Relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades one through twelve and the educational programs provided by the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents

This bill relates to education, including by modifying provisions related to the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades 1 through 12 and the educational programs provided by the institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, and requiring education related to the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts. The bill provides that the social studies curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades one through six in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools shall include instruction related to the workings of the federal, state, and local levels of government; the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States and the state of Iowa; the history of the secular and religious ideals and institutions of liberty; exemplary figures in western civilization, the United States, and the state of Iowa; the cultural heritage of western civilization, the United States, and the state of Iowa; the geography of the United States and the state of Iowa; the history and meaning of the United States flag and the national anthem, and certain specified admirable Americans. The bill makes similar changes to the social studies curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades 7 through 12, but adds instructional requirements related to the study of prominent persons and prominent writings. The bill also provides that the social studies curriculum provided in grades seven and eight is to include at least one semester of instruction, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, in civics, United States history, the history of western civilization, Iowa history, and economics. The bill establishes what such instruction is to include. Current law requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools to offer and teach five units of social studies in grades 9 through 12, which includes a minimum of one-half unit of United States government and one unit of United States history. The bill requires all students to complete a minimum of one-half unit of United States government, one unit of civics, two units of United States history, and one unit of western civilization. The bill establishes prohibitions and requirements related to this instruction, including required examinations and topics of instruction and prohibitions related to including forms of political activism in civics instruction. The bill provides that the social studies curriculum is required to incorporate the study of certain specified documents that are important to the history of the United States. The bill provides that these changes shall not affect the graduation requirements applicable to a student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 as of the effective date of the bill.9A, which requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to administer to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 the most recent version of the civics test developed by the United States citizenship and immigration services, and to ensure that each student receives one passing score on the test as a condition of graduation. The bill requires the state board of regents to direct the institutions of higher education under its control to adopt policies that require all students admitted to the baccalaureate degree program provided by the institution to take a civic literacy examination. The bill provides that, if a student does not pass the examination, the institution shall require the student to take a remedial civics course that contains a culminating civic literacy examination. If the student fails to pass this examination as well, the bill provides that the student may retake the examination, but the student will not be allowed to graduate from the institution, or progress to more advanced civics courses, until the student passes the examination. The bill requires the state board of regents to prohibit the institutions of higher education under its control from awarding students any semester hours of credit for courses that require action civics or political activism. The bill requires each school board to incorporate education on the holocaust for teachers into the school district professional development plan for teachers who provide instruction in courses into which student instruction in accordance with the bill is incorporated. Such training shall cover the topics specified by the bill. School districts shall utilize appropriate programs provided by an organization, as specified in the bill, for such training. Education on the holocaust provided to teachers shall be credited toward a teacher’s individual professional development plan. A school board shall carry out the requirements for education on the holocaust for students and teachers no later than the school year beginning July 1, 2026. The bill requires the department of education to submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly addressing the number of school districts offering education on the holocaust to students and teachers in accordance with the bill. The bill shall not be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the Constitution of the State of Iowa or the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The bill shall not be construed to conflict with any local, state, or federal law relating to discrimination.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.