Education 3/1
- indivisiblecria
- Mar 1
- 4 min read
Unfortunately, SF2201 passed the Senate and school districts around the state will now be expected to fight not only inflation but additional unfunded mandates and vouchers. This fight cannot be abandoned. (Since writing this, the governor has signed the bill)
Many of the bills previously discussed are still alive and may be addressed.
As always, a thank you to Connie Ryan at Interfaith Alliance. Also, subscribe to your legislators’ weekly newsletter, they really focus on what’s happening. One more great source is Political Sense from Iowa Public Radio.
SF2201 (OPPOSE) Passed :(
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT issue for our K-12 school districts.
See comments above. The state percent of growth for public school budget for the upcoming year is set to 2%.
"modifying provisions relating to property tax replacement payments, transportation equity aid funding, funding for school district budget adjustments, and school district enrollment, establishing an education support personnel salary supplement, making appropriations, and including effective date and applicability provisions." -SF2201
Urgent Action Item:
Both bills would allow a person with a valid permit to carry to have a gun in their vehicle in the driveways and parking lots of school grounds.
SF2263 casts a wide net on the topic of guns in vehicles in public spaces that also overlaps with HF621 in the area of school grounds. If you are curious, here are links to the lobbyist declaration pages for SF2263 and HF621.
Any legislation that allows for guns on school grounds only puts students and staff at risk.
Click on the bills for more details.
SF2263 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee
These bills are eligible for debate in the House and Senate.
Education Bills:
HF884 (OPPOSE)
This is the bill that allows public schools to employ chaplains to provide services to students, see previous descriptions.
This is eligible for debate in the Senate although there has been no action on this bill. (no update this week)
An Act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the protected speech and expression rights of students enrolled in school districts, charter school, and innovation zone schools and the duties of the department of education, and providing civil penalties.
While this bill respects the right of free speech, including prayer and discussion of religious ideas, it should not include proselytizing or trying to convert students who are considered a captive audience in schools.
This is eligible for consideration in both houses. House and Senate
HF2510 (OPPOSE)
This bill mandates specific curriculum requirements that public schools must include for social studies in grades one through twelve and educational programs of the regents universities. The legislature is overreaching by mandating specific curriculum requirements.
The bill will be considered by the House.
Higher Education:
SF2405 (OPPOSE)
(Formerly HF2116/SF2174)
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are already prohibited in public schools and state universities, but this bill goes even further. It allows anyone, regardless of “standing”, to go to court and force an action against a district only because that person doesn’t like something happening in a district. This could cause a useless but detrimental financial burden for districts.
Writer's Note: Apparently, the Federal Dept. of Education is no longer pursuing enforcement of DEI "Offenses."
Editor's Note: This is not stopping the state, per IPR reporting.
This is eligible for debate in the Senate.
HF2488 (OPPOSE)
(Formerly HSB537)
The bill prohibits a private college from having a diversity, equity, and inclusion office. The institution would not be eligible to receive funding from the Iowa Tuition Grant program if it is in violation.
The bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate Education Committee
(Formerly SF2063/HSB542)
An anti diversity, equity, and inclusion, and critical race theory prohibition. The board of regents is required to complete a review of all undergraduate course requirements and if related to the above, may eliminate those requirements.
Also, HF2487 authorizes the attorney general to conduct an investigation regarding a violation of current law prohibiting regents universities, community colleges, and state entities, which would include local governments, from engaging in certain practices regarding DEI.
These bills are eligible for debate in their respective chambers.
A bill that establishes required courses in American History and American Government for all undergraduate students. This bill continues to shift decisions on course requirements of higher education from the educational institutions to the state legislature. For more context, look for coverage on last year's HF401 "Core Curriculum Act'. Formerly (HSB543 /SF2033)
These bills are both eligible for consideration in their respective houses.
HF2489 (OPPOSE)
(formerly HSB548)
The bill mandates that the three state universities sign the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” created by the Trump Administration.
There are several highly concerning issues with this bill;
Requires standardized tests for admission,
Mandates "ideologically neutral" campuses while exclusively protecting conservative ideas, and
Allows “lawful force” as a means of maintaining order on campus.
The bill is in the House
