Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF929

Introduced
3/12/25  

Caption

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.)

Impact

The implications of HF929 on state laws include a more structured approach to how educational materials are handled within school districts. By requiring schools to publish lists of all instructional materials and allowing parents to request exclusions, the bill promotes a level of transparency intended to reassure parents about the content their children are exposed to. Additionally, the introduction of civil actions against school boards for noncompliance elevates the accountability of educational administrators and provides a remedy for stakeholders feeling aggrieved by school decisions.

Summary

House File 929 aims to modify existing regulations concerning school districts in Iowa, particularly regarding the provision and review of educational materials. The bill mandates that school districts adopt policies allowing parents or guardians to review instructional materials used in the classroom. It establishes a formal process for complaints regarding educational content, requiring districts to address concerns raised about specific materials, thus enhancing parental involvement in educational decisions. This bill distinctly defines 'instructional materials' to encompass a broader range of media, including not just textbooks, but videos, articles, and online resources used for credit-bearing courses.

Contention

However, the bill may also face scrutiny regarding its potential effects on educational freedom and the autonomy of school boards. Critics argue that the expanded power given to parents to challenge curricular content could lead to censorship and might impede the educational process by prioritizing a certain political or social viewpoint. Furthermore, the stipulations around civil actions could overwhelm school districts with legal challenges, diverting resources away from education. Such dynamics may foster contention between parental rights and educational governance, highlighting the ongoing debate about the role of parents in public education.

Companion Bills

IA HSB156

Related A bill for an act modifying provisions related to school district requirements to publish information regarding the school district's policies and procedures and educational materials available to students in the school district.(See HF 929.)

Similar Bills

IA HSB156

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to school district requirements to publish information regarding the school district's policies and procedures and educational materials available to students in the school district.(See HF 929.)

CA SB334

Pupil instruction: sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual abuse prevention: safety.

TX HB7

Relating to parental rights in public education, to the creation of the office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency, and to the reporting of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense.

IA HF2496

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

CA AB1661

School accountability: federal compliance with accountability requirements.

CA AB1078

Instructional materials and curriculum: diversity.

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.

CA SB848

Pupil safety: school employee misconduct: child abuse prevention.