This bill modifies Iowa's education laws by establishing the South Dakota social studies standards as the exclusive content standards for social studies instruction in K-12 schools and area education agencies. It explicitly prohibits any state agency, board, or court from dynamically interpreting these standards, ensuring that any future amendments can only take effect if expressly adopted by the general assembly. The bill also rejects the draft social studies standards previously adopted by the Iowa Department of Education in 2025, preventing their use in educational contexts. Additionally, it restricts the adoption of instructional materials that could undermine the South Dakota standards and bans pedagogical approaches such as action civics and inquiry-based learning unless authorized by the general assembly.

Key changes include the removal of social studies from the core curriculum requirements for high school graduation while still mandating the adoption of the South Dakota standards. The Iowa Department of Education's role is limited to administrative functions, and penalties for noncompliance include potential reductions in state aid. The bill also allows residents, including parents and guardians, to bring civil actions against violations and emphasizes that the general assembly's legislative findings should be given controlling weight in court interpretations. The new provisions will apply to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, with an option for early implementation without penalties for reliance on previous standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.11C, 256.7, 256.9, 256.11, 256F.4, 259A.1, 331.502, 280.9A