IA
Iowa House Bill HF68

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF68

Introduced
1/18/23  
Engrossed
1/23/23  
Introduced
1/18/23  
Enrolled
1/24/23  
Engrossed
1/23/23  
Enrolled
1/24/23  

Caption

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.

Impact

The bill modifies existing laws regarding school district funding supplements and introduces a framework for the education savings account program. By permitting parents to use state funding for various educational expenses, the act is likely to shift some financial resources away from public school districts, which may exacerbate funding disparities. The legislation could lead to a redistribution of state education funds, with potential implications for public school budgets, particularly in terms of staffing and resources for students who remain in public education.

Summary

House File 68, known as the Students First Act, introduces an education savings account (ESA) program in Iowa, allowing parents to withdraw their children from public schools and use state funding to support their children’s education in nonpublic schools or other qualifying educational resources. This bill is positioned to enhance parental choice in education, allowing families greater flexibility in utilizing state funds according to their specific educational needs. It establishes new criteria and regulations for the distribution and management of these accounts, aiming to promote educational alternatives for resident pupils from kindergarten through grade twelve.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HF68 is mixed. Supporters hail it as a progressive step towards increasing parental choice in education and fostering a more competitive educational environment. However, detractors, including various education advocacy groups, express concerns about the potential monopoly of public funds on private education, arguing it may weaken public schools and upset the balance needed for equitable educational opportunities. As such, discussions around HF68 bring forth broader themes about educational equity and the role of public funding in education.

Contention

One key area of contention within HF68 is the potential for misuse of education savings accounts, with provisions for oversight and penalties for fraudulent behavior. There is concern about accountability, especially regarding how funds will be managed and monitored to prevent abuse. Furthermore, the bill's implementation hinges on parental awareness and understanding of how to use these accounts effectively, which raises questions about access and information dissemination, especially for families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Latest HF68 Activity

Companion Bills

IA SF94

Similar To 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 SSB1022

Related 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 HSB1

Related 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.)

Previously Filed As

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 SF572

A bill for an act relating to certain education programs and tax credits and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1208.)

IA HF567

A bill for an act relating to nonsubstantive Code corrections, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 159.) Contingent effective date. Applicability date: 01/01/2022, 01/01/2023.

IA SF565

A bill for an act relating to state and local finance and the administration of the tax and related laws by the department of revenue, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1148.) Effective date: 06/01/2023, 07/01/2023, 01/01/2024, 01/01/2026. Applicability date: 01/01/2023, 07/01/2024.

IA HF954

A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 281.) Effective date: 07/01/2025, 01/01/2026. Applicability date: 01/01/2024.

IA SSB1208

A bill for an act relating to certain education programs and tax credits and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(See SF 572.)

IA HF2612

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the duties and powers of area education agencies, the membership of the boards of directors of area education agencies, the department of education, area education agency funding, the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil and minimum teacher salaries, Iowa public employees' retirement system bona fide retirement requirements, and property tax replacement payments, establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for supplemental state aid calculations for the budget year beginning July 1, 2024, and including transition, effective date, and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 713.) Effective date: 03/27/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025.

IA HF1038

A bill for an act relating to the opioid settlement fund, making appropriations and disbursements, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 331.) Effective date: 06/06/2025, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: 07/01/2024.

Similar Bills

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 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 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.)

CA AB2427

Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals and transition services.

CA AB438

Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals and transition services.

IA HSB672

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(See HF 2542.)

IA HF2542

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 672.)

IA SSB3156

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to education data collection and the determination of enrollment, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(See SF 2367.)