This bill amends Iowa's laws concerning school districts, particularly focusing on the procedures for closed sessions of school board meetings and the requirements for publishing information about educational materials. It introduces a provision that permits school boards to hold closed sessions to discuss requests from parents or guardians for the removal of educational materials. Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts adopt a policy allowing parents or guardians to review a broader range of instructional materials, which now includes books, articles, and digital content. Furthermore, it requires school districts to maintain and publish a comprehensive list of all instructional materials used at each attendance center, organized by subject area and grade level, including details such as title, author, and internet access information.

The legislation also establishes a framework for civil actions against school district boards to ensure compliance with existing laws, specifically Code section 279.77. Only designated individuals, including the director of the department of education, the attorney general, county attorneys, students, and their parents or guardians, can initiate such actions. The bill outlines a process for filing complaints, allowing school districts to address potential violations before legal action is pursued. If successful in court, individuals may be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs. Additionally, the bill clarifies that school districts are not required to separately list individual components of textbooks or instructional materials produced as a single volume and allows for closed sessions to discuss material removal requests. It may impose a state mandate requiring school districts to cover associated costs from state school foundation aid.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21.5, 279.77