Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 2195 – Reading Instruction, Practitioner Preparation and Elementary Curricula (LSB5449SV)
Staff Contact: Jacob Ludwig (515.725.0155) jacob.ludwig@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 2195 modifies standards for reading instruction in kindergarten through grade three
at school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools. These changes include
specific instruction requirements and prohibitions which go into effect for the school year
beginning July 1, 2026. The Bill also modifies the requirements for practitioner preparation
programs related to reading theory, knowledge, strategies, and approaches for students
admitted to an approved practitioner preparation program on or after July 1, 2025. These
changes include specific instruction requirements and prohibitions.
Background
Iowa Code section 256.11 establishes PK-12 educational standards for public and nonpublic
schools. The standards related to reading instruction for kindergarten programs require the
inclusion of experiences that develop growth in language arts and communication skills. For
grades one through six, schools are required to provide instruction in English-language arts.
Assumptions
• There are approximately 142,000 kindergarten through grade three students enrolled in
Iowa public schools, according to 2023-2024 enrollment data.
• The number of districts with a reading curriculum for kindergarten through grade three that
do not comply with this Bill is unknown.
• For districts requiring curriculum updates, the one-time implementation cost to update the
curriculum is between $20 and $36 per student.
• School districts that already comply with the new standards will not see any costs
associated with this Bill.
• The University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa will not need to modify their
practitioner preparation programs.
• Iowa State University will be required to redevelop three courses in its practitioner
preparation program. The cost of redeveloping a course is approximately $10,000.
• The Iowa Reading Research Center will need 4.0 additional full-time equivalent (FTE)
positions to support districts as they support school districts across the State, costing
$100,000 for each position.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact to the State is estimated to be $430,000 in FY 2025. This includes a $400,000
ongoing cost to the Iowa Reading Research Center for 4.0 new FTE positions and a $30,000
one-time cost to Iowa State University for redeveloping three of its courses.
There may be a one-time fiscal impact to individual school districts. The costs will be paid from
the individual school district’s general fund; however, the number of school districts that will
need to modify their reading curriculum for kindergarten through grade three is unknown.
Figure 1 shows the projected cost range of implementing the new reading curriculum at various
levels of need.
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Figure 1 — Estimated Implementation Costs by Percentage of Students Statewide
25.0% of Students 50.0% of Students 75.0% of Students 100.0% of Students
$20 Per Student $ 700,000 $ 1,400,000 $ 2,100,000 $ 2,800,000
$36 Per Student 1,260,000 2,520,000 3,780,000 5,040,000
Sources
Department of Education
Iowa Association of School Boards
Board of Regents
Legislative Services Agency
/s/ Jennifer Acton
March 12, 2024
Doc ID 1446246
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.11, 256E.7