Read the full stored bill text
House
File
2286
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
2286
BY
THOMSON
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
education,
including
by
modifying
provisions
1
related
to
the
social
studies
curriculum,
core
curriculum,
2
graduation
requirements,
area
education
agencies,
and
3
high
school
equivalency
diplomas,
and
including
transition
4
provisions
and
effective
date
and
applicability
provisions.
5
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
6
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Section
1.
LEGISLATIVE
FINDINGS
AND
INTENT.
The
general
1
assembly
finds
and
declares
all
of
the
following:
2
1.
Under
Article
IX,
section
12,
of
the
Constitution
3
of
the
State
of
Iowa
and
long-established
jurisprudence,
4
the
general
assembly
possesses
exclusive,
plenary,
and
5
nondelegable
authority
to
determine
the
structure,
funding,
6
and
instructional
requirements
of
Iowa’s
public
schools.
Any
7
authority
exercised
by
the
department
of
education
or
state
8
board
of
education
exists
solely
by
legislative
delegation
and
9
may
be
modified,
circumscribed,
or
withdrawn
at
the
general
10
assembly’s
discretion.
11
2.
Because
academic
content
standards
substantively
define
12
curriculum
and
directly
determine
what
Iowa
students
must
13
learn,
the
general
assembly
finds
that
precise
statutory
14
direction
is
necessary
to
satisfy
Iowa’s
constitutional
15
nondelegation
doctrine
and
to
prevent
the
exercise
of
unbounded
16
administrative
discretion
over
fundamental
questions
of
17
educational
content.
18
3.
The
general
assembly
intends
that
courts
shall
not
19
substitute
their
judgment
for,
nor
modify,
revise,
supplement,
20
or
reinterpret,
the
content
standards
adopted
herein.
The
21
standards
incorporated
by
this
Act
are
adopted
as
fixed
22
statutory
text,
not
subject
to
dynamic
interpretation,
23
administrative
gloss,
or
judicial
updating.
24
4.
The
draft
social
studies
standards
that
the
department
of
25
education
adopted
in
2025
failed
to
comply
with
the
provisions
26
of
2024
Iowa
Acts,
chapter
1159,
in
all
of
the
following
ways:
27
a.
Retaining
an
unreadable
and
opaque
organizational
28
structure
that
obscures
rather
than
clarifies
content
29
requirements.
30
b.
Subordinating
factual
content
knowledge
to
inquiry-based
31
frameworks
that
prioritize
process
over
substance.
32
c.
Reclassifying
essential
historical
and
civic
content
as
33
optional
or
supplementary.
34
d.
Introducing
action
civics,
political
advocacy
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requirements,
and
ideological
categorical
frameworks.
1
e.
Omitting
required
content
on
western
civilization,
the
2
founding
documents,
and
constitutional
principles.
3
f.
Frustrating
legislative
intent
for
clarity,
objectivity,
4
and
content
mastery.
5
5.
Based
on
the
documented
record
of
noncompliance,
the
6
general
assembly
finds
that
the
department
of
education
is
not
7
presently
capable
of
producing
standards
meeting
legislative
8
requirements
and
must
therefore
be
divested
of
discretionary
9
authority
over
the
content
of
social
studies
standards.
10
6.
The
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards,
as
defined
in
11
section
256.11C,
provide
a
lucid,
chronological,
content-rich,
12
civic-neutral,
and
ideologically
restrained
framework
13
consistent
with
the
legislative
mandate
for
factual
knowledge,
14
historical
accuracy,
and
transparent
pedagogy.
15
7.
Due
to
the
constitutional,
pedagogical,
and
16
administrative
deficiencies
identified
above,
the
general
17
assembly
finds
that
direct
statutory
adoption
is
the
only
18
method
capable
of
ensuring
statewide
fidelity,
permanence,
19
nonpoliticization,
and
clarity
in
social
studies
instruction.
20
8.
Any
ambiguities
in
the
adopted
standards
shall
be
21
resolved
in
favor
of
the
plain,
ordinary
meaning
of
the
text
as
22
written,
and
no
doctrine
of
administrative
deference,
including
23
Auer
deference,
Chevron
deference,
or
any
state-law
equivalent,
24
shall
apply
to
any
interpretation
offered
by
the
department
of
25
education,
the
state
board
of
education,
or
any
other
state
26
agency.
27
Sec.
2.
Section
2B.12,
subsection
5,
Code
2026,
is
amended
28
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
29
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
0g.
The
South
Dakota
social
studies
30
standards
adopted
pursuant
to
section
256C.11.
31
Sec.
3.
Section
256.7,
subsection
26,
paragraph
a,
32
unnumbered
paragraph
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
33
follows:
34
Adopt
a
core
curriculum
and
adopt
rules
that
establish
high
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school
graduation
requirements
for
all
students
in
school
1
districts
and
accredited
nonpublic
schools
that
include
at
a
2
minimum
satisfactory
completion
of
four
years
of
English
and
3
language
arts,
three
years
of
mathematics,
and
three
years
of
4
science
,
and
three
years
of
social
studies
.
5
Sec.
4.
Section
256.7,
subsection
26,
paragraph
a,
6
subparagraph
(3),
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
7
(3)
The
core
curriculum
shall
address
the
core
content
8
standards
in
subsection
28
and
the
skills
and
knowledge
9
students
need
to
be
successful
in
the
twenty-first
century.
10
The
core
curriculum
shall
include
social
studies
and
11
twenty-first
century
learning
skills
which
include
but
are
12
not
limited
to
civic
literacy,
health
literacy,
financial
13
literacy,
family
life
and
consumer
sciences,
and
employability
14
skills;
and
shall
address
the
curricular
needs
of
students
in
15
kindergarten
through
grade
twelve
in
those
areas.
The
state
16
board
shall
further
define
the
twenty-first
century
learning
17
skills
components.
18
Sec.
5.
Section
256.9,
subsection
79,
Code
2026,
is
amended
19
by
striking
the
subsection.
20
Sec.
6.
Section
256.11,
subsection
3,
paragraph
a,
21
subparagraph
(2),
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
22
(2)
Social
studies
,
as
described
in
section
256.11C
.
23
Sec.
7.
Section
256.11,
subsection
4,
paragraph
a,
24
subparagraph
(2),
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
25
(2)
Social
studies,
including
instruction
related
to
civics
26
as
described
in
section
256.11C
.
27
Sec.
8.
Section
256.11,
subsection
5,
paragraph
b,
Code
28
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
29
b.
Five
units
of
the
social
studies
including
instruction
30
in
voting
statutes
and
procedures,
voter
registration
31
requirements,
the
use
of
paper
ballots
and
voting
systems
in
32
the
election
process,
and
the
method
of
acquiring
and
casting
33
an
absentee
ballot.
All
students
shall
complete
a
minimum
34
of
one-half
unit
of
United
States
government
and
one
unit
of
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United
States
history.
The
one-half
unit
of
United
States
1
government
shall
include
the
voting
procedure
as
described
in
2
this
lettered
paragraph
and
section
280.9A
.
The
government
3
instruction
shall
also
include
a
study
of
the
Constitution
4
of
the
United
States
and
the
Bill
of
Rights
contained
in
the
5
Constitution
and
an
assessment
of
a
student’s
knowledge
of
the
6
Constitution
and
the
Bill
of
Rights
,
as
described
in
section
7
256.11C
.
8
Sec.
9.
Section
256.11,
subsection
18,
Code
2026,
is
amended
9
to
read
as
follows:
10
18.
The
board
of
directors
of
a
school
district
and
the
11
authorities
in
charge
of
an
accredited
nonpublic
school
shall
12
each
establish
a
policy
to
award
credit
toward
graduation
13
to
a
student
if
the
student
participates
in
the
legislative
14
page
program
at
the
state
capitol
for
a
regular
session
of
15
the
general
assembly.
The
student
shall
be
excused
from
the
16
physical
education
requirements
of
subsection
5
,
paragraph
“g”
,
17
subparagraph
(1),
and
is
exempt
from
the
physical
activity
18
requirements
of
subsection
6
,
paragraph
“b”
,
subparagraph
(2),
19
while
participating
in
the
legislative
page
program.
The
20
student
must
complete
the
graduation
requirements
of
section
21
256.7,
subsection
26
,
paragraph
“a”
,
but
participation
in
the
22
legislative
page
program
for
a
complete
regular
session
of
the
23
general
assembly
shall
count
as
one-half
unit
of
social
studies
24
credit
required
for
purposes
of
section
256.7,
subsection
26
,
25
paragraph
“a”
.
26
Sec.
10.
NEW
SECTION
.
256.11C
Social
studies
standards.
27
1.
As
used
in
this
section:
28
a.
“Action
civics”
means
any
assignment,
project,
or
29
requirement
that
requires,
encourages,
incentivizes,
or
rewards
30
students
for
engaging
in
political
activism,
lobbying,
protest,
31
community
organizing,
contacting
elected
officials
to
advocate
32
for
policy
positions,
or
any
other
form
of
political
advocacy,
33
whether
during
or
outside
of
school
hours.
34
b.
“Inquiry-based
learning”
means
instructional
methods
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that
replace
or
subordinate
the
transmission
of
factual
1
content
knowledge
with
student-generated
questions,
open-ended
2
projects,
subjective
exploration,
or
processes
in
which
3
students
are
expected
to
construct
knowledge
rather
than
learn
4
established
facts
and
interpretations.
5
c.
“Political
indoctrination”
means
instruction
that
6
presents
partisan
viewpoints,
contested
ideological
frameworks,
7
or
advocacy-based
perspectives
as
established
fact,
mandatory
8
belief,
or
the
sole
acceptable
interpretation,
or
that
9
penalizes
students
for
expressing
dissenting
viewpoints
on
10
contested
political
or
social
questions.
11
d.
“South
Dakota
social
studies
standards”
means
the
South
12
Dakota
social
studies
standards,
as
adopted
by
the
South
Dakota
13
board
of
education
standards
on
April
17,
2023.
14
e.
“State
agency”
means
any
executive,
judicial,
or
15
legislative
department,
commission,
board,
institution,
16
division,
bureau,
office,
agency,
or
other
entity
of
state
17
government.
18
2.
a.
The
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
are
19
hereby
enacted
as
statutory
text
and
incorporated
by
reference
20
with
the
same
force
and
effect
as
if
fully
set
forth
in
this
21
section.
22
b.
The
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
constitute
23
the
sole
and
exclusive
social
studies
content
standards
for
24
all
kindergarten
through
grade
twelve
instruction
in
school
25
districts
and
area
education
agencies
in
this
state.
26
c.
The
reference
to
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
27
standards
in
this
section
is
static
and
incorporates
only
the
28
text
of
such
standards
as
it
existed
on
April
17,
2023.
A
state
29
agency,
board,
court,
or
any
other
entity
of
this
state
shall
30
not
construe
this
reference
dynamically.
31
d.
Any
subsequent
amendments,
revisions,
or
modifications
to
32
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
shall
have
no
effect
33
in
this
state
unless
and
until
expressly
adopted
by
an
Act
of
34
the
general
assembly.
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e.
The
Iowa
Code
editor
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
1
(1)
Arrange
for
the
publishing
of
the
standards
as
part
of
2
the
Iowa
Code,
as
required
under
section
2B.12,
subsection
5.
3
(2)
Maintain
the
complete
text
of
the
South
Dakota
social
4
studies
standards
with
the
same
permanence
as
statutory
text.
5
3.
a.
The
draft
social
studies
standards
that
the
6
department
adopted
in
2025
pursuant
to
2024
Iowa
Acts,
ch.
7
1159,
including
all
versions,
iterations,
supporting
documents,
8
and
derivative
materials
produced
by
or
for
the
department,
9
are
hereby
rejected,
declared
void
ab
initio,
without
legal
10
force,
and
shall
not
be
used,
directly
or
indirectly,
for
11
any
instructional,
curricular,
assessment,
accreditation,
12
licensing,
certification,
professional
development,
13
grantmaking,
or
evaluative
purpose.
14
b.
A
state
agency,
court,
school
district,
area
education
15
agency,
or
any
other
entity
shall
not
give
interpretive
weight,
16
persuasive
authority,
or
any
other
consideration
to
the
draft
17
social
studies
standards
that
the
department
adopted
in
2025
18
pursuant
to
2024
Iowa
Acts,
ch.
1159,
when
construing
the
19
requirements
of
this
section
or
evaluating
compliance
with
this
20
section.
21
c.
This
section
supersedes
and
preempts
all
conflicting
22
sections,
administrative
rules,
regulations,
guidance,
23
documents,
memoranda,
policy
statements,
accreditation
24
requirements,
administrative
interpretations,
grant
conditions,
25
professional
development
requirements,
and
local
policies.
Any
26
such
conflicting
provisions
are
hereby
declared
inoperative
to
27
the
extent
of
the
conflict.
28
4.
a.
The
department,
the
state
board,
and
all
other
state
29
agencies
shall
not
revise,
reinterpret,
supplement,
amend,
30
narrow,
expand,
clarify,
gloss,
or
create
exceptions
to
the
31
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
32
b.
The
prohibition
described
in
paragraph
“a”
extends
to
33
any
action
that
has
the
practical
effect
of
modifying
the
South
34
Dakota
social
studies
standards,
regardless
of
the
label,
form,
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or
mechanism
used.
Prohibited
actions
include
but
are
not
1
limited
to
all
of
the
following:
2
(1)
Issuing
guidance,
clarifications,
frequently
asked
3
questions
documents,
implementation
guides,
instructional
4
frameworks,
curriculum
frameworks,
scope
and
sequence
5
documents,
pacing
guides,
or
any
other
similar
documents
that
6
add
to,
subtract
from,
or
recharacterize
the
South
Dakota
7
social
studies
standards.
8
(2)
Conditioning
approval,
accreditation,
funding,
grants,
9
or
favorable
treatment
on
the
use
of
materials,
methods,
or
10
interpretations
not
required
by
this
section.
11
(3)
Designing
state
assessments
in
a
manner
that
tests
12
content,
skills,
or
dispositions
not
explicitly
required
by
the
13
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards,
or
that
de-emphasize
14
content
required
by
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
15
(4)
Requiring
or
incentivizing
alignment
to
any
framework,
16
taxonomy,
or
pedagogical
model
not
expressly
required
by
this
17
section.
18
(5)
Mandating
or
recommending
professional
development,
19
training,
or
certification
requirements
that
promote
20
pedagogical
approaches
that
are
inconsistent
with
21
content-focused
instruction.
22
(6)
Using
accreditation
reviews,
school
improvement
plans,
23
or
compliance
audits
to
require
instructional
practices
that
24
are
not
mandated
by
this
section.
25
(7)
Entering
into
agreements
with
regional,
national,
or
26
interstate
organizations
that
would
impose
supplementary
or
27
alternative
social
studies
standards.
28
(8)
Adopting
or
endorsing
model
curricula,
recommended
29
resources,
or
approved
textbook
lists
that
incorporate
content
30
or
methods
that
are
inconsistent
with
this
section.
31
(9)
Any
other
action
that
functionally
circumvents
the
32
exclusivity
of
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
33
5.
Any
rule,
guidance,
or
action
adopted
by
a
state
agency
34
in
conflict
with
this
section
is
invalid
ab
initio,
shall
be
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accorded
no
deference
by
any
court
or
administrative
body,
and
1
shall
be
unenforceable
against
any
school
district,
accredited
2
nonpublic
school,
charter
school,
innovation
zone
school,
area
3
education
agency,
educator,
or
student.
4
6.
A
school
district
or
an
area
education
agency
shall
not
5
provide
social
studies
instruction
that
includes
action
civics,
6
inquiry-based
learning,
or
political
indoctrination
unless
7
expressly
authorized
by
an
Act
of
the
general
assembly.
This
8
prohibition
applies
to
required
instruction,
elective
courses,
9
extracurricular
activities
conducted
under
school
auspices,
and
10
any
activity
for
which
students
receive
academic
credit.
11
7.
Any
state-mandated
social
studies
assessment
must
12
satisfy
all
of
the
following
requirements:
13
a.
Test
only
the
content
knowledge
expressly
required
by
the
14
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
15
b.
Not
test
any
skills,
dispositions,
competencies,
16
or
inquiry
processes,
except
to
the
extent
such
items
are
17
explicitly
stated
in
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
18
c.
Weight
all
content
areas
in
proportion
to
their
emphasis
19
in
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
20
d.
Not
include
any
items
that
assume,
reward,
or
penalize
21
particular
political,
ideological,
or
policy
viewpoints.
22
e.
Be
reviewed
and
approved
by
the
senate
standing
committee
23
on
education
and
the
house
of
representatives
standing
24
committee
on
education
prior
to
administration.
25
8.
a.
The
department’s
role
with
respect
to
the
South
26
Dakota
social
studies
standards
is
limited
to
only
the
27
following
ministerial
functions:
28
(1)
Publishing
and
distributing
the
statutory
standards
to
29
school
districts,
area
education
agencies,
and
the
public.
30
(2)
Receiving
and
investigating
complaints
of
31
noncompliance.
32
(3)
Administering
the
financial
sanctions
as
provided
in
33
this
section.
34
(4)
Reporting
annually
to
the
general
assembly
on
statewide
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compliance
with
this
section.
1
(5)
Performing
such
other
purely
administrative
tasks
as
2
expressly
authorized
by
an
Act
of
the
general
assembly.
3
b.
The
department
shall
not
characterize,
interpret,
or
4
elaborate
upon
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
in
5
the
course
of
performing
the
ministerial
functions
described
6
in
paragraph
“a”
.
7
9.
a.
If
the
director
determines
that
a
school
district
or
8
area
education
agency
is
not
in
compliance
with
this
section,
9
the
director
shall
provide
written
notice
to
the
school
10
district
or
area
education
agency
describing
the
nature
of
the
11
noncompliance
and
allow
the
school
district
or
area
education
12
agency
sixty
days
to
cure
the
noncompliance.
13
b.
If
the
director
determines
that
the
school
district
or
14
area
education
agency
has
not
cured
the
noncompliance
within
15
sixty
days
after
receipt
of
the
written
notice
described
in
16
paragraph
“a”
,
the
director
and
the
department
of
management
17
shall
coordinate
to
ensure
all
of
the
following:
18
(1)
In
the
case
of
a
school
district
that
has
not
cured
the
19
noncompliance
within
sixty
days
after
receipt
of
the
written
20
notice,
that
state
aid
paid
pursuant
to
section
257.16
for
21
a
fiscal
year
is
reduced
in
proportion
to
the
severity
and
22
scope
of
the
noncompliance
until
the
noncompliance
is
cured.
23
The
reduction
made
pursuant
to
this
subparagraph
shall
be
in
24
an
amount
not
less
than
ten
percent
and
not
greater
than
one
25
hundred
percent
and
shall
be
divided
between
each
monthly
26
installment
as
evenly
as
possible.
27
(2)
In
the
case
of
an
area
education
agency
that
has
not
28
cured
the
noncompliance
within
sixty
days
after
receipt
of
29
the
written
notice,
any
amounts
paid
to
the
area
education
30
agency
pursuant
to
section
257.35
for
a
fiscal
year
are
reduced
31
in
proportion
to
the
severity
and
scope
of
the
noncompliance
32
until
the
noncompliance
is
cured.
The
reduction
made
pursuant
33
to
this
subparagraph
shall
be
in
an
amount
not
less
than
ten
34
percent
and
not
greater
than
one
hundred
percent
and
shall
be
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divided
between
each
monthly
installment
as
evenly
as
possible.
1
(3)
Any
moneys
withheld
or
reduced
pursuant
to
this
2
paragraph
that
are
not
paid
to
the
applicable
school
district
3
or
area
education
agency
within
one
year
shall
be
transferred
4
to
the
general
fund
of
the
state.
5
c.
Judicial
review
of
the
director’s
determinations
6
related
to
noncompliance,
and
whether
noncompliance
has
been
7
cured,
shall
be
limited
to
correction
of
clear
errors
of
8
fact.
A
court
shall
not
substitute
the
court’s
judgment
for
9
the
director’s
determination
related
to
noncompliance,
or
10
whether
noncompliance
has
been
cured,
and
shall
not
overturn
a
11
reduction
in
state
aid
paid
pursuant
to
section
257.16
or
any
12
amount
paid
pursuant
to
section
257.35
based
on
a
disagreement
13
with
the
educational
policy
choices
embodied
in
this
section.
14
10.
School
districts,
area
education
agencies,
and
the
15
department
shall
not
adopt,
require,
recommend,
or
give
16
preferential
treatment
to
curriculum
frameworks,
instructional
17
guides,
scope
and
sequence
documents,
or
any
other
materials
18
that
effectively
substitute
for,
dilute,
or
override
the
South
19
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
20
11.
A
state
agency
shall
not
do
any
of
the
following:
21
a.
Condition
grants,
awards,
recognition,
accreditation
22
status,
or
any
other
benefit
on
a
school
district’s
or
area
23
education
agency’s
adoption
of
instructional
approaches,
24
curriculum
materials,
or
assessment
practices
that
are
not
25
required
by
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
26
b.
Enter
into
any
agreement,
compact,
or
memorandum
of
27
understanding
with
any
regional,
national,
or
interstate
28
organization
that
would
require
or
encourage
school
districts
29
or
area
education
agencies
to
comply
with
standards,
30
frameworks,
or
requirements
other
than
the
South
Dakota
social
31
studies
standards.
32
12.
The
board
of
educational
examiners
and
the
department
33
shall
not
require,
as
a
condition
of
initial
licensure,
34
license
renewal,
or
endorsement,
the
completion
of
coursework
35
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or
professional
development
in
pedagogical
approaches
that
1
are
inconsistent
with
content-focused
instruction
or
that
2
promotes
inquiry-based
learning,
action
civics,
or
political
3
indoctrination.
4
13.
a.
A
school
district
or
an
area
education
agency
shall
5
not
use
any
alternative
social
studies
standards,
frameworks,
6
or
instructional
guidance,
whether
adopted
by
the
department,
7
adopted
from
another
state
or
organization,
or
created
locally,
8
as
a
basis
for
evaluation,
assessment,
or
instruction.
9
b.
The
department
shall
not
use
any
alternative
social
10
studies
standards,
frameworks,
or
instructional
guidance,
11
whether
adopted
by
the
department,
adopted
from
another
12
state
or
organization,
or
created
locally,
as
a
basis
for
13
accreditation.
14
14.
a.
In
any
action
challenging
the
validity,
15
interpretation,
or
application
of
this
section,
a
court
shall
16
give
controlling
weight
to
the
general
assembly’s
legislative
17
findings
described
in
this
Act,
which
shall
be
considered
18
binding
factual
determinations
reflecting
the
general
19
assembly’s
expertise
in
educational
policy.
20
b.
A
court
shall
accord
no
deference
to
any
interpretation
21
of
this
section
offered
by
the
department,
state
board,
or
any
22
other
state
agency.
The
standards
and
prohibitions
in
this
23
section
shall
be
construed
according
to
their
plain
meaning
as
24
determined
by
the
court.
25
c.
Any
resident
of
this
state,
including
any
parent
or
26
guardian
of
a
student
enrolled
in
a
school
district,
shall
27
have
standing
to
bring
a
civil
action
in
district
court
to
28
enjoin
violations
of
this
section.
In
any
action
to
enforce
29
the
provisions
of
this
section,
a
prevailing
plaintiff
shall
30
be
entitled
to
recover
reasonable
attorney
fees
and
reasonable
31
court
costs
from
the
entity
found
to
be
in
violation
of
this
32
section.
33
15.
a.
If
any
provision
of
this
Act,
not
including
the
34
adoption
of
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
in
35
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subsection
2,
is
held
invalid,
such
invalidity
shall
not
affect
1
other
provisions
or
applications
of
the
Act
which
can
be
given
2
effect
without
the
invalid
provision
or
application.
3
b.
The
adoption
of
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
4
in
subsection
2
is
essential
to
and
not
severable
from
the
5
general
assembly’s
intent.
If
a
court
holds
that
the
adoption
6
of
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
is
invalid,
7
unconstitutional,
or
unenforceable,
then
this
entire
Act
shall
8
be
void.
9
Sec.
11.
Section
256E.7,
subsection
2,
paragraph
s,
Code
10
2026,
is
amended
by
striking
the
paragraph.
11
Sec.
12.
Section
256F.4,
subsection
2,
paragraph
u,
Code
12
2026,
is
amended
by
striking
the
paragraph.
13
Sec.
13.
Section
259A.1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
14
follows:
15
259A.1
Assessment
of
competency.
16
The
department
of
education
shall
cause
to
be
made
available
17
for
qualified
individuals
a
high
school
equivalency
diploma.
18
The
diploma
shall
be
issued
to
qualified
individuals
who
19
successfully
pass
the
civics
test
as
set
forth
in
section
20
280.9A
,
and
demonstrate
on
the
basis
of
demonstrated
competence
21
in
all
of
the
following
core
areas:
reading,
language
arts,
22
literacy,
mathematics,
science,
and
social
studies.
23
Sec.
14.
Section
331.502,
subsection
13,
Code
2026,
is
24
amended
by
striking
the
subsection.
25
Sec.
15.
REPEAL.
Section
280.9A,
Code
2026,
is
repealed.
26
Sec.
16.
TRANSITION
PROVISIONS.
27
1.
A
school
district
or
area
education
agency
may
implement
28
the
provisions
of
section
256.11C,
if
enacted
by
this
Act,
29
prior
to
the
school
year
beginning
July
1,
2026.
30
2.
A
school
district
or
area
education
agency
shall
not
be
31
penalized
for
actions
taken
in
reliance
on
the
draft
social
32
studies
standards
that
the
department
of
education
adopted
in
33
2025
pursuant
to
2024
Iowa
Acts,
chapter
1159,
if
the
school
34
district
or
area
education
agency
achieves
full
compliance
with
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the
provisions
of
section
256.11C
by
July
1,
2026.
1
Sec.
17.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
Act,
being
deemed
of
2
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
3
Sec.
18.
APPLICABILITY.
This
Act
applies
to
school
years
4
beginning
on
or
after
July
1,
2026.
5
EXPLANATION
6
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
7
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
8
This
bill
relates
to
education,
including
by
modifying
9
provisions
related
to
the
social
studies
curriculum,
core
10
curriculum,
graduation
requirements,
area
education
agencies,
11
and
high
school
equivalency
diplomas.
12
The
bill
defines
“action
civics”
as
any
assignment,
project,
13
or
requirement
that
requires,
encourages,
incentivizes,
or
14
rewards
students
for
engaging
in
political
activism,
lobbying,
15
protest,
community
organizing,
contacting
elected
officials
to
16
advocate
for
policy
positions,
or
any
other
form
of
political
17
advocacy,
whether
during
or
outside
of
school
hours.
The
18
bill
defines
“inquiry-based
learning”
as
instructional
19
methods
that
replace
or
subordinate
the
transmission
of
20
factual
content
knowledge
with
student-generated
questions,
21
open-ended
projects,
subjective
exploration,
or
processes
in
22
which
students
are
expected
to
construct
knowledge
rather
23
than
learn
established
facts
and
interpretations.
The
bill
24
defines
“political
indoctrination”
as
instruction
that
presents
25
partisan
viewpoints,
contested
ideological
frameworks,
or
26
advocacy-based
perspectives
as
established
fact,
mandatory
27
belief,
or
the
sole
acceptable
interpretation,
or
that
28
penalizes
students
for
expressing
dissenting
viewpoints
on
29
contested
political
or
social
questions.
The
bill
defines
30
“South
Dakota
social
studies
standards”
as
the
South
Dakota
31
social
studies
standards,
as
adopted
by
the
South
Dakota
board
32
of
education
standards
on
April
17,
2023.
The
bill
defines
33
“state
agency”
as
any
executive,
judicial,
or
legislative
34
department,
commission,
board,
institution,
division,
bureau,
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office,
agency,
or
other
entity
of
state
government.
1
The
bill
enacts
new
Code
section
256.11C,
which
provides
2
that
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards
constitute
the
3
sole
and
exclusive
social
studies
content
standards
for
all
4
kindergarten
through
grade
12
instruction
in
school
districts
5
and
area
education
agencies
in
this
state.
New
Code
section
6
256.11C
prohibits
state
agencies,
boards,
courts,
and
any
other
7
entity
of
this
state
from
construing
the
reference
to
the
South
8
Dakota
social
studies
standards
dynamically.
Any
subsequent
9
amendments,
revisions,
or
modifications
to
the
South
Dakota
10
social
studies
standards
have
no
effect
in
this
state
unless
11
and
until
expressly
adopted
by
the
general
assembly.
12
New
Code
section
256.11C
provides
that
the
draft
social
13
studies
standards
that
the
department
of
education
adopted
in
14
2025
are
rejected
and
shall
not
be
used
for
any
instructional,
15
assessment,
accreditation,
licensing,
certification,
16
professional
development,
or
grantmaking.
A
state
agency,
17
court,
school
district,
or
area
education
agency
shall
not
18
give
any
consideration
to
the
draft
social
studies
standards
19
that
the
department
of
education
adopted
in
2025.
New
Code
20
section
256.11C
prohibits
the
department
of
education,
the
21
state
board
of
education,
and
all
other
state
agencies
from
22
revising
or
creating
exceptions
to
the
South
Dakota
social
23
studies
standards.
24
New
Code
section
256.11C
prohibits
school
districts
and
area
25
education
agencies
from
providing
social
studies
instruction
26
that
includes
action
civics,
inquiry-based
learning,
or
27
political
indoctrination
unless
expressly
authorized
by
28
the
general
assembly.
New
Code
section
256.11C
establishes
29
requirements
related
to
state-mandated
social
studies
30
assessments.
31
New
Code
section
256.11C
provides
that
the
department
of
32
education’s
role
with
respect
to
the
South
Dakota
social
33
studies
standards
is
limited
to
certain
specified
ministerial
34
functions.
If
the
director
of
the
department
of
education
35
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determines
that
a
school
district
or
area
education
agency
is
1
not
in
compliance
with
the
bill’s
provisions,
new
Code
section
2
256.11C
establishes
enforcement
provisions
that
involve
written
3
notices
and
the
withholding
of
moneys.
4
New
Code
section
256.11C
prohibits
school
districts,
area
5
education
agencies,
and
the
department
of
education
from
6
adopting,
requiring,
recommending,
or
giving
preferential
7
treatment
to
any
materials
that
effectively
substitute
for,
8
dilute,
or
override
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
9
New
Code
section
256.11C
prohibits
state
agencies
from
10
conditioning
any
benefit
on
a
school
district’s
or
area
11
education
agency’s
adoption
of
instructional
approaches,
12
curriculum
materials,
or
assessment
practices
that
are
not
13
required
by
the
South
Dakota
social
studies
standards,
and
14
from
entering
into
any
agreement
with
any
organization
that
15
would
require
or
encourage
school
districts
or
area
education
16
agencies
to
comply
with
requirements
other
than
the
South
17
Dakota
social
studies
standards.
18
New
Code
section
256.11C
prohibits
the
board
of
educational
19
examiners
and
the
department
of
education
from
requiring,
20
as
a
condition
of
initial
licensure,
license
renewal,
or
21
endorsement,
the
completion
of
coursework
or
professional
22
development
in
pedagogical
approaches
that
are
inconsistent
23
with
content-focused
instruction
or
that
promotes
inquiry-based
24
learning,
action
civics,
or
political
indoctrination.
25
New
Code
section
256.11C
prohibits
school
districts
and
26
area
education
agencies
from
using
any
alternative
social
27
studies
standards
as
a
basis
for
evaluation,
assessment,
or
28
instruction.
New
Code
section
256.11C
also
prohibits
the
29
department
of
education
from
using
any
alternative
social
30
studies
standards
as
a
basis
for
accreditation.
31
New
Code
section
256.11C
establishes
how
courts
are
to
32
interpret
new
Code
section
256.11C
and
how
courts
are
to
33
interpret
the
department
of
education’s
or
state
board
of
34
education’s
interpretation
of
new
Code
section
256.11C.
New
35
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Code
section
256.11C
also
establishes
severability
provisions.
1
New
Code
section
256.11C
provides
that
any
resident
of
this
2
state
shall
have
standing
to
bring
a
civil
action
in
district
3
court
to
enjoin
violations
of
new
Code
section
256.11C.
4
New
Code
section
256.11C
applies
to
school
years
beginning
5
on
or
after
July
1,
2026.
The
bill
authorizes
a
school
6
district
or
area
education
agency
to
implement
the
provisions
7
of
new
Code
section
256.11C
prior
to
the
school
year
beginning
8
July
1,
2026.
The
bill
provides
that
a
school
district
or
9
area
education
agency
shall
not
be
penalized
for
actions
taken
10
in
reliance
on
the
draft
social
studies
standards
that
the
11
department
of
education
adopted
in
2025
if
the
school
district
12
or
area
education
agency
achieves
full
compliance
by
July
1,
13
2026.
14
The
bill
requires
that
the
Iowa
Code
include
the
South
Dakota
15
social
studies
standards.
The
bill
makes
conforming
changes,
16
including
changes
related
to
the
core
curriculum,
graduation
17
requirements,
and
high
school
equivalency
diplomas.
18
The
bill
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
19
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