Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF535

Introduced
2/20/25  

Caption

A bill for an act requiring the legislative council to enter into an agreement with a qualified person to conduct a review of Iowa's public education system, and including effective date provisions.

Impact

The review will assess various critical components of Iowa’s education system, including the identification of cost-saving measures that still aim to enhance student educational outcomes. The qualified reviewer will also evaluate school district structures, considering regional needs and demographic shifts that may warrant realignment. This could potentially alter how schools are governed, affecting administrative structures and possibly leading to reallocation of resources to meet emerging demands in both urban and rural settings. The aim is for educational improvements across different geographies within Iowa.

Summary

House File 535 mandates the Iowa legislative council to engage a qualified individual or organization to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the state's public education system, which encompasses prekindergarten through 12th grade. This independent review is to be conducted by someone not affiliated with any political group or local school district, ensuring that the evaluations and recommendations made are objective and nonpartisan. The bill outlines specific areas that the review must cover, including an audit of funding sources and expenditures, trends over the past thirty years, and proposals for simplifying funding streams in a more equitable manner.

Contention

A significant point of contention in discussions surrounding HF535 is the potential for the recommended changes to influence local education policy. While supporters argue that the comprehensive review could lead to enhanced educational outcomes and more efficient use of state resources, critics express concerns that sweeping reforms based on the review might undermine local autonomy and specific community needs. They worry that the proposed methods for restructuring school districts could disregard local context, particularly for rural schools that face distinct operational challenges.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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.)

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 SF2367

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 SSB 3156.)

IA HF2329

A bill for an act requiring the director of the department of education to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's high school graduation requirements, core curriculum, core content standards, and educational standards and to recommend policy changes, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 2545.)

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 SSB3201

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, department of education, and state board of regents, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 2435.)

IA HF182

A bill for an act relating to institutions of higher education governed by the state board of regents, including requiring the institutions to submit reports to the general assembly related to terms associated with courses offered by the institutions' colleges of education and establishing an interim study committee to evaluate practitioner preparation programs offered by the institutions, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HF 7.)

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.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.