Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF629

Introduced
2/28/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the enrollment of children of military families in school districts.

Impact

Under HF629, any child who qualifies as a child of a military family may enroll in a school district before actually residing in that district or a federal military installation nearby. This is significant as it helps to eliminate barriers to timely educational access for these children, ensuring that they can start school without unnecessary delays. Importantly, these children will not be counted in the actual enrollment numbers until they become residents, which maintains the integrity of district enrollment calculations while still granting military families the necessary preparatory conditions.

Summary

House File 629 aims to facilitate the enrollment of children from military families in Iowa school districts by allowing them to enroll prior to residency. The bill specifically defines 'active duty' and 'child of a military family', outlining the eligibility criteria for school enrollment. This initiative recognizes the unique challenges faced by military families, particularly the disruption caused by frequent relocations, and seeks to provide stability for their children's education during such transitions.

Contention

Although HF629 is generally supported for its beneficial aims, it also brings potential points of contention. Critics may argue about the implications of adjusting the enrollment timings and its effect on local funding if more military children enroll temporarily before officially becoming residents. Additionally, while the bill mandates that school districts provide educational services to military children that are at least comparable to what they received at their previous schools, there may be concerns about the actual implementation and resource allocation required to meet this standard.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 HF2172

A bill for an act relating to open enrollment and including applicability provisions.

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 HF2496

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.

IA SSB1076

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.(See SF 391.)

IA HSB119

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.(See HF 327.)

IA HSB118

A bill for an act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school districts, the department of education, the department of health and human services, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges, institutions under the control of the state board of regents, area education agencies, election commissioners and children's residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards.(See HF 370.)

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 HF370

A bill for an act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school districts, the department of education, the department of health and human services, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges, institutions under the control of the state board of regents, area education agencies, and election commissioners, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards. (Formerly HSB 118.)

Similar Bills

CA SB455

Pupil enrollment: military dependents.

NJ A4902

Provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students.

NJ S3251

Provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students.

NJ S3631

Provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students.

NJ A4819

Provides increased flexibility in school district enrollment for military-connected students.

CA AB2949

Pupil residency: pupils of military families.

MS SB2435

School enrollment; allow for children with documentation of a parent's pending military relocation to the state.

MS SB2587

School enrollment; allow for children with documentation of a parent's pending military relocation to the state.