new testing schedules, curriculum content, and safety protocols.
This bill requires Iowa school districts to implement several education changes. It mandates annual math and English language arts assessments for grades 3-11 and science for grades 5, 8, and 10-11, while establishing new procedures for identifying gifted students using multiple data sources (like test scores and teacher input) and ensuring equitable access across all student groups. Districts must create an "advanced mathematics pathway" to help students complete algebra I by grade nine and automatically enroll students scoring "advanced" in math/ELA assessments into higher-level courses. Additionally, districts must develop clear procedures for subject acceleration (moving ahead in one subject) and whole-grade acceleration (skipping a full grade), including support for learning gaps and parental notification options.
This bill requires Iowa teacher training programs to add specific clinical experiences starting July 2027: all candidates must complete 15 hours focused on supporting students with disabilities and English learners, while those seeking English learner endorsements need 40 hours. It also mandates a new end-of-program assessment to measure teaching readiness in specific subject areas, with passing scores set by the state department. Programs must provide remediation for students who don't meet standards, and the department will publish pass rates and improvement efforts online starting 2028. These changes directly affect teacher training institutions and new teacher candidates seeking licensure.
This bill modifies Iowa's education requirements by updating statewide student assessments and creating new standards for gifted programs. It mandates that all students in grades 3-11 take annual math and English language arts assessments, with science tests for grades 5, 8, and 10-11. School districts must establish procedures to identify gifted students using multiple data sources (like test scores and teacher input) and develop an advanced math pathway to enable algebra I completion by grade nine. Additionally, districts must automatically enroll students scoring in the "advanced" range on math or ELA tests in more rigorous courses, with parent opt-out options, and implement subject/grade acceleration procedures.
HF 2230 modifies Iowa teacher education and licensing rules to better prepare educators for diverse classrooms. Starting July 1, 2027, all teacher preparation programs must include at least 15 practice hours focused on supporting students with disabilities and English learners. Programs seeking English learner endorsements require 40 hours of specific training in teaching English to English learners. The bill also mandates a final assessment before graduation to measure teaching readiness, with the state department publishing program pass rates and support efforts starting in 2028. This directly affects teacher preparation programs, their students (future teachers), and the Board of Educational Examiners.
