Bills › 88th General Assembly
Relating to a mental health awareness course requirement for students in secondary school
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2020
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa school districts and private schools must now teach students about mental health awareness. This coursework helps students recognize mental health issues, learn how to get professional help, and understand how to maintain good mental health. The lessons will also show families how to connect with mental health services in their communities.1
Read the official explanation
This bill adds one-half unit of coursework in mental health awareness to the educational standards requirements for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2021. The mental health awareness curriculum shall address at a minimum the skills and knowledge students need to understand, recognize, and, if appropriate, address mental health issues and disorders and access appropriate professional assistance, counseling, and other resources; optimizing and maintaining good mental health; the most common mental disorders; decreasing stigma; and evidence-based treatments. The curriculum shall incorporate school-based mental health services and other resources that connect students and families with community-based mental health services. One-half unit of mental health awareness may count as one-half unit of health education. Units of coursework that meet the requirements of career and technical education health sciences requirements and incorporate the mental health awareness curriculum satisfy the mental health awareness unit requirements.3.16.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.