This bill amends Iowa law to allow school districts to offer elective social studies courses focused on religious scripture, specifically the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, and the New Testament. The state board of education is tasked with establishing course standards, which must include practitioner preparation and professional development requirements for teachers. The courses aim to provide students in grades 9 through 12 with knowledge of biblical content and its influence on contemporary society, culture, and various fields such as literature and art. The bill emphasizes that these courses must adhere to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality and must not endorse or favor any particular religion or nonreligious perspective.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for a school district to offer such courses, requiring a recommendation from the school improvement advisory committee and approval by a majority vote of the school board. It also stipulates that students are not required to use a specific translation of the scriptures as the sole text for the course. Furthermore, the bill allows for the display of historic artifacts and religious materials in conjunction with the course, provided it aligns with the educational purpose and respects the wishes of students' parents or guardians regarding religious texts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.7, 280.12