Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF444

Introduced
2/26/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to incentives for whole grade sharing and school district reorganization or dissolution.(Formerly SSB 1076.)

Impact

The implications of SF444 are significant for education in Iowa, as it seeks to enhance cooperation among school districts, which may lead to improved educational opportunities. By extending the timeline for reorganization and allowing supplementary weighting, the bill aims to facilitate smoother transitions for districts looking to consolidate resources, potentially resulting in cost savings and better educational delivery. Nevertheless, these changes to school funding could have varying effects on smaller districts facing difficulties in maintaining enrollment or educational offerings.

Summary

Senate File 444 addresses incentives for whole grade sharing among school districts in Iowa, extending the current provisions for school district reorganization or dissolution from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2030. The bill allows school districts pursuing reorganization or sharing to receive a reduced uniform levy as an incentive, intended to encourage collaboration between districts for more efficient educational resource management. Additionally, the law proposes supplementary weighting for students engaged in whole grade sharing with another district, which can lead to increased funding for participating districts.

Contention

Debate around SF444 could center on concerns regarding the effectiveness of such incentives and their long-term viability. Critics may argue that while the bill encourages district cooperation, it could inadvertently lead to decreased local control over education. There may also be concerns about the equity of funding distribution, especially for rural districts that might be pressured to reorganize against their own interests. Stakeholders will likely scrutinize how the incentives are applied and whether they truly address the issues of educational adequacy and accessibility.

Companion Bills

IA SSB1076

Related A bill for an act relating to incentives for whole grade sharing and school district reorganization or dissolution.(See SF 444.)

Previously Filed As

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 SF391

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, and required courses in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and authorizing school districts to offer sequential units in one classroom. (Formerly SSB 1076.) Effective date: 07/01/2023.

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 HF2615

A bill for an act relating to education, including by requiring community colleges to publish information related to graduates, requiring school districts to provide students enrolled in grades eleven and twelve with information related to graduates of community colleges and the average income and student debt of graduates of institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, and modifying provisions related to supplementary weighting. (Formerly HF 2347.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA SF2368

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the sale of real property by school districts, charter school and open enrollment funding, and the participation in school activities by students enrolled in charter schools. (Formerly SSB 3157.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA HF2543

A bill for an act relating to education by establishing a right of first refusal for charter schools to purchase or lease school district property and modifying charter school and open enrollment funding, and charter school board member requirements.(Formerly HSB 673.)

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.)

IA SF390

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.(Formerly SSB 1111.)

IA HF2347

A bill for an act relating to education, including by requiring community colleges and certain private institutions of higher education to publish information related to the average income and student debt of graduates, requiring school districts to provide students enrolled in grades eleven and twelve with information related to the average income and student debt of graduates of postsecondary institutions in the state, and modifying provisions related to supplementary weighting.(See HF 2615.)

Similar Bills

IA SSB1076

A bill for an act relating to incentives for whole grade sharing and school district reorganization or dissolution.(See SF 444.)

LA HB415

Provides for the creation of tourism recovery and improvement districts (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX See Note)

OR HB2548

Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to impose income tax; prescribing an effective date.

OR HB2110

Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to impose income tax; prescribing an effective date.

TX SB1056

Relating to the directors and administration of the Hidalgo County Water Improvement District No. 3.

RI H7724

Tourism Improvement Districts

RI S2773

Tourism Improvement Districts

CT SB00264

An Act Concerning The Bonding Authority Of The Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, The Reporting Of Material Financial Obligations By State Agencies, Tax-exempt Proceeds Fund References And The Notification Of The Sale Or Lease Of Projects Financed With Bond Proceeds.