Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF597

Introduced
3/2/23  
Engrossed
3/8/23  
Introduced
3/2/23  
Refer
3/9/23  
Engrossed
3/8/23  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HSB 219.)

Impact

The bill requires school districts to establish library programs from kindergarten through grade twelve that are consistent with the new standards and contain only age-appropriate materials. This is expected to streamline educational resources and ensure that the content provided supports the overall achievement goals of the educational system. Furthermore, the inclusion of age-appropriate teaching methods is an attempt to facilitate both comprehension and retention of necessary knowledge while protecting students from inappropriate materials. This legislative change may alter how health education, specifically regarding sexually transmitted diseases and vaccinations like HPV, is taught across Iowa schools.

Summary

House File 597 pertains to education and modifies several provisions related to school district library programs and the educational curricula for students in both public and nonpublic schools as well as charter schools in Iowa. This piece of legislation emphasizes an age-appropriate framework for educational content, specifically pertaining to human growth and development. The bill outlines that materials unsuitable for children's cognitive and emotional developmental stages, particularly those depicting sexual acts, shall not be included in the educational program provided by schools. This aims to create a framework that aligns educational content with the developmental appropriateness of the school-age population.

Contention

Notably, the introduction of this bill has raised concerns regarding the potential limits on educational content that addresses significant health issues relevant to adolescents, such as HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Critics argue that defining what is considered 'age-appropriate' could lead to the exclusion of vital information necessary for comprehensive health education. Additionally, the bill's provisions for library programs may face scrutiny regarding accessibility and diversity of materials, sparking debate about local control versus state-imposed standards in educational practices.

Companion Bills

IA HSB219

Related A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(See HF 597.)

Previously Filed As

IA HSB219

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(See HF 597.)

IA HF513

A bill for an act relating to education, including requiring instruction related to persons with disabilities in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the responsibilities of the state board of education, and modifying provisions related to school district and accredited nonpublic school programs that are designed to eliminate harassment and bullying.

IA HF166

A bill for an act relating to vaccines, including modifying provisions related to a minor's legal capacity to give consent to the provision of vaccines and provisions related to the instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools related to the human papilloma virus.

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 HF187

A bill for an act relating to instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools related to the availability of a vaccine to prevent the human papilloma virus.

IA HF327

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to comprehensive school improvement plans, teacher librarians and guidance counselors, required days or hours of instruction in elementary and secondary schools, agreements between school districts and community colleges to teach certain courses, required courses in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and shared operational functions, and authorizing school districts to offer sequential units in one classroom.(Formerly HSB 119.)

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 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 HF73

A bill for an act relating to firearm education in schools, including requiring the director of the department of education to develop and distribute age-appropriate model programs for firearm safety instruction and modifying provisions related to the required instruction in public schools and accredited nonpublic schools in grades six through twelve.

IA HF391

A bill for an act incorporating provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curriculum provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve.(Formerly HSB 34.)

Similar Bills

NJ A4488

Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 million from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to support Pantoliano-DePass school-based mentoring pilot program in certain Bergen County school districts.

NJ S3236

Makes supplemental appropriation of $1 million from Property Tax Relief Fund to DOE to support Pantoliano-DePass school based mentoring pilot program in certain Bergen County school districts.

CA AB386

School facilities: Efficiency and Sustainability Projects for Schools Pilot Program.

CA SB729

Meal and rest breaks: remote work.

AZ HB2265

Appropriations; community colleges

CA AB2946

District discretionary funds: County of Orange.

IL HB2532

$VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANTS

CA AB76

Education finance: apportionments.