Proyectos de ley › 91.ª Asamblea General
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
Presentado por el comité Education de la Cámara
Temas:K–12 education
La misma legislación: HSB 557
Dónde está ahora
- Hecho: Presentado14 de enero de 2026
- Hecho: Subcomité14 de enero de 2026
- Hecho: Comité de la Cámara4 de febrero de 2026
- Hecho: Lo aprueba la Cámara2 de marzo de 202689–1
- Hecho: Comité del Senado19 de marzo de 2026
- Se detuvo: Lo aprueba el SenadoMurió al terminar la Asamblea General
- Sigue: A gobernador(a)
- Sigue: Firmado como ley
Murió al terminar la sesión La sesión de 2026 terminó el 3 de mayo de 2026, la última sesión ordinaria de la Asamblea General. Los proyectos que no pasaron por ambas cámaras murieron. ¿Qué es el embudo (funnel)?
Qué contiene
Resumen con IA Nuevas reglas permitirían que las escuelas usen fondos adicionales para pagar el transporte de estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés a escuelas no públicas. Si un padre quiere que su hijo se transfiera a un distrito escolar diferente, el nuevo distrito solo puede aceptarlo si tiene suficiente espacio y los programas adecuados para ayudarle a aprender inglés. El proyecto de ley también establece la cantidad específica de dinero que el distrito de origen de un estudiante debe pagar a la nueva escuela.1
Lea la explicación oficial (en inglés)
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. The bill establishes the amount that the English learner’s district of residence is required to pay to the receiving district. These provisions apply to open enrollment applications, requests, and notifications filed by a parent or guardian on or after the effective date of the bill.18(7)(b)(1), which describes amounts that districts of residence are required to pay to receiving districts for students who open enroll.
Por qué importa. Los distritos escolares pueden usar fondos específicos para estudiantes de inglés para cubrir costos de transporte, incluyendo los viajes a escuelas no públicas. A los padres que soliciten la inscripción abierta para un estudiante de inglés solo se les concederá la solicitud si el distrito receptor tiene un programa apropiado y suficiente espacio o personal para acomodar al estudiante sin exceder los límites de tamaño de clase o de carga de casos. Se espera que cualquier cambio al dinero que los distritos escolares reciben para los costos de transporte sea mínimo.2
Senate subcommittee
Named March 10, 2026. On March 18, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Nota fiscal
Minimal Compare con otros proyectos
Resumen con IA This bill allows school districts to use specific funding for English Learner students to pay for their transportation, including trips to nonpublic schools. The bill will have no fiscal impact to the state, and any change to the money school districts receive for transportation costs is expected to be minimal. (en inglés)4
Lea la nota fiscal (en inglés)
Requester – Representative Henry Stone
Description
House File 2363 allows for school districts that receive supplementary weighting for students who are English Learners (EL) to use those funds to pay for the cost of transportation of the student, including transportation to nonpublic schools. The Bill also provides requirements for a receiving district that has received a request to allow an EL student to open enroll into the proposed receiving district.
Background
An EL is a student who is in the process of acquiring English proficiency and has a first language other than English or in addition to English. The EL status remains with the student until the student shows English proficiency. School districts receive supplementary weighting to provide services to EL students, which is based on the level of English language proficiency. Currently, intensive students are eligible for a 0.26 weighted funding and intermediate students are eligible for a 0.21 weighted funding.
Open enrollment allows a parent or guardian residing in an Iowa district to enroll their child(ren) into another Iowa school under the terms and conditions of Iowa Code section 282.18. Any school district with excess EL costs may request a modified supplemental amount (MSA) from the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) to cover EL costs.
The Transportation School Equity appropriation provides additional funding to school districts for public school transportation costs that exceed the statewide adjusted average cost per student. The individual school district calculations are done each year and are based on the appropriated amount provided for each fiscal year.
Assumptions
- The Bill will not substantially change current open enrollment practices for EL students.
- Requests to the SBRC for MSAs will remain unchanged.
- A limited number of districts transport EL students to another public or nonpublic school.
- The total number of EL students may increase by an unknown amount. But any increase in statewide transportation costs is expected to remain small enough to have no impact on the statewide average transportation cost. As a result, the statewide average transportation cost per pupil will remain at $430.85.
Fiscal Impact
House File 2363 will have no fiscal impact to the State. Any change to the allocation school districts receive from the Transportation School Equity appropriation is expected to be minimal.
Sources
- Department of Education
- Iowa Association of School Boards
- Open Enrollment, English-Language Learners · 24 de febrero de 2026
Lo que cambia del Código de Iowa (Iowa Code)
Cabildeo
1 a favor · 0 en contra · 13 indecisos · Quiénes →
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Study bill
91st General Assembly