HF 2363: Relating to English learners, including by modifying provisions related to open enrollment and the payment of costs incurred in transporting English learners to nonpublic schools, and including applicability provisions

What it does

This bill relates to English learners, including by modifying provisions related to open enrollment and the payment of costs incurred in transporting English learners to nonpublic schools. The bill provides that the additional weighting associated with English learners, in addition to paying for the excess costs of instruction, are to be used to pay for the costs of transporting English learners, including transportation to nonpublic schools. The bill provides that if a parent or guardian files a request for an English learner to open enroll, the request shall be granted only if the receiving district maintains a program to provide special instruction to English learners that is appropriate to meet the English learner’s educational needs and the enrollment of the English learner in the receiving district’s special instruction program would not cause the size of the class or caseload in that special instruction program in the receiving district to exceed the maximum class size or caseload, and if the English learner would be assigned to a general education class, there is sufficient classroom space in the general education class to which the English learner would be assigned.

Senate subcommittee · named March 10, 2026

• Sen. Jeff Taylor (R) · jeff.taylor@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Molly Donahue (D) · molly.donahue@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 1 for, 0 against

For: VALOR Iowa

In plain words

1. January 14, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the Education committee · as HSB 557
2. January 14, 2026House subcommittee named: Stone, Behn and Ehlert · as HSB 557
3. January 29, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it · as HSB 557
4. February 4, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 557
5. February 4, 2026Committee vote: 22–1 · as HSB 557
6. February 9, 2026Filed in the House
7. February 9, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2363 · as HSB 557
8. February 24, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
9. March 2, 2026Passed the House, 89–1
10. March 3, 2026Arrived in the Senate
11. March 10, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Taylor, Donahue and Shipley
12. March 18, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
13. March 19, 2026Approved by the Senate committee