Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring the department of education to develop and administer a pilot program that requires certain specified school districts to establish attendance centers for students requiring special education and students with behavioral issues
Sponsored by Sen. Lynn Evans (R), Sen. David D. Rowley (R)
Topics:K–12 education
Same legislation: SF 2404
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 10, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 19, 2026
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 2404
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 2404 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 2404 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary The Department of Education will start a pilot program where one rural school district and one urban school district work together to create special learning centers. These centers will serve students who need special education or extra help with their social and emotional needs. To pay for this, the participating districts will use a specific portion of their special education funds to run the program.1
Read the official explanation
This bill requires the department of education (DE) to develop and administer a pilot program that requires a rural school district and an urban school district to establish attendance centers to be used to provide educational services to eligible students. DE is responsible for determining the rural school district and urban school district that will be required to participate in the pilot program. In addition, DE, in consultation with the rural school district and urban school district, is required to determine the courses of study and curricula that the rural school district and urban school district will provide to eligible students and the instructional facilities that the rural school district and urban school district will use to provide educational services to eligible students. Annually, on or before June 1 of each year, the rural school district and urban school district are required to submit to DE an annual report that contains information related to the pilot program. Additionally, on or before June 30 of each year, DE is required to compile those annual reports and submit the compilation to the general assembly.10(7) (special education support services district cost) and received by a school district are required be used by the school district for special education support services contracted from an area education agency. The bill requires, instead, that the rural school district and urban school district use not less than 48 percent of that 90 percent of funds for purposes of the pilot program.2, and a student whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with the student’s ability to be successful in the regular educational environment. The bill defines “rural school district” as a school district that is located in a county with a population of greater than 17,500 but less than 18,000, and that contains a city with a population of greater than 5,400, but less than 5,500. The bill defines “urban school district” to mean a school district with a total enrollment of at least 7,000 students.20, July 1, 2031.
Why it matters. The department of education would select one rural and one urban school district to participate in a pilot program that creates specific attendance centers for students needing special education or support for emotional, social, or behavioral needs. These participating school districts would use a portion of their special education support services funds to provide these educational services and curricula. Both the school districts and the department of education would be required to submit annual reports regarding the program's progress.2
Changed since by amendment S-5095; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 10, 2026. On February 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
21 written public comments to its subcommittee: February 17, 2026 (21) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill requires the Department of Education to run a pilot program where one rural school district and one urban school district establish attendance centers to provide services to eligible students. The program will require annual expenditures of $165,000 by a rural district and between $1.0 million and $4.4 million by an urban district. The Department of Education will have minimal additional administrative costs to carry out the requirements of the bill.4
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate File 2404 requires the Department of Education (DE) to develop and administer a pilot program for a rural district and an urban district to establish attendance centers to be used to provide educational services to eligible students. The Bill includes definitions for an eligible student, rural school district, and urban school district. The Bill provides for school district participation requirements and funds the pilot program through moneys appropriated by the General Assembly to the DE. The rural school district and urban school district will be required to submit an annual report to the DE by June 1 of each year, and the DE is required to compile and submit these reports to the General Assembly by June 30 of each year. The pilot program is repealed July 1, 2031.
Background
The Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant Program currently receives a $2.4 million appropriation annually in the Education Appropriations Act with additional claims-based pupil funding provided through a standing appropriation for Therapeutic Classroom Services. The DE oversees the current Therapeutic Classroom Grant Program and released a 2025 Therapeutic Classroom Report detailing the history of the annually awarded grants. The Bill proposes a pilot program that may be similar to the Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant Program but is associated with a different funding source and is not administered as a competitive grant program. There are currently 13 urban school districts and 1 rural school district that would meet the definitions of “urban school district” and “rural school district” in the Bill.
Assumptions
- One rural school district, which will be the only rural school district to meet the requirements of the Bill, will participate in the pilot program.
- One of 13 urban school districts will be chosen to participate in the pilot program.
- The DE will have minimal additional administrative costs to meet the requirements of the Bill.
Fiscal Impact
Senate File 2404 will require annual expenditures of $165,000 by a rural district and between $1.0 million and $4.4 million by an urban district to fund the pilot program. The program will be funded through an appropriation to the DE.
Sources
- Department of Education
- Iowa Association of School Boards
- Special Schools, Pilot Program · March 18, 2026
- Special Schools, Pilot Program · March 3, 2026
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91st General Assembly
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