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Kim Reynolds
GOVERNOR
Office of the GovernorChris Cournoyer
LT governor
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2670, an Act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related
to summative testing in schools and the educational program provided to students
enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve, and including applicability provisions.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
KinrReynolds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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House File 2670
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION, INCLUDING BY MODIFYING PROVISIONS
RELATED TO SUMMATIVE TESTING IN SCHOOLS AND THE EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM PROVIDED TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH GRADE TWELVE, AND INCLUDING APPLICABILITY
PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1, Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph b,
unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows:
A set of core academic indicators in mathematics and reading
in grades four, eight, and eleven, a set of core academic
indicators in science and social studies in grades eight and
ten, and another set of core indicators that includes but is
not limited to graduation rate, postsecondary education, and
House File 2670, p. 2
successful employment in Iowa. Annually, the department shall
report state data for each indicator in the condition of
education report.
Sec. 2. Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph b,
subparagraph (2), subparagraph divisions (a), (b), (c), and
(d). Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
(a) That all students enrolled in school districts -ttt
gradca three through clovon be administered an asseoomont in
mathematics and English language arts,—including reading and
writing, during the last quarter of the ochool year and all
students enrolled in school districts in grades five^—eight,
and ten be administered an assessment in science during the
last quarter of the ochool year the following assessments
during the last quarter of the school year:
(i) In grades three through eleven, an assessment in
mathematics and English language arts, including reading and
writing.
(ii) In grades five, eight, and eleven, an assessment in
science•
(iii) In grades eight and eleven, an assessment in social
studies.
(b) That the assessment, at a minimum, assess the core
academic indicators identified in this paragraph be
aligned with the Iowa common core standards in both content
and rigor; accurately describe student achievement and
growth for purposes of the school, the school district, and
state accountability systems; provide valid, reliable, and
fair measures of student progress toward college or career
readiness; and meet the summative assessment requirements of
the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. No. 114-95, if
applicable.
(c) That the assessment be available for administration in
both paper-and-pencil and computer-based formats and include
assessments in mathematics, science, social studies, and
English language arts, including reading and writing.
(d) That the assessment be peer-reviewed by an independent,
third-party evaluator to determine that the assessment is
aligned with the Iowa core academic standards, provides a
measurement of student growth and student proficiency, and
House File 2670, p. 3
meets the summative assessment requirements of the federal
Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. No. 114-95, if applicable.
The assessment developed by the Iowa testing program within the
university of Iowa college of education shall be adjusted as
necessary to meet the requirements of this subparagraph (2) as
determined by the peer review.
Sec. 3. Section 256.7, subsection 33, paragraph b. Code
2026, is amended to read as follows;
b. Adopt rules to require school districts to adopt
protocols for suicide prevention and postvention and the
identification of adverse childhood Gxperiencos and stratcgioa
to mitigate toxic otresa response. The protocols shall be
based on nationally recognized best practices.
Sec. 4. Section 256.9, subsection 49, paragraph b. Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
b. Convene an advisory group comprised of education
stakeholders including but not limited to school district and
accredited nonpublic school teachers, school administrators,
higher education faculty who teach in the subjects for which
the curriculum is being adopted, private sector employers,
members of the boards of directors of school districts,
and individuals representing the educational assessment
providers. The task force shall review the national assessment
of educational progress standards and assessments used by
other states, and shall consider standards identified as best
practices in the field of study by the national councils of
teachers of English and mathematics,—the national council for
the social studies,—the national science teachers association,
and other recognized experts.
Sec. 5. Section 256.9, subsection 64, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
64. Develop and distribute to school districts standards
of practice for equity coordinators employed by ochool
districts. To provide consistency in training statewide, the
director shall also develop and distribute to school districts
a training program on free speech under the first amendment
to the Constitution of the United States which shall be used
by school districts to provide training pursuant to section
279.75.
House File 2670r p. 4
Sec. 6. Section 256.11, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026,
is amended to read as follows:
The state board shall adopt rules under chapter 17A and
a procedure for accrediting all public and nonpublic schools
in Iowa offering instruction at any or all levels from the
prekindergarten level through grade twelve. The rules
of the state board shall require that an age-appropriateT-
multicultural^ and gender fair approach is used by schools and
school districts. The educational program shall be taught from
an age-appropriate, multicultural,—and gGndcr"fair approach.
Global porapectivGS shall bo incorporated into all levels of
the educational program. The rules adopted by the state board
pursuant to section 256.17, Code Supplement 1987, to establish
new standards shall satisfy the requirements of this section to
adopt rules to implement the educational program contained in
this section. The educational program shall be as follows:
Sec. 7. Section 256.11, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
2. The kindergarten program shall include experiences
designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and
growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well
as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and
protect and increase physical well-being with attention given
to experiences relating to the development of life skills and,
subject to aoGtion 270.00, ago appropriate and research-basod
human growth and development. A kindergarten teacher shall be
licensed to teach in kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic
school must meet the requirements of this subsection only if
the nonpublic school offers a kindergarten program; provided,
however, that section 279.80 shall not apply to a nonpublic
school.
Sec. 8. Section 256.11, subsection 3, paragraph a,
subparagraph (5), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
(5) Health. The health curriculum shall include -fcfee-
charactGristica of communicable dioQaocs all of the following:
(a) The characteristics of communicable diseases.
(b) Physical fitness.
(c) Nutrition.
Sec. 9. Section 256.11, subsection 4, paragraph a.
House File 2670, p. 5
subparagraph (5), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
(5) Health. The health curriculum shall include
age-appropriate and rosoarch-baoGd information regarding the
characfceristica of sexually transmitted diseases all of the
following;
(a) Age-appropriate and research-based information
regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases.
(b) Physical fitness.
(c) Nutrition.
Sec. 10. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraphs e and j.
Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
e. Two additional units of mathematics. The two additional
units of mathematics may include instruction related to applied
any of the following:
(1) Agriculture, which may be offered and taught through
dedicated units of coursework or through units of coursework
that also meet the requirements of the coursework required
under paragraph subparagraph (1), subparagraph division
(a).
(2) Applied sciences, technology, engineering, or
manufacturing, including transportation, distribution,
logistics, architecture, and construction, which may be offered
and taught through dedicated units of coursework or through
units of coursework that also meet the requirements of the
coursework required under paragraph subparagraph (1),
subparagraph division (c).
(3) The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
17A to implement this paragraph.
j, (1) One unit of health education which^
(a) The one unit of health education shall include
instruction related to all of the following:
(i) Physical fitness.
(ii) Food and nutrition.
(iii) Personal health.
(b) The one unit of health education may include personal
health;—food and nutrition;—environmental instruction related
to all of the following;
(i) Environmental health; safety^^
(ii) Safety and survival skills-;—consumer^^
House File 2670, p. 6
(ill) Consumer health-;—family_^
(iv) Family life; age appropriato_^
(v) Age-appropriate and research-based human growth and
development that incorporates the standards established under
section 279.50, subsection 3, paragraph —oub3tancej_
(vi) Substance use disorder and nonuse; emotional and
oocial health; hGalthj_
(vii) Health resources; eardiopulmonary_^
(viii) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and provontion^^
(ix) Prevention and control of disease, including
age-appropriate and research-based information regarding
sexually transmitted diseases.
(2) The state boardj_ as part of accreditation standards^
shall adopt curriculum standards for implementing the program
in grades nine through twelve.
Sec. 11. Section 256.11, subsection 9A, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
9A. Beginning July 1, 2007, each school district shall
have a qualified guidance counselor who shall be licensed
by the board of educational examiners under subchapter VII,
part 3. Each school district shall work toward the goal of
having one qualified guidance counselor for every three hundred
fifty students enrolled in the school district. The state
board shall establish in rule a definition of and standards
for an articulated sequential kindergarten through grade
twelve guidance and counseling program. The program shall
be designed to ensure that the guidance counselor can work
works collaboratively with parents or guardians, students,
teachers, support staff, and administrators to support the
curricular goals of the school by offering responsive services
that address the growth and development needs of students and
the attainment of student competencies in academic, career, and
social areas.
Sec. 12. Section 256.11, subsection 10, paragraph c,
subparagraph (2), unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
If, after having an opportunity to correct, if permitted, a
school district is found to be in noncompliance with federal
education laws including but not limited to the federal
House File 2670, p. 7
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1955, the federal
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. S1400
et seq., as amended, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964,
chapter 216, section 279.73, or section 279.74, the director
shall recommend, and the state board may- shall do, one of the
following within thirty days of the finding of noncompliance:
Sec. 13. Section 256.37, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
3. Students graduating from Iowa's education system must
demonstrate competency in challenging subject matter, and must
have learned to use their minds well, so they may be prepared
for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive
employment in a global Iowa's economy.
Sec. 14. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph h. Code
2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs:
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH, (02) The educational standards of
section 256.11, subsection 2, related to the kindergarten
program.
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (002) The educational standards of
section 256.11, subsection 3, paragraph ''a", subparagraph (5),
related to the health curriculum.
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (0002) The educational standards of
section 256.11, subsection 4, paragraph subparagraph (5),
related to the health curriculum.
Sec. 15. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph h,
subparagraph (3), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
(3) The educational standards established in section
256.11, subsection 5, paragraph ^e", related to the use of
instruction related to agriculture or applied sciences,
technology, engineering, or manufacturing to fulfill a portion
of the unit requirements related to mathematics.
Sec. 16. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph r. Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
r. Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section
279.81 relating to prohibiting students from serving on any
committees that determine, or provide recommendations related
to, whether a material in a school library should be removed in
the same manner as a school district.
Sec. 17. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, paragraphs p, r, and
House File 2670, p. 8
t. Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
p. Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section
279.81 relating to prohibiting students from serving on any
committees that determine, or provide recommendations related
to, whether a material in a school library should be removed in
the same manner as a school district.
r. Be subject to and comply with the requirements of
section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph relating to the
use of instruction related to agriculture or applied sciences,
technology, engineering, or manufacturing to fulfill a portion
of the unit requirements related to mathematics in the same
manner as a school district.
t» Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section
256.11 relating to the human growth and development curriculum
for grades five through eighty, and the health curriculum for
grades nine through twelve, in the same manner as a school
district.
Sec. 18. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
by adding the following new paragraphs:
NEW PARAGRAPH. Oq. Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 256.11, subsection 2, relating to the
kindergarten program in the same manner as a school district.
NEW PARAGRAPH. OOq, Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 256.11, subsection 3, paragraph
subparagraph (5), relating to the health curriculum in the same
manner as a school district.
NEW PARAGRAPH. OOOq. Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 256.11, subsection 4, paragraph
subparagraph (5), relating to the health curriculum in the same
manner as a school district.
Sec. 19. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance
with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring
compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall
be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid
received by the school district under section 257.16. This
specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed
to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of
section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding
shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act
House Pile 2670, p. 9
by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school
districts.
Sec. 20. APPLICABILITY, The following applies to school
years beginning on or after July 1, 2027:
The portion of the section of this Act amending section
256.7, subsection 21, paragraph ^^b", subparagraph (2), that
relates to the administration of assessments in social studies
PAT GRASSI^Y
Speaker/^f the House
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2670, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved
'r, 2026
n kli0\MEGHAN NELSON
ChieT Jfclerk fJl^he House
KIM IlgYNOLDS
Governor