Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF845

Introduced
3/7/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(Formerly HF 448.)

Impact

The inclusion of HF 845 aims to enrich the educational curriculum by providing students with insights into the historical and cultural significance of religious texts. It addresses existing educational standards by ensuring that the courses comply with federal and state guidelines, which mandate religious neutrality, thereby accommodating diverse religious perspectives among students. This bill does not intend to endorse any particular religion but rather to foster an informed understanding of how such texts influence contemporary society.

Summary

House File 845 pertains to the authorization for school districts in Iowa to offer elective social studies courses centered on religious scriptures, specifically from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, and the New Testament. This bill outlines that the courses should aim to provide students with foundational knowledge related to biblical content that is deemed essential for understanding various cultural, literary, and societal contexts. It requires school districts to procure approval from their school improvement advisory committees and to obtain a majority vote from their school boards to implement such courses.

Contention

Despite its educational intentions, HF 845 may incite debate regarding the separation of religion and public education. Critics may raise concerns about the appropriateness of teaching religious texts in public schools and the potential for perceived bias towards particular religious perspectives. Advocates for religious neutrality in education could view this bill with skepticism, fearing that it might lead to ambiguity in how religious subjects are handled within the school curriculum, which could inadvertently alienate students from non-religious backgrounds.

Companion Bills

IA SF138

Similar To A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(See SF 510.)

IA HF448

Similar To A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(See HF 845.)

IA SF510

Similar To A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(Formerly SF 138.)

Previously Filed As

IA SF139

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.

IA HF2544

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, and requiring education related to the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts. (Formerly HF 2330.)

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 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 HF132

A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction in public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HF 12.)

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 HSB587

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying the social studies curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and modifying the responsibilities of school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools related to requiring teachers and students to sing the national anthem.

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 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 HF597

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HSB 219.)

Similar Bills

MS SB2183

School curriculum; allow public schools and charter schools to offer elective courses relating to certain religious texts.

MS SB2076

School curriculum; allow public schools and charter schools to offer elective courses relating to certain religious texts.

IA SF139

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.

IA SF510

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(Formerly SF 138.)

IA HF448

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(See HF 845.)

IA SF138

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.(See SF 510.)

MO SB34

Authorizes school districts and charter schools to offer elective social studies courses on the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament

MO SB411

Creates and modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education