This bill amends the start date for the school calendar for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. The current law stipulates that the school year cannot begin earlier than August 23. The proposed change allows for the school calendar to start no sooner than the earlier of August 23 or the first Wednesday following the final day of the Iowa state fair, thereby providing more flexibility in scheduling the academic year.

Additionally, the bill maintains the requirement that the school calendar must include at least 180 days or 1,080 hours of instruction, with specific provisions regarding online instruction and public hearings for calendar adoption. The amendment aims to accommodate local circumstances and events, such as the Iowa state fair, while ensuring that educational standards are upheld.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 279.10