The bill amends Iowa's education code to enhance the educational framework for students in kindergarten through grade twelve, with a focus on assessment and curriculum requirements. It introduces social studies as a core academic indicator for assessment in grades eight and ten, alongside existing assessments in mathematics and English language arts for grades three through eleven, and science for grades five, eight, and ten. The bill also updates assessment requirements to align with Iowa's core academic standards and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Additionally, it revises health education curricula to emphasize physical fitness, nutrition, and personal health, while mandating school districts to adopt suicide prevention protocols and strengthen the role of guidance counselors.

Significant deletions in the bill include the removal of requirements for the state board of education to adopt rules for identifying adverse childhood experiences and the necessity for an advisory group to review national assessment standards. It also eliminates the requirement for a multicultural and gender-fair approach in educational programs and the necessity for kindergarten programs to develop healthy emotional social habits. The bill specifies that costs associated with state mandates will be covered by school districts using state school foundation aid, ensuring no additional state funding is required for implementation. Overall, the bill aims to improve educational outcomes and support for students across various dimensions of their academic and personal development.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.7, 256.9, 256.11, 256.17, 279.80, 279.73, 256E.7, 279.81