Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF244

Introduced

2/10/25

Refer

2/10/25

Caption

A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.

Impact

The legislation is designed to create uniformity across the educational landscape of Iowa's regents institutions, ensuring that all undergraduate students meet standardized educational benchmarks. By establishing this framework, the bill intends to streamline the transfer of credits between institutions and enhance the quality of education provided to students. The emphasis on core subjects may lead institutions to reevaluate their existing curricula to align with the new standards, potentially affecting academic offerings and student experiences.

Summary

Senate File 244, known as the Core Curriculum Act, seeks to establish specific general education requirements for undergraduate students enrolled at institutions governed by the state board of regents. The bill outlines minimum semester hour requirements for various subjects including English composition, mathematics, social sciences, and American heritage among others, with an overall cap of 40 total semester hours for general education courses. One of the critical aspects of the bill is that it restricts institutions from creating any additional general education requirements that are not explicitly authorized within the bill’s provisions.

Contention

Notably, the bill has generated discussion concerning its impact on academic freedom and the scope of educational content. Critics argue that provisions within the bill, particularly those prohibiting the distortion of significant historical events and restricting discussions on identity politics, could hinder educators' ability to teach diverse perspectives effectively. Proponents, however, argue that such measures are necessary to prevent indoctrination and to maintain educational integrity in curricula. The controversy surrounding these points reflects broader debates on educational policy and the balance between educational freedom and regulatory oversight.

Latest IA SF244 Activity

View All Events: IA 2025-2026 Regular Session SF244

Companion Bills

IA HF401

Similar To A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 63.)

IA HSB63

Related A bill for an act providing for general education requirements for undergraduate students at regents institutions and including applicability provisions.(See HF 401.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF2558

A bill for an act relating to higher education, including by modifying the responsibilities of private institutions of higher education, community colleges, the state board of regents, and institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, modifying provisions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, tuition, and administrator hiring at state universities, membership of the state board of regents, and student-employer work and tuition programs at state universities and community colleges, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 2327.)

IA HF2330

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve and the educational programs provided by the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents.(See HF 2544.)

IA HF2544

IA HF48

A bill for an act prohibiting tenure systems at the institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, and including applicability provisions.

IA HF2457

A bill for an act providing for education on the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts.(Formerly HF 2197.)

IA SSB1049

A bill for an act relating to education, including eligibility for grants under the teach Iowa scholar program, licenses issued by the board of educational examiners, and the use of revenues from the district management levy, and including applicability provisions.(See SF 392.)

IA SF2059

A bill for an act providing for education on the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts.

IA HF11

A bill for an act relating to the responsibilities of the state board of regents and the institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, including requiring the board to publish certain information related to the average income and student debt of institution graduates and requiring the institutions to provide career services to undergraduates.(See HF 135.)

IA SSB3164

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the distribution formula for general state financial aid to community colleges and including applicability provisions.(See SF 2373, SF 2405.)

IA SF2405

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the distribution formula for general state financial aid to community colleges and including applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 2373, SSB 3164.) Effective date: 07/01/2024. Applicability date: 07/01/2025.