Relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter school approval, contracts, funding, and operations, services provided to charter schools by area education agencies, charter school student participation in extracurricular activities provided by public schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, education savings accounts, independent accreditation, teacher training and licensure, the statewide voluntary preschool program, the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, open enrollment, school tuition organizations, and innovation zone schools; making appropriations; and including effective date and applicability provisions

DIVISION I —— CHARTER SCHOOLS. Current Code chapter 256F authorizes school districts to join together to establish an innovation zone school, which is a public school, administered by a principal, that is designed to encourage diverse approaches to learning and education and that operates pursuant to the terms of a contract entered into between the boards of directors of the school districts establishing the innovation zone school and the state board of education. This division modifies Code chapter 256F to remove all references to innovation zone schools, which eliminates the authorization for school districts to join together to establish an innovation zone school. The division transfers the Code sections within Code chapter 256F (charter schools and innovation zone schools) to a new subchapter II within Code chapter 256E (charter schools —— school board and founding group models). The division also organizes the current Code sections within Code chapter 256E into a new subchapter I. Current law provides that the state board of education is the sole authorizer of charter schools under Code section 256E, subchapter I. The division provides that the university of northern Iowa may also authorize charter schools under Code section 256E, subchapter I. Current law provides that the term of a charter school contract entered into between the board of directors of a school district that has established a charter school under Code chapter 256F and the state board of education shall be four years. The division provides that the term of such a contract shall be five years.9 (performance framework). In addition, the division provides that an approved charter school opens on the first day of the school year that is two school years immediately subsequent to the school year in which the charter school contract is executed; provided, however, that the approved charter school may open on the first day of the school year that is immediately subsequent to the school year in which the charter school contract is executed if the approved charter school demonstrates adequate preparation to the state board. If the charter school requires an opening delay of more than two school years immediately subsequent to the school year in which the charter school contract is executed, the charter school may request an extension from the state board. These provisions apply to charter school contracts under Code chapter 256F that are renewed on or after the effective date of the division.5 (founding group-state board model) is a local education agency for the purpose of receiving federal funds for all attendance centers that are under the jurisdiction of the governing board.163 establishes requirements for teacher licensure beyond a temporary initial license or an initial license.163, the requirements for teacher licensure beyond a temporary initial license or an initial license include successful completion of a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program; two years of successful teaching experience in a school district with approved career paths, leadership roles, and compensation framework; or evidence of not less than three years of successful teaching experience at certain specified schools or programs.163 to add charter schools, established pursuant to Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, to this list of schools or programs, allowing a teacher to attain licensure beyond a temporary initial license or an initial license if the teacher completes not less than three years of successful teaching experience at such a charter school. Current law provides that one of the purposes of charter schools established under Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, is to accelerate student learning to prevent learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and other significant disruptions to student learning. The division modifies this provision to provide that one of the purposes of such charter schools is to accelerate student learning to prevent learning loss during significant disruptions to student learning. The division makes conforming changes. DIVISION II —— FUNDING AND AREA EDUCATION AGENCY SERVICES. Currently, each student enrolled in a charter school under Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, shall be counted, for state school foundation purposes, in the student’s district of residence.8(2)(a). This division adds the teacher salary supplement state cost per pupil to the amount required to be paid to the Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, charter school. This provision applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026. The division requires area education agencies to provide educational services and media services to students enrolled in Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, charter schools. Additionally, the division authorizes the department of management to deduct both of the following from the state aid due to each school district pursuant to Code chapter 257 (financing school programs) and pay the amounts to the respective area education agencies for purposes of providing services to students enrolled in Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, charter schools within the boundaries of the area education agency: the amount calculated for media services for the school district that is attributable to the number of students enrolled in Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, charter schools within the school district who are provided with media services by an area education agency, and the amount calculated for educational services for the school district that is attributable to the number of students enrolled in Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, charter schools within the school district who are provided with educational services by an area education agency. This provision applies to school budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026. DIVISION III —— EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. This division requires the board of directors of a school district to allow a student who resides within the district, and who is enrolled in a Code chapter 256E, subchapter I, charter school, to participate in any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition, and any extracurricular activity, including theater, show choir, and band, that is provided by the school district pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the board of directors of the school district and the governing board of the charter school if the extrac