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SF2425 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2175 ; See SF 2501 .)

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2175 ; See SF 2501 .)

Budget Children Education Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Last action
2026-04-16
Official status
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2501 . S.J. 826 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2175 ; See SF 2501 .)

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2175 ; See SF 2501 .)

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2175 ; See SF 2501 .)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-16 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2501 . S.J. 826 .

  2. 2026-03-12 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage.

  3. 2026-03-11 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee Meeting: 03/12/2026 10:00AM Senate Lounge.

  4. 2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Green, Gruenhagen, and Winckler. S.J. 549 .

  5. 2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature

    Referred to Appropriations. S.J. 527 .

  6. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 366 .

  7. 2026-02-23 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 355 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children, education savings accounts, independent accrediting agencies, teacher training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 2175 ; See SF 2501 .)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Senate

File

2425

-

Introduced

SENATE

FILE

2425

BY

COMMITTEE

ON

EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR

TO

SF

2175)

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

relating

to

education,

including

by

modifying

provisions

1

related

to

charter

schools,

the

Iowa

public

employees’

2

retirement

system,

financing

programs

for

charter

schools

3

and

nonpublic

schools

administered

by

the

Iowa

finance

4

authority,

the

statewide

voluntary

preschool

program

5

for

four-year-old

children,

education

savings

accounts,

6

independent

accrediting

agencies,

teacher

training

and

7

licensure,

and

making

appropriations,

and

including

8

applicability

and

retroactive

applicability

provisions.

9

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

10

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DIVISION

I

1

CHARTER

SCHOOL

FUNDING

2

Section

1.

Section

256E.8,

subsection

2,

paragraph

a,

Code

3

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

4

a.

The

charter

school

in

which

the

student

is

enrolled

5

shall

receive

under

paragraph

“c”

an

amount

equal

to

the

sum

6

of

the

regular

program

state

cost

per

pupil

for

the

budget

7

year

plus

the

teacher

leadership

supplement

state

cost

per

8

pupil,

the

teacher

salary

supplement

state

cost

per

pupil,

the

9

professional

development

supplement

state

cost

per

pupil,

and

10

the

early

intervention

supplement

state

cost

per

pupil

for

11

the

budget

year

as

provided

in

section

257.9

plus

any

moneys

12

that

would

be

due

to

the

school

district

of

residence

for

the

13

student

as

a

result

of

the

non-English

speaking

weighting

under

14

section

280.4,

subsection

3

,

for

the

budget

year

multiplied

by

15

the

state

cost

per

pupil

for

the

budget

year.

If

a

student

16

is

an

eligible

pupil

under

section

261E.6

,

the

charter

school

17

shall

pay

the

tuition

reimbursement

amount

to

an

eligible

18

postsecondary

institution

as

provided

in

section

261E.7

.

19

Sec.

2.

APPLICABILITY.

This

division

of

this

Act

applies

to

20

school

budget

years

beginning

on

or

after

July

1,

2026.

21

DIVISION

II

22

IOWA

PUBLIC

EMPLOYEES’

RETIREMENT

SYSTEM

23

Sec.

3.

Section

97B.1A,

subsection

8,

paragraph

a,

Code

24

2026,

is

amended

by

adding

the

following

new

subparagraph:

25

NEW

SUBPARAGRAPH

.

(13)

Persons

employed

by

a

charter

26

school

established

pursuant

to

chapter

256E

that

satisfies

all

27

applicable

requirements

under

federal

law

for

participation

in

28

the

retirement

system.

29

Sec.

4.

Section

97B.1A,

subsection

9,

paragraph

a,

Code

30

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

31

a.

“Employer”

means

the

state

of

Iowa,

the

counties,

32

municipalities,

agencies,

public

school

districts,

charter

33

schools

established

pursuant

to

chapter

256E

that

satisfy

all

34

applicable

requirements

under

federal

law

for

participation

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in

the

retirement

system,

all

political

subdivisions,

and

1

all

of

their

departments

and

instrumentalities,

including

2

area

agencies

on

aging,

other

than

those

employing

persons

as

3

specified

in

subsection

8

,

paragraph

“b”

,

subparagraph

(7),

and

4

joint

planning

commissions

created

under

chapter

28E

or

28I

.

5

Sec.

5.

Section

256E.11,

subsection

2,

Code

2026,

is

amended

6

to

read

as

follows:

7

2.

In

the

event

of

a

charter

school

closure,

the

assets

of

8

the

charter

school

shall

be

used

first

to

satisfy

outstanding

9

payroll

obligations

for

employees

of

the

school

and

any

10

liabilities

due

and

owing

to

the

Iowa

public

employees’

11

retirement

system

,

then

to

creditors

of

the

school,

then

to

the

12

public

school

district

in

which

the

charter

school

operated,

13

if

applicable,

and

then

to

the

state

general

fund.

If

the

14

assets

of

the

charter

school

are

insufficient

to

pay

all

15

obligations

of

the

charter

school,

the

prioritization

of

the

16

distribution

of

assets

shall

be

consistent

with

this

subsection

17

and

otherwise

determined

by

the

district

court.

18

DIVISION

III

19

EXTRACURRICULAR

INTERSCHOLASTIC

ATHLETIC

CONTESTS

OR

20

COMPETITIONS

PROVIDED

BY

PUBLIC

SCHOOLS

21

Sec.

6.

Section

280.13D,

Code

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

22

follows:

23

280.13D

Participation

in

extracurricular

interscholastic

24

athletic

contests

or

competitions

provided

by

public

schools.

25

1.

a.

The

board

of

directors

of

a

school

district

shall

26

allow

a

student

who

resides

within

the

school

district,

and

27

who

is

enrolled

in

a

nonpublic

school

or

a

charter

school

28

established

pursuant

to

chapter

256E

,

to

participate

in

any

29

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

30

that

is

provided

by

the

school

district

pursuant

to

the

terms

31

of

an

agreement

between

the

board

of

directors

of

the

school

32

district

and

the

authorities

in

charge

of

the

nonpublic

school

33

or

the

governing

board

of

the

charter

school,

as

applicable,

34

that

provides

for

the

eligibility

of

the

student,

if

all

of

the

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following

criteria

are

satisfied:

1

(1)

The

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

2

competition

has

not

been

provided

by

the

nonpublic

school

or

3

the

charter

school

during

the

two

immediately

preceding

school

4

years.

5

(2)

The

nonpublic

school

or

charter

school

has

not

entered

6

into

an

agreement

under

section

280.13A

with

another

school

7

district,

nonpublic

school,

or

charter

school

that

provides

8

for

the

eligibility

of

students

enrolled

in

the

nonpublic

9

school

or

charter

school

to

participate

in

the

extracurricular

10

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

that

is

being

11

provided

by

that

school

district,

nonpublic

school,

or

charter

12

school.

13

b.

The

board

of

directors

of

a

school

district

shall

allow

14

a

student

who

resides

within

a

contiguous

school

district,

and

15

who

is

enrolled

in

a

nonpublic

school

or

charter

school

,

to

16

participate

in

any

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

17

contest

or

competition

that

is

provided

by

the

school

district

18

pursuant

to

the

terms

of

an

agreement

between

the

board

of

19

directors

of

the

school

district

and

the

authorities

in

charge

20

of

the

nonpublic

school

or

the

governing

board

of

the

charter

21

school,

as

applicable,

that

provides

for

the

eligibility

of

the

22

student,

if

all

of

the

following

criteria

are

satisfied:

23

(1)

The

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

24

or

competition

has

not

been

provided

by

the

nonpublic

school

25

or

charter

school

or

by

the

student’s

school

district

of

26

residence

,

during

the

two

immediately

preceding

school

years.

27

(2)

The

nonpublic

school

has

not

entered

into

an

agreement

28

under

section

280.13A

with

another

school

district,

nonpublic

29

school,

or

charter

school

that

provides

for

the

eligibility

of

30

students

enrolled

in

the

nonpublic

school

or

charter

school

to

31

participate

in

the

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

32

contest

or

competition

that

is

being

provided

by

that

school

33

district,

nonpublic

school,

or

charter

school.

34

c.

If

the

board

of

directors

of

a

school

district

has

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established

a

fee

for

the

cost

of

a

student’s

participation

1

in

an

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

2

competition,

a

student

who

is

enrolled

in

a

nonpublic

school

3

or

a

charter

school

and

is

participating

in

a

contest

or

4

competition

at

a

public

school

pursuant

to

paragraph

“a”

or

5

“b”

,

or

the

student’s

parent

or

guardian,

shall

be

responsible

6

for

the

payment

of

such

fee.

The

amount

of

such

fee

shall

not

7

exceed

the

amount

of

the

fee

the

board

of

directors

of

the

8

school

district

has

established

for

students

who

are

enrolled

9

in

the

school

district.

10

2.

A

student

who

is

enrolled

in

a

nonpublic

school

or

a

11

charter

school

and

is

participating

in

a

contest

or

competition

12

at

a

public

school

pursuant

to

subsection

1

,

paragraph

“a”

or

13

“b”

,

shall

participate

under

the

same

conditions

as

a

student

14

who

is

enrolled

in

the

school

district,

including

meeting

the

15

school

district’s

student

code

of

conduct

requirements.

16

3.

A

student

who

participates

in

an

extracurricular

17

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

pursuant

18

to

this

section

shall

be

deemed

to

satisfy

the

residence

19

requirements

for

purposes

of

section

256.46

.

20

DIVISION

IV

21

LOCAL

EDUCATION

AGENCY

STATUS

22

Sec.

7.

Section

256E.5,

Code

2026,

is

amended

by

adding

the

23

following

new

subsection:

24

NEW

SUBSECTION

.

1A.

The

governing

board

of

a

charter

school

25

that

is

approved

under

this

section

shall

be

designated

a

local

26

education

agency

for

the

purpose

of

receiving

federal

funds

for

27

all

attendance

centers

that

are

under

the

jurisdiction

of

the

28

governing

board.

29

DIVISION

V

30

CHARTER

SCHOOL

AND

NONPUBLIC

SCHOOL

FACILITIES

31

Sec.

8.

NEW

SECTION

.

16.163

Authority

to

issue

charter

32

school

and

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

bonds

and

33

notes.

34

The

authority

shall

assist

charter

schools

established

35

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pursuant

to

chapter

256E

and

nonpublic

schools

that

are

1

accredited

pursuant

to

section

256.11,

and

the

authority

2

shall

have

all

of

the

powers

delegated

to

it

in

a

chapter

28E

3

agreement

by

a

charter

school,

accredited

nonpublic

school,

4

or

private

developer

contracting

with

a

charter

school

or

an

5

accredited

nonpublic

school

to

purchase,

acquire,

develop,

6

reconstruct,

remodel,

or

replace

school

buildings,

for

the

7

charter

school

or

accredited

nonpublic

school,

with

respect

8

to

the

issuance

or

securing

of

bonds

or

notes

as

provided

in

9

section

256J.1.

10

Sec.

9.

NEW

SECTION

.

16.164

Charter

school

facilities

11

revolving

loan

program

fund

——

credit

enhancement

agreements.

12

1.

a.

A

charter

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

13

fund

is

created

within

the

authority

to

assist

charter

schools

14

established

pursuant

to

chapter

256E

in

acquiring

suitable

15

school

facilities.

The

moneys

in

the

charter

school

facilities

16

revolving

loan

program

fund

are

appropriated

to

the

authority

17

for

use

in

the

development

and

operation

of

a

charter

school

18

facilities

revolving

loan

program

to

assist

charter

schools

in

19

purchasing,

acquiring,

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

20

or

replacing

school

buildings.

21

b.

Moneys

transferred

by

the

authority

for

deposit

22

in

the

charter

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

23

fund,

moneys

appropriated

to

the

charter

school

facilities

24

revolving

loan

program,

and

any

other

moneys

available

to

25

and

obtained

or

accepted

by

the

authority

for

placement

in

26

the

charter

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

27

shall

be

deposited

in

the

fund.

Additionally,

payment

of

28

interest,

recaptures

of

awards,

and

other

repayments

to

the

29

charter

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

shall

30

be

deposited

in

the

fund.

Notwithstanding

section

12C.7,

31

subsection

2,

interest

or

earnings

on

moneys

in

the

charter

32

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

shall

be

credited

33

to

the

fund.

Notwithstanding

section

8.33,

moneys

that

remain

34

unencumbered

or

unobligated

at

the

end

of

the

fiscal

year

shall

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not

revert

but

shall

remain

available

for

the

same

purpose

in

1

the

succeeding

fiscal

year.

2

c.

The

authority

shall

annually

allocate

moneys

available

in

3

the

charter

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

to

4

assist

charter

schools

in

purchasing,

acquiring,

developing,

5

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

school

buildings.

6

2.

In

addition

to

the

charter

school

facilities

revolving

7

loan

program

authorized

pursuant

to

subsection

1,

the

authority

8

is

authorized

to

make

or

enter

into

a

liquidity

or

credit

9

enhancement

agreement

with

a

charter

school

established

10

pursuant

to

chapter

256E

to

assist

the

charter

school

in

11

purchasing,

acquiring,

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

12

or

replacing

school

buildings.

13

Sec.

10.

NEW

SECTION

.

16.165

Accredited

nonpublic

school

14

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

——

credit

enhancement

15

agreements.

16

1.

a.

An

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

revolving

17

loan

program

fund

is

created

within

the

authority

to

assist

18

nonpublic

schools

that

are

accredited

pursuant

to

section

19

256.11

in

acquiring

suitable

school

facilities.

The

moneys

20

in

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

revolving

loan

21

program

fund

are

appropriated

to

the

authority

for

use

in

the

22

development

and

operation

of

an

accredited

nonpublic

school

23

facilities

revolving

loan

program

to

assist

nonpublic

schools

24

that

are

accredited

pursuant

to

section

256.11

in

purchasing,

25

acquiring,

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

26

school

buildings.

27

b.

Moneys

transferred

by

the

authority

for

deposit

in

28

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

revolving

loan

29

program

fund,

moneys

appropriated

to

the

accredited

nonpublic

30

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program,

and

any

other

31

moneys

available

to

and

obtained

or

accepted

by

the

authority

32

for

placement

in

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

33

revolving

loan

program

fund

shall

be

deposited

in

the

fund.

34

Additionally,

payment

of

interest,

recaptures

of

awards,

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and

other

repayments

to

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

1

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

shall

be

deposited

2

in

the

fund.

Notwithstanding

section

12C.7,

subsection

2,

3

interest

or

earnings

on

moneys

in

the

accredited

nonpublic

4

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

shall

be

credited

5

to

the

fund.

Notwithstanding

section

8.33,

moneys

that

remain

6

unencumbered

or

unobligated

at

the

end

of

the

fiscal

year

shall

7

not

revert

but

shall

remain

available

for

the

same

purpose

in

8

the

succeeding

fiscal

year.

9

c.

The

authority

shall

annually

allocate

moneys

available

10

in

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

revolving

11

loan

program

fund

to

assist

nonpublic

schools

that

are

12

accredited

pursuant

to

section

256.11

in

purchasing,

acquiring,

13

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

school

14

buildings.

15

2.

In

addition

to

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

16

facilities

revolving

loan

program

authorized

pursuant

to

17

subsection

1,

the

authority

is

authorized

to

make

or

enter

into

18

a

liquidity

or

credit

enhancement

agreement

with

a

nonpublic

19

school

that

is

accredited

pursuant

to

section

256.11

to

assist

20

the

accredited

nonpublic

school

in

purchasing,

acquiring,

21

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

school

22

buildings.

23

Sec.

11.

NEW

SECTION

.

256J.1

Charter

school

and

accredited

24

nonpublic

school

facilities

bond

program.

25

1.

As

used

in

this

section:

26

a.

“Authority”

means

the

Iowa

finance

authority.

27

b.

“Bonds”

means

bonds

which

are

payable

solely

as

provided

28

in

this

section.

29

c.

“School”

means

all

of

the

following:

30

(1)

A

charter

school

established

pursuant

to

chapter

256E.

31

(2)

A

nonpublic

school

that

is

accredited

pursuant

to

32

section

256.11.

33

2.

The

authority

shall

cooperate

with

schools

that

wish

to

34

participate

in

the

creation,

administration,

and

funding

of

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a

charter

school

and

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

1

bond

program

to

assist

such

schools

in

financing

the

purchase,

2

acquisition,

development,

reconstruction,

remodeling,

or

3

replacement

of

school

buildings.

4

3.

The

authority

may

issue

its

bonds

and

notes

for

the

5

purpose

of

funding

the

nonrecurring

cost

of

purchasing,

6

acquiring,

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

7

a

school

building

for

a

school.

8

4.

The

authority

may

issue

its

bonds

and

notes

for

the

9

purposes

of

this

section

and

may

enter

into

one

or

more

lending

10

agreements

or

purchase

agreements

with

one

or

more

bondholders

11

or

noteholders

containing

the

terms

and

conditions

of

the

12

repayment

of

and

the

security

for

the

bonds

or

notes.

The

13

authority

and

the

bondholders

or

noteholders

or

a

trustee

14

agent

designated

by

the

authority

may

enter

into

agreements

to

15

provide

for

any

of

the

following:

16

a.

That

the

proceeds

of

the

bonds

and

notes

and

the

17

investments

of

the

proceeds

may

be

received,

held,

and

18

disbursed

by

the

authority

or

by

a

trustee

or

agent

designated

19

by

the

authority.

20

b.

That

the

bondholders

or

noteholders

or

a

trustee

or

21

agent

designated

by

the

authority

may

collect,

invest,

and

22

apply

the

amount

payable

under

the

loan

agreements

or

any

23

other

instruments

securing

the

debt

obligations

under

the

loan

24

agreements.

25

c.

That

the

bondholders

or

noteholders

may

enforce

the

26

remedies

provided

in

the

loan

agreements

or

other

instruments

27

on

their

own

behalf

without

the

appointment

or

designation

of

a

28

trustee.

If

there

is

a

default

in

the

principal

of

or

interest

29

on

the

bonds

or

notes

or

in

the

performance

of

any

agreement

30

contained

in

the

loan

agreements

or

other

instruments,

the

31

payment

or

performance

may

be

enforced

in

accordance

with

the

32

loan

agreement

or

other

instrument.

33

d.

Other

terms

and

conditions

as

deemed

necessary

or

34

appropriate

by

the

authority.

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5.

The

powers

granted

the

authority

under

this

section

are

1

in

addition

to

other

powers

contained

in

chapter

16.

All

other

2

provisions

of

chapter

16,

except

section

16.28,

subsection

3

4,

apply

to

bonds

or

notes

issued

and

powers

granted

to

the

4

authority

under

this

section,

except

to

the

extent

they

are

5

inconsistent

with

this

section.

6

6.

All

bonds

or

notes

issued

by

the

authority

in

connection

7

with

the

program

are

exempt

from

taxation

by

this

state

and

the

8

interest

on

the

bonds

or

notes

is

exempt

from

state

income

tax,

9

both

personal

and

corporate.

10

7.

a.

The

authority

may

provide

in

the

resolution,

trust

11

agreement,

or

other

instrument

authorizing

the

issuance

of

its

12

bonds

or

notes

pursuant

to

this

section

that

the

principal

of,

13

premium,

and

interest

on

the

bonds

or

notes

are

payable

from

14

any

of

the

following

and

may

pledge

the

same

to

its

bonds

and

15

notes:

16

(1)

From

the

amounts

received

by

a

charter

school

under

17

section

256E.8,

subsection

2,

paragraph

“c”

.

18

(2)

From

the

amounts

received

by

a

nonpublic

school

under

19

section

257.11B,

subsection

5.

20

(3)

From

the

income

derived

from

gifts

and

bequests

made

to

21

the

school

for

such

purposes.

22

(4)

From

the

other

funds

or

accounts

established

by

the

23

authority

in

connection

with

the

program

or

the

sale

and

24

issuance

of

its

bonds

or

notes.

25

b.

No

obligation

created

hereunder

shall

ever

be

or

become

26

a

charge

against

the

state

of

Iowa

but

all

such

obligations,

27

including

principal

and

interest,

shall

be

payable

solely

as

28

provided

in

this

section.

29

8.

The

authority

may

establish

reserve

funds

to

secure

30

one

or

more

issues

of

its

bonds

or

notes.

The

authority

may

31

deposit

in

a

reserve

fund

established

under

this

subsection

32

the

proceeds

of

the

sale

of

its

bonds

or

notes

and

other

money

33

which

is

made

available

from

any

other

source.

34

9.

A

pledge

made

in

respect

of

bonds

or

notes

is

valid

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and

binding

from

the

time

the

pledge

is

made.

The

money

or

1

property

so

pledged

and

received

after

the

pledge

by

the

2

authority

is

immediately

subject

to

the

lien

of

the

pledge

3

without

physical

delivery

or

further

act.

The

lien

of

the

4

pledge

is

valid

and

binding

as

against

all

persons

having

5

claims

of

any

kind

in

tort,

contract,

or

otherwise

against

6

the

authority

whether

or

not

the

parties

have

notice

of

the

7

lien.

Neither

the

resolution,

trust

agreement,

or

any

other

8

instrument

by

which

a

pledge

is

created

needs

to

be

recorded,

9

filed,

or

perfected

under

chapter

554,

to

be

valid,

binding,

or

10

effective

against

all

persons.

11

10.

The

members

of

the

authority

or

persons

executing

the

12

bonds

or

notes

are

not

personally

liable

on

the

bonds

or

notes

13

and

are

not

subject

to

personal

liability

or

accountability

by

14

reason

of

the

issuance

of

the

bonds

or

notes.

15

11.

The

bonds

or

notes

issued

by

the

authority

are

not

16

an

indebtedness

or

other

liability

of

the

state

or

of

a

17

political

subdivision

of

the

state

within

the

meaning

of

18

any

constitutional

or

statutory

debt

limitations,

but

are

19

special

obligations

of

the

authority

and

are

payable

solely

as

20

described

in

subsection

7,

paragraph

“a”

,

to

the

extent

that

21

the

amounts

are

designated

in

the

resolution,

trust

agreement,

22

or

other

instrument

of

the

authority

authorizing

the

issuance

23

of

the

bonds

or

notes

as

being

available

as

security

for

the

24

bonds

or

notes.

The

authority

shall

not

pledge

the

faith

or

25

credit

of

the

state

or

of

a

political

subdivision

of

the

state

26

to

the

payment

of

any

bonds

or

notes.

The

issuance

of

any

bonds

27

or

notes

by

the

authority

does

not

directly,

indirectly,

or

28

contingently

obligate

the

state

or

a

political

subdivision

of

29

the

state

to

apply

money

from,

or

levy,

or

pledge

any

form

of

30

taxation

whatsoever

to

the

payment

of

the

bonds

or

notes.

31

Sec.

12.

Section

422.7,

subsection

2,

Code

2026,

is

amended

32

by

adding

the

following

new

paragraph:

33

NEW

PARAGRAPH

.

0k.

Charter

school

and

accredited

nonpublic

34

school

facilities

bond

program

bonds

pursuant

to

section

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256J.1.

1

Sec.

13.

CODE

EDITOR

DIRECTIVE.

The

Code

editor

shall

2

designate

sections

16.163

through

16.165,

as

enacted

in

3

this

Act,

as

new

sections

within

chapter

16,

subchapter

X,

4

part

6,

and

may

redesignate

the

preexisting

part

and

correct

5

internal

references

as

necessary,

including

references

to

part

6

headnotes.

7

Sec.

14.

RETROACTIVE

APPLICABILITY.

The

following

applies

8

retroactively

to

January

1,

2026,

for

tax

years

beginning

on

9

or

after

that

date:

10

The

section

of

this

division

of

this

Act

amending

section

11

422.7.

12

DIVISION

VI

13

STATEWIDE

VOLUNTARY

PRESCHOOL

PROGRAM

FOR

FOUR-YEAR-OLD

14

CHILDREN

15

Sec.

15.

Section

256C.3,

subsection

4,

Code

2026,

is

amended

16

by

adding

the

following

new

paragraph:

17

NEW

PARAGRAPH

.

e.

(1)

A

school

district

may

enter

into

18

a

chapter

28E

agreement

with

a

community-based

provider

to

19

allow

the

community-based

provider

to

provide

high-quality

20

instruction

as

part

of

the

approved

local

program.

21

(2)

Upon

the

request

of

a

community-based

provider,

a

22

school

district

shall

enter

into

a

chapter

28E

agreement

with

a

23

community-based

provider

to

allow

the

community-based

provider

24

to

provide

high-quality

instruction

as

part

of

the

approved

25

local

program.

26

(3)

A

chapter

28E

agreement

entered

into

pursuant

to

this

27

paragraph

shall

not

limit

the

number

of

eligible

students

who

28

may

receive

high-quality

instruction

from

a

community-based

29

provider

as

part

of

the

approved

local

program.

30

Sec.

16.

NEW

SECTION

.

256C.7

Limitation

of

authority.

31

1.

This

chapter

shall

not

be

construed

to

authorize

the

32

state

or

any

political

subdivision

of

the

state

to

exercise

33

authority

over

any

community-based

provider

or

construed

to

34

require

a

community-based

provider

to

modify

its

academic

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standards

for

admission

or

educational

program

in

order

to

1

receive

payments

from

a

school

district

pursuant

to

section

2

256C.4,

subsection

1.

3

2.

This

chapter

shall

not

be

construed

to

expand

the

4

authority

of

the

state

or

any

political

subdivision

of

the

5

state

to

impose

regulations

upon

any

community-based

provider

6

that

are

not

necessary

to

implement

this

chapter.

7

3.

A

community-based

provider

that

receives

payments

from

a

8

school

district

pursuant

to

section

256C.4,

subsection

1,

is

9

not

an

agent

of

this

state

or

of

a

political

subdivision

of

10

this

state.

11

4.

Rules

adopted

by

the

department

of

education

to

implement

12

this

chapter

that

impose

an

undue

burden

on

a

community-based

13

provider

are

invalid.

14

5.

A

community-based

provider

that

receives

payments

from

15

a

school

district

pursuant

to

section

256C.4,

subsection

1,

16

shall

be

given

the

maximum

freedom

possible

to

provide

for

the

17

educational

needs

of

the

community-based

provider’s

students,

18

consistent

with

state

and

federal

law.

19

DIVISION

VII

20

EDUCATION

SAVINGS

ACCOUNTS

21

Sec.

17.

Section

257.11B,

subsections

3

and

4,

Code

2026,

22

are

amended

to

read

as

follows:

23

3.

a.

(1)

On

or

after

January

1,

but

on

or

before

June

24

30,

preceding

the

school

year

for

which

the

education

savings

25

account

payment

is

requested,

the

parent

or

guardian

of

an

26

eligible

pupil

may

request

an

education

savings

account

payment

27

by

submitting

an

application

to

the

department

of

education.

28

(2)

On

or

after

October

15,

but

on

or

before

November

15,

29

preceding

the

semester

for

which

the

education

savings

account

30

payment

is

requested,

the

parent

or

guardian

of

an

eligible

31

pupil

may

request

an

education

savings

account

payment

by

32

submitting

an

application

to

the

department

of

education.

33

b.

Within

thirty

days

following

submission

of

an

34

application,

the

department

of

education

or

third-party

entity

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shall

notify

the

parent

or

guardian

of

each

pupil

approved

for

1

the

following

school

year

or

semester

and

specify

the

amount

of

2

the

education

savings

account

payment

for

the

pupil,

if

known

3

at

the

time

of

the

notice.

As

soon

as

practical

following

the

4

processing

of

all

applications,

the

department

of

education

or

5

third-party

entity

shall

determine

the

number

of

pupils

in

each

6

school

district

approved

for

the

school

budget

year

and

provide

7

such

information

to

the

department

of

management.

8

c.

Education

savings

account

payments

shall

only

be

9

approved

for

one

school

year

or

one

semester,

as

applicable,

10

and

applications

must

be

submitted

annually

for

payments

in

11

subsequent

school

years.

12

4.

Each

education

savings

account

payment

shall

be

equal

to

13

the

regular

program

state

cost

per

pupil

for

the

same

school

14

budget

year

;

provided,

however,

that

an

education

savings

15

account

payment

shall

be

equal

to

fifty

percent

of

the

regular

16

program

state

cost

per

pupil

for

the

same

school

budget

year

if

17

the

pupil’s

parent

or

guardian

submitted

an

application

under

18

subsection

3,

paragraph

“a”

,

subparagraph

(2)

.

19

Sec.

18.

Section

257.11B,

subsection

6,

paragraph

a,

Code

20

2026,

is

amended

to

read

as

follows:

21

a.

For

each

pupil

approved

for

an

education

savings

account

22

payment,

the

department

of

education

or

third-party

entity

23

shall

establish

an

individual

account

for

that

pupil

in

the

24

education

savings

account

fund.

The

If

the

pupil’s

parent

25

or

guardian

submitted

an

application

under

subsection

3,

26

paragraph

“a”

,

subparagraph

(1),

the

amount

of

the

pupil’s

27

education

savings

account

payment

shall

be

deposited

into

28

the

pupil’s

individual

account

on

July

15

or

thirty

days

29

following

submission

of

the

application,

whichever

is

later,

30

and

such

amount

shall

be

immediately

available

for

the

payment

31

of

qualified

educational

expenses

incurred

by

the

parent

or

32

guardian

for

the

pupil

during

that

fiscal

year

using

a

payment

33

method

authorized

under

subsection

5

.

If

the

pupil’s

parent

or

34

guardian

submitted

an

application

under

subsection

3,

paragraph

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“a”

,

subparagraph

(2),

the

amount

of

the

pupil’s

education

1

savings

account

payment

shall

be

deposited

into

the

pupil’s

2

individual

account

within

thirty

days

following

submission

of

3

the

application,

and

such

amount

shall

be

immediately

available

4

for

the

payment

of

qualified

educational

expenses

incurred

by

5

the

parent

or

guardian

for

the

pupil

during

that

fiscal

year

6

using

a

payment

method

authorized

under

subsection

5.

7

DIVISION

VIII

8

INDEPENDENT

ACCREDITING

AGENCIES

9

Sec.

19.

Section

256.11,

subsection

16,

Code

2026,

is

10

amended

by

adding

the

following

new

paragraph:

11

NEW

PARAGRAPH

.

d.

(1)

This

subsection

shall

not

be

12

construed

to

authorize

the

state

or

any

political

subdivision

13

of

the

state

to

exercise

authority

over

any

nonpublic

school

or

14

construed

to

require

a

nonpublic

school

to

modify

its

academic

15

standards

for

admission

or

educational

program.

16

(2)

This

section

shall

not

be

construed

to

expand

the

17

authority

of

the

state

or

any

political

subdivision

of

the

18

state

to

impose

regulations

upon

any

nonpublic

school

that

are

19

not

necessary

to

implement

this

section.

20

(3)

Rules

adopted

by

the

state

board

of

education

to

21

implement

this

section

that

impose

an

undue

burden

on

a

22

nonpublic

school

are

invalid.

23

(4)

A

nonpublic

school

shall

be

given

the

maximum

freedom

24

possible

to

provide

for

the

educational

needs

of

the

school’s

25

students,

consistent

with

state

and

federal

law.

26

DIVISION

IX

27

SCHEDULE

OF

TEACHER

TRAININGS

AND

LICENSURE

RENEWAL

28

REQUIREMENTS

29

Sec.

20.

DEPARTMENT

OF

EDUCATION

——

SCHEDULE

OF

REQUIRED

30

TEACHER

TRAINING

AND

LICENSURE

RENEWAL

REQUIREMENTS.

31

1.

The

department

of

education

shall

convene

and

provide

32

administrative

support

to

a

task

force

that

shall

study

the

33

training

programs

in

which

teachers

in

this

state

are

required

34

to

participate

pursuant

to

state

law

and

the

requirements

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associated

with

renewing

a

teaching

license.

1

2.

Any

expense

incurred

by

a

member

of

the

task

force

2

shall

be

the

responsibility

of

the

individual

member

or

the

3

respective

entity

represented

by

the

member.

4

3.

The

task

force

shall

submit

its

findings

and

5

recommendations

to

the

general

assembly

on

or

before

6

December

31,

2026.

The

recommendations

must

include

specific

7

recommendations

related

to

how

to

change

current

law

to

create

8

a

more

manageable

training

program

schedule

and

licensure

9

renewal

requirement

schedule

for

teachers.

10

EXPLANATION

11

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

12

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

13

This

bill

relates

to

education,

including

by

modifying

14

provisions

related

to

charter

schools,

the

Iowa

public

15

employees’

retirement

system,

financing

programs

for

charter

16

schools

and

nonpublic

schools

administered

by

the

Iowa

finance

17

authority,

the

statewide

voluntary

preschool

program

for

18

four-year-old

children,

education

savings

accounts,

independent

19

accrediting

agencies,

teacher

training

and

licensure,

and

20

making

appropriations,

and

including

applicability

and

21

retroactive

applicability

provisions.

22

DIVISION

I

——

CHARTER

SCHOOL

FUNDING.

Currently,

each

23

student

enrolled

in

a

charter

school

under

Code

chapter

256E

24

shall

be

counted,

for

state

school

foundation

purposes,

in

the

25

student’s

district

of

residence.

The

department

of

education

26

is

then

required

to

pay

to

the

charter

school

in

which

the

27

student

is

enrolled

an

amount

equal

to

the

sum

of

the

regular

28

program

state

cost

per

pupil

for

the

budget

year

plus

other

29

additional

costs

specified

in

Code

section

256E.8(2)(a).

This

30

division

adds

the

teacher

salary

supplement

state

cost

per

31

pupil

to

the

amount

required

to

be

paid

to

the

charter

school.

32

This

provision

applies

to

school

budget

years

beginning

on

or

33

after

July

1,

2026.

34

DIVISION

II

——

IOWA

PUBLIC

EMPLOYEES’

RETIREMENT

SYSTEM.

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The

division

provides

that

persons

employed

by

charter

schools

1

that

satisfy

all

applicable

requirements

under

federal

law

2

for

participation

in

the

retirement

system

are

employees

for

3

purposes

of

the

provisions

of

the

Iowa

public

employees’

4

retirement

system

(IPERS).

Additionally,

the

division

provides

5

that

charter

schools

that

satisfy

all

applicable

requirements

6

under

federal

law

for

participation

in

the

retirement

system

7

are

employers

for

purposes

of

the

provisions

of

IPERS.

8

The

bill

provides

that

in

the

event

of

charter

school

9

closure,

the

assets

of

the

charter

school

shall

be,

after

10

payroll

obligations

but

prior

to

paying

creditors,

used

to

11

satisfy

any

liabilities

due

and

owing

to

IPERS.

12

DIVISION

III

——

EXTRACURRICULAR

INTERSCHOLASTIC

ATHLETIC

13

CONTESTS

OR

COMPETITIONS

PROVIDED

BY

PUBLIC

SCHOOLS.

The

14

division

requires

the

board

of

directors

of

a

school

district

15

to

allow

a

student

who

resides

within

the

district,

and

16

who

is

enrolled

in

a

charter

school,

to

participate

in

any

17

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

18

that

is

provided

by

the

school

district

pursuant

to

the

terms

19

of

an

agreement

between

the

board

of

directors

of

the

school

20

district

and

the

governing

board

of

the

charter

school

if

the

21

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

22

has

not

been

provided

by

the

charter

school

during

the

two

23

immediately

preceding

school

years

and

if

the

charter

school

24

has

not

entered

into

an

agreement

under

Code

section

280.13A

25

(sharing

interscholastic

activities)

with

another

school

26

district,

nonpublic

school,

or

charter

school

that

provides

27

for

the

eligibility

of

students

enrolled

in

the

charter

school

28

to

participate

in

the

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

29

contest

or

competition

that

is

being

provided

by

that

school.

30

The

division

requires

the

board

of

directors

of

a

school

31

district

to

allow

a

student

who

resides

within

a

contiguous

32

school

district,

and

who

is

enrolled

in

a

charter

school,

to

33

participate

in

any

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

34

contest

or

competition

that

is

provided

by

the

school

district

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pursuant

to

the

terms

of

an

agreement

between

the

board

of

1

directors

of

the

school

district

and

the

governing

board

of

2

the

charter

school

if

the

extracurricular

interscholastic

3

athletic

contest

or

competition

has

not

been

provided

by

the

4

charter

school

or

by

the

student’s

school

district

of

residence

5

during

the

two

immediately

preceding

school

years

and

if

6

the

charter

school

has

not

entered

into

an

agreement

under

7

Code

section

280.13A

with

another

school

district,

nonpublic

8

school,

or

charter

school

that

provides

for

the

eligibility

of

9

students

enrolled

in

the

charter

school

to

participate

in

the

10

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

11

that

is

being

provided

by

that

school.

12

The

division

provides

that

if

the

board

of

directors

of

13

a

school

district

has

established

a

fee

for

the

cost

of

a

14

student’s

participation

in

an

extracurricular

interscholastic

15

athletic

contest

or

competition,

a

student

who

is

enrolled

in

a

16

charter

school

and

is

participating

in

a

contest

or

competition

17

at

a

public

school

pursuant

to

the

division’s

provisions,

or

18

the

student’s

parent

or

guardian,

shall

be

responsible

for

the

19

payment

of

such

fee.

20

The

division

requires

a

student

who

is

enrolled

in

a

charter

21

school

and

is

participating

in

a

contest

or

competition

at

22

a

public

school

pursuant

to

the

division’s

provisions

to

23

participate

under

the

same

conditions

as

a

student

who

is

24

enrolled

in

the

school

district,

including

meeting

the

school

25

district’s

student

code

of

conduct

requirements.

26

The

division

provides

that

a

student

who

participates

in

an

27

extracurricular

interscholastic

athletic

contest

or

competition

28

pursuant

to

the

division’s

provisions

is

deemed

to

satisfy

the

29

residence

requirements

for

purposes

of

Code

section

256.46

30

(rules

for

participation

in

extracurricular

activities

by

31

certain

children).

32

DIVISION

IV

——

LOCAL

EDUCATION

AGENCY

STATUS.

The

division

33

provides

that

the

governing

board

of

a

charter

school

that

is

34

approved

under

Code

section

256E.5

(founding

group-state

board

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model)

is

a

local

education

agency

for

the

purpose

of

receiving

1

federal

funds

for

all

attendance

centers

that

are

under

the

2

jurisdiction

of

the

governing

board.

3

DIVISION

V

——

CHARTER

SCHOOL

AND

NONPUBLIC

SCHOOL

4

FACILITIES.

The

division

requires

the

Iowa

finance

authority

5

(IFA)

to

cooperate

with

charter

schools

established

pursuant

6

to

Code

chapter

256E

and

accredited

nonpublic

schools

in

the

7

creation,

administration,

and

funding

of

a

charter

school

and

8

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

bond

program

to

assist

9

charter

schools

and

accredited

nonpublic

schools

in

financing

10

the

purchase,

acquisition,

development,

reconstruction,

11

remodeling,

or

replacement

of

school

buildings.

The

division

12

allows

the

IFA

to

issue

its

bonds

and

notes

for

the

purpose

13

of

funding

the

nonrecurring

cost

of

purchasing,

acquiring,

14

developing,

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

a

school

15

building

for

a

charter

school

or

accredited

nonpublic

school

16

and

to

enter

into

lending

agreements

or

purchase

agreements

17

with

bondholders

or

noteholders

that

contain

certain

specified

18

provisions.

The

division

establishes

the

sources

from

which

19

the

principal

of,

premium,

and

interest

on

the

bonds

or

20

notes

are

payable.

The

bonds

or

notes

issued

by

the

IFA

in

21

connection

with

the

program

are

exempt

from

taxation

by

this

22

state

and

the

interest

on

the

bonds

or

notes

is

exempt

from

23

state

income

tax,

both

personal

and

corporate.

This

provision

24

applies

retroactively

to

January

1,

2026,

for

tax

years

25

beginning

on

or

after

that

date.

26

The

division

establishes

a

charter

school

facilities

27

revolving

loan

program

fund

and

an

accredited

nonpublic

school

28

facilities

revolving

loan

program

fund

within

the

IFA

to

29

assist

charter

schools

and

accredited

nonpublic

schools

in

30

acquiring

suitable

school

facilities.

The

moneys

in

the

funds

31

are

appropriated

to

the

IFA

for

use

in

the

development

and

32

operation

of

a

charter

school

facilities

revolving

loan

program

33

and

an

accredited

nonpublic

school

facilities

revolving

loan

34

program

to

assist

charter

schools

and

accredited

nonpublic

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schools

in

purchasing,

acquiring,

developing,

reconstructing,

1

remodeling,

or

replacing

school

buildings.

The

division

also

2

allows

the

IFA

to

make

or

enter

into

a

liquidity

or

credit

3

enhancement

agreement

with

a

charter

school

or

an

accredited

4

nonpublic

school

to

assist

the

charter

school

or

accredited

5

nonpublic

school

in

purchasing,

acquiring,

developing,

6

reconstructing,

remodeling,

or

replacing

school

buildings.

7

DIVISION

VI

——

STATEWIDE

VOLUNTARY

PRESCHOOL

PROGRAM

8

FOR

FOUR-YEAR-OLD

CHILDREN.

The

division

authorizes

school

9

districts

to

enter

into

a

Code

chapter

28E

agreement

with

a

10

community-based

provider

allowing

the

community-based

provider

11

to

provide

instruction

as

part

of

the

approved

local

program,

12

and

the

division

requires

school

districts

to

enter

into

such

13

an

agreement

upon

the

request

of

a

community-based

provider.

14

Additionally,

the

division

prohibits

such

Code

chapter

28E

15

agreements

from

limiting

the

number

of

eligible

students

who

16

may

receive

instruction

from

a

community-based

provider

as

part

17

of

the

approved

local

program.

18

The

division

prohibits

Code

chapter

256C

(statewide

19

voluntary

preschool

program

for

four-year-old

children)

20

from

being

construed

to

authorize

the

state

or

any

political

21

subdivision

of

the

state

to

exercise

authority

over

22

any

community-based

provider

or

construed

to

require

a

23

community-based

provider

to

modify

its

academic

standards

24

for

admission

or

educational

program

in

order

to

receive

25

payments

from

a

school

district

under

the

statewide

voluntary

26

preschool

program

(SWVPP).

The

division

also

prohibits

Code

27

chapter

256C

from

being

construed

to

expand

the

authority

of

28

the

state

or

any

political

subdivision

of

the

state

to

impose

29

regulations

upon

any

community-based

provider

that

are

not

30

necessary

to

implement

this

section.

The

division

provides

31

that

a

community-based

provider

that

receives

payments

from

a

32

school

district

under

the

SWVPP

is

not

an

agent

of

this

state

33

or

of

a

political

subdivision

of

this

state.

Rules

adopted

by

34

the

department

of

education

to

implement

the

SWVPP

that

impose

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an

undue

burden

on

a

community-based

provider

are

invalid.

The

1

division

requires

that

a

community-based

provider

that

receives

2

payments

from

a

school

district

under

the

SWVPP

be

given

the

3

maximum

freedom

possible

to

provide

for

the

educational

needs

4

of

the

community-based

provider’s

students,

consistent

with

5

state

and

federal

law.

6

DIVISION

VII

——

EDUCATION

SAVINGS

ACCOUNTS.

The

education

7

savings

account

program

is

a

program

that

provides

funds

to

8

pupils

who

attend

nonpublic

schools

to

pay

for

qualified

9

educational

expenses,

including

but

not

limited

to

tuition,

10

tutoring

or

cognitive

skill

training

fees,

educational

therapy

11

costs,

software

expenses,

and

expenses

related

to

course

12

materials.

Under

current

law,

the

parent

or

guardian

of

a

13

pupil

is

required

to

submit

an

application

for

payment

under

14

the

education

savings

account

program

to

the

department

of

15

education

on

or

after

January

1,

but

on

or

before

June

30,

16

preceding

the

school

year

for

which

the

education

savings

17

account

payment

is

requested.

The

division

allows

the

parent

18

or

guardian

of

a

pupil

to

submit

such

an

application

on

or

19

after

October

15,

but

on

or

before

November

15,

preceding

the

20

semester

for

which

the

education

savings

account

payment

is

21

requested.

Additionally,

under

current

law

each

education

22

savings

account

payment

is

equal

to

the

regular

program

state

23

cost

per

pupil

for

the

same

school

budget

year.

The

division

24

provides

that,

if

the

parent

or

guardian

of

a

pupil

submitted

25

such

an

application

on

or

after

December

1,

but

on

or

before

26

December

20,

preceding

the

semester

for

which

the

education

27

savings

account

payment

is

requested,

the

education

savings

28

account

payment

for

such

pupil

is

equal

to

50

percent

of

the

29

regular

program

state

cost

per

pupil

for

the

same

school

budget

30

year.

The

division

makes

conforming

changes.

31

DIVISION

VIII

——

INDEPENDENT

ACCREDITING

AGENCIES.

Current

32

law

authorizes

a

nonpublic

school

to

be

accredited

by

an

33

approved

independent

accrediting

agency

instead

of

by

the

34

state

board

of

education

if

the

nonpublic

school

is

accredited

35

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by

an

independent

accrediting

agency

that

is

on

a

list

of

1

approved

independent

accrediting

agencies

maintained

by

the

2

state

board

of

education.

The

division

provides

that

these

3

provisions

shall

not

be

construed

to

authorize

the

state

or

any

4

political

subdivision

of

the

state

to

exercise

authority

over

5

any

nonpublic

school

or

construed

to

require

a

nonpublic

school

6

to

modify

its

academic

standards

for

admission

or

educational

7

program.

The

division

also

provides

that

these

provisions

8

shall

not

be

construed

to

expand

the

authority

of

the

state

or

9

any

political

subdivision

of

the

state

to

impose

regulations

10

upon

any

nonpublic

school

that

are

not

necessary

to

implement

11

the

state’s

educational

standards.

The

division

provides

that

12

rules

adopted

by

the

state

board

of

education

to

implement

13

these

provisions

that

impose

an

undue

burden

on

a

nonpublic

14

school

are

invalid.

The

division

requires

that

a

nonpublic

15

school

shall

be

given

the

maximum

freedom

possible

to

provide

16

for

the

educational

needs

of

the

school’s

students,

consistent

17

with

state

and

federal

law.

18

DIVISION

IX

——

SCHEDULE

OF

TEACHER

TRAININGS

AND

LICENSURE

19

RENEWAL

REQUIREMENTS.

The

division

requires

the

department

20

of

education

to

convene

a

task

force

to

study

the

training

21

programs

in

which

teachers

in

this

state

are

required

to

22

participate

pursuant

to

state

law

and

the

requirements

23

associated

with

renewing

a

teaching

license.

The

task

force

24

is

required

to

submit

its

findings

and

recommendations

to

25

the

general

assembly

on

or

before

December

31,

2026.

The

26

recommendations

must

include

specific

recommendations

related

27

to

how

to

change

current

law

to

create

a

more

manageable

28

training

program

schedule

and

licensure

renewal

requirement

29

schedule

for

teachers.

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