Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF485

Introduced
3/3/25  

Caption

A bill for an act establishing requirements related to nonpublic schools that receive tuition payments from parents or guardians whose students are participating in the education savings account program.

Impact

This legislation mandates that nonpublic schools meet stringent accountability and transparency requirements akin to those that public school districts must follow. Schools will need to report their data similarly to public entities, ensuring that they maintain the same educational standards and regulatory compliance regarding teacher credentials and curricular offerings. By extending these obligations to nonpublic schools, the bill aims to provide greater confidence to parents opting for private education.

Summary

Senate File 485 introduces critical requirements for nonpublic schools in Iowa that accept tuition payments from parents whose children participate in the education savings account program. The bill modifies existing laws to ensure that such schools comply with various standards comparable to those governing public school districts, promoting a level of accountability and oversight often seen missing in the nonpublic sector. The outlined changes aim to enhance educational quality and financial responsibility.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SF485 include concerns about the autonomy of nonpublic schools and the potential for state overreach into private education. Critics argue that imposing public school standards on private institutions may infringe upon the foundational principles of educational choice and the unique missions of these schools. Proponents, however, assert that the same standards of accountability should apply when taxpayer money is utilized to fund education, regardless of the institution's public or private status.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2226

A bill for an act relating to education savings account program eligibility and payments for children enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school's program for four-year-old children and including effective date provisions.

IA HSB1

A bill for an act relating to education programs and funding by establishing an education savings account program, modifying certain school district categorical funding supplements, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 68.)

IA SSB1022

A bill for an act relating to education programs and funding by establishing an education savings account program, modifying certain school district categorical funding supplements, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 94.)

IA SF94

A bill for an act relating to education programs and funding by establishing an education savings account program, modifying certain school district categorical funding supplements, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1022.)

IA SF2084

A bill for an act repealing the education savings account program.

IA HF68

A bill for an act relating to education programs and funding by establishing an education savings account program, modifying certain school district categorical funding supplements and supplementary weighting, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 1.) Effective date: 01/24/2023, 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 01/01/2023.

IA SF322

A bill for an act relating to information collected from applicants for education savings accounts and information reported by the department of education, and including effective date provisions.

IA HSB138

A bill for an act relating to assessments required to be administered to students participating in the education savings account program and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

IA SF161

A bill for an act relating to the physical education and physical activities requirements that apply to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.

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.

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