Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF362

Introduced
2/20/23  
Introduced
2/20/23  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to public education, including participation in surveys, analyses, activities, or evaluations by students, employees, and contractors of school districts or charter schools and prohibiting the use of certain resources or materials related to social and emotional learning.

Impact

The legislation substantially alters the operational landscape for school districts and charter schools by prohibiting them from using resources related to social and emotional learning, specifically those developed by established organizations. By restricting the content available to educators and limiting the data that can be collected from students, the bill could lead to significant changes in how schools address student mental health and emotional well-being. The removal of resources from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning raises concerns about the preparedness of educators to support students facing emotional difficulties.

Summary

House File 362 (HF362) addresses significant aspects of public education in Iowa, with a particular focus on student participation in surveys, activities, and evaluations in school environments. The bill establishes strict regulations regarding the collection of sensitive information about students. It mandates that school boards secure written consent from a student's parent or guardian before a student may participate in any survey that reveals information about their political beliefs, mental health, or other sensitive personal details. This requirement aims to protect students' privacy and ensure parental involvement in decisions concerning their children's engagement with potentially intrusive assessments.

Contention

HF362 has sparked considerable debate among legislators, educators, and advocacy groups. Supporters argue that the bill is a necessary measure for safeguarding student privacy and promoting parental rights in education. They contend that such regulations are vital to prevent exploitation of vulnerable populations within school systems. Conversely, critics argue that the strict requirements and limitations imposed by the bill could hinder the effective implementation of essential social and emotional learning frameworks that contribute to students' overall development and well-being. This tension highlights the broader discussion around education policies that balance student welfare with parental oversight.

Companion Bills

IA SF85

Similar To A bill for an act relating to public education, including participation in surveys, analyses, activities, or evaluations by students, employees, and contractors of school districts or charter schools and prohibiting the use of certain resources or materials related to social and emotional learning.

Previously Filed As

IA SF85

A bill for an act relating to public education, including participation in surveys, analyses, activities, or evaluations by students, employees, and contractors of school districts or charter schools and prohibiting the use of certain resources or materials related to social and emotional learning.

IA SF496

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1145.) Effective date: 05/26/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA SF159

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying the responsibilities of the state board of education and school districts, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity or sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying provisions associated with the human growth and development instruction and health screenings provided in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and providing civil penalties.

IA SF113

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including by modifying provisions related to a parent's or guardian's rights to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, the educational program and human growth and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, student health screenings, school district library programs, special education, and other duties of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools.

IA SF2223

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including by modifying provisions related to a parent's or guardian's rights to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, the educational program and human growth and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, student health screenings, school district library programs, special education, and other duties of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools.

IA HF929

A bill for an act relating to school districts, including by modifying provisions related to closed sessions of meetings of the boards of directors of school districts and school district requirements to publish information regarding the school district's policies and procedures and educational materials available to students enrolled in the school district.(Formerly HSB 156.)

IA SF2049

A bill for an act relating to trainings, examinations, surveys, and screenings provided by governmental agencies and entities, school districts, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and public postsecondary educational institutions, including racism or sexism trainings, diversity and inclusion efforts, physical examinations, student health screenings, and surveys administered to students or related to students, and including civil penalties.

IA SSB1145

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.(See SF 496.)

IA HSB222

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.

IA HF5

A bill for an act relating to education, including requiring the boards of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools to publish certain specified information, modifying provisions related to required social studies instruction, and providing civil penalties.

Similar Bills

CA AB1025

Standby Caretaker Act.

CA AB1378

Standby guardianship of minors.

CA AB2179

Pupil services: local apprenticeship programs and preapprenticeship programs: notification of parents or guardians.

CA AB281

Comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education: outside consultants.

NJ S530

Requires certain school meal information be provided to public school students' parents and requires school districts to request that families apply for school meals under certain circumstances.

CA AB1974

Pupils: collection of debt.

NJ A4042

"Children Innocence Protection Act."

NJ A2580

"Children Innocence Protection Act."