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Kim Reynolds
GOVERNOR
Office of the GovernorChris Cournoyer
LT governor
June 01, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2428, an Act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related
to the duties of the department of education; the discipline of students enrolled in school
districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools who cause violent or nonviolent
disruptions; the responsibilities and powers of the department of education, school district
teachers, and other educational staff related to students who have individualized
education programs or plans under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act; school
district professional development plans; and authorizing teachers to request a meeting of
a student's individualized education program team.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
(Sincere
Reynold'
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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Senate File 2428
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION, INCLUDING BY MODIFYING PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; THE
• DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER
SCHOOLS, AND INNOVATION ZONE SCHOOLS WHO CAUSE VIOLENT OR
NONVIOLENT DISRUPTIONS; THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS,
AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL STAFF RELATED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR PLANS UNDER SECTION
504 OF THE FEDERAL REHABILITATION ACT; SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS; AND AUTHORIZING TEACHERS TO
REQUEST A MEETING OF A STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PROGRAM TEAM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2026, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION . 80. Develop and distribute to school
districts a training program and training materials for members
of a student's individualized education program team that is
related to the least restrictive environment requirements under
the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20
U.S.C. §1400 et seq.
Senate File 2428, p. 2
Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsection 10, unnumbered paragraph
1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
The state board shall establish, and the department
shall use, for the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and
each succeeding school year, an accreditation, monitoring,
and enforcement process for school districts and nonpublic
schools seeking accreditation pursuant to this subsection and
subsections 11 and 12. In applying and taking monitoring and
enforcement action under this subsection and subsections 11 and
12, the department shall consider the timeliness and accuracy
of the information a school district or nonpublic school
provides to the department, including potential underreporting
or late reporting of data related to school discipline and
school safety necessary to monitor and implement the provisions
of chapter 280. The process established shall include all of
the following requirements:
Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 256.20 Schools for students requiring
special education or students with behavioral issues — pilot
project.
1. The department shall develop and administer a pilot
program that requires a rural school district and an urban
school district to each establish an attendance center to
be used to provide educational services, including special
education services, to eligible students who are enrolled
in the rural school district or urban school district, as
applicable.
2. The department shall determine the rural school district
and urban school district that will be required to participate
in the pilot program. A rural school district or an urban
school district shall not be required to participate in the
pilot program unless any one of the following applies:
a. The rural school district or urban school district agrees
to participate in the pilot program and provides notice to the
department indicating that the rural school district or urban
school district has the ability to fully fund the rural school
district's or urban school district's participation in the
pilot program.
b. The department fully funds the rural school district's
or urban school district's participation in the pilot program
Senate File 2428, p. 3
using moneys appropriated by the general assembly for purposes
of this section.
3. The department, in consultation with the rural school
district and urban school district, shall determine all of the
following :
a. The courses of study and curricula that the rural school
district and urban school district will provide to eligible
students as part of the pilot program.
b. The instructional facilities that the rural school
district and urban school district will use to provide
educational services to eligible students as part of the pilot
program.
4. An eligible student shall not be required to attend an
attendance center established by a rural school district or
an urban school district that is participating in the pilot
program if the eligible student's parent or guardian provides
notice to the rural school district or urban school district
requesting that the eligible student be excused from such
attendance .
5. a. Annually, on or before June 1 of each year, the rural
school district and urban school district shall submit to the
department an annual report that contains all of the following:
(1) The number of eligible students who participated in the
pilot program during the current school year.
(2) Information related to the academic performance of
eligible students who participated in the pilot program during
the current school year.
(3) Feedback from eligible students who participated in the
pilot program during the current school year related to the
effectiveness of the pilot program.
(4) Feedback from the parents or guardians of eligible
students who participated in the pilot program during the
current school year related to the effectiveness of the pilot
program.
(5) Feedback from teachers who provided educational
services to eligible students who participated in the
pilot program during the current school year related to the
effectiveness of the pilot program.
(6) Challenges associated with operating the pilot program.
Senate File 2428, p. 4
(7) Recommendations related to how to improve the pilot
program.
(8) Any other information requested by the department that
will allow the department to monitor and assess the pilot
program.
b. Annually, on or before June 30 of each year, the
department shall compile the annual reports submitted to the
department pursuant to paragraph "a" and shall submit the
compilation to the general assembly.
6. As used in this section:
a. "Eligible student" means any of the following:
(1) Children requiring special education, as defined in
section 256B.2.
(2) A student whose emotional, social, or behavioral
needs interfere with the student's ability to be successful
in the regular educational environment, even with the use of
supplementary aids and services.
b. "Rural school district" means a school district as
described in chapter 274 that is located in a county with a
population of greater than seventeen thousand five hundred but
less than eighteen thousand, and that contains a city with a
population of greater than five thousand four hundred, but less
than five thousand five hundred, all according to the 2020
federal decennial census.
c. "Urban school district" means a school district as
described in chapter 274 with a total enrollment of at least
seven thousand students.
7. This section is repealed July 1, 2031.
Sec. 4. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH . On. Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 279. 65B relating to the discipline of
students who cause violent or nonviolent disruptions in the
same manner as a school district.
Sec. 5. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH , v. Be subject to and comply with the
requirements of section 279. 65B relating to the discipline of
students who cause violent or nonviolent disruptions in the
Senate File 2428, p. 5
same manner as a school district.
Sec. 6. Section 279. 65A, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
3. The policies must be consistent with -the all of the
following:
a. The provisions of chapter 256Bt and the administrative
rules adopted by the state board for purposes of chapter 256Bt
b. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq. , and th e
c. The federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and
codified in 29 U.S.C. §701 et seq.
d. Section 279. 65B.
Sec. 7. NEW SECTION . 279. 65B Discipline of students who
cause violent or nonviolent disruptions.
1. As used in this section:
a. "Nonviolent disruption" includes but is not limited to a
disruption to classroom instruction that is a result of any of
the following:
(1) Disorderly conduct.
(2) Abusive or profane language.
(3) Bullying, as defined under section 280.28.
(4) Repeatedly disruptive behavior.
b. "Principal" means the same as defined in section 256.145.
"Principal" includes all of the following:
(1) An assistant principal.
(2) A vice principal.
(3) An administrator who is responsible for the day-to-day
operations of an attendance center.
c. '’'Teacher" means the same as defined in section 256.145.
d. "Violent disruption" includes but is not limited to
a disruption to classroom instruction that is a result of a
threat of violence or an incident of violence that results in
any of the following:
(1) Injury.
(2) Property damage.
(3) Assault, as defined under section 708.1.
2. a. (1) A teacher may remove or cause to be removed a
student who causes a nonviolent disruption from the teacher's
Senate File 2428, p. 6
classroom and place the student under the supervision of the
principal of the attendance center in which the classroom is
located, or the principal's designee, for at least thirty
minutes, as determined by the principal or the principal's
designee .
(2) (a) A student who is enrolled in kindergarten through
grade five, and who was removed from the classroom pursuant
to subparagraph (1), shall not be readmitted to the teacher's
classroom until after the principal, or the principal's
designee, and the teacher meet to discuss the readmission of
the student.
(b) A student who is enrolled in grades six through twelve,
and who was removed from the classroom pursuant to subparagraph
(1), shall not be readmitted to the teacher's classroom until
after the principal, or the principal's designee, and the
teacher meet to discuss the readmission of the student. Such
student shall not be readmitted to the teacher's classroom
until, at the earliest, the immediately subsequent school day.
(3) The principal, or the principal's designee, shall
inform the teacher of the disciplinary actions taken against
the student removed from the classroom pursuant to subparagraph
(1) as soon as is reasonably possible after the student's
removal .
(4) A student who is removed from the classroom pursuant to
subparagraph (1) shall be required to make up any work that the
student missed while the student was under the supervision of
the principal or the principal's designee.
(5) If a student is removed from a teacher's classroom
pursuant to subparagraph (1) more than once, the teacher or
teachers who removed the student from the classroom; the
principal of the attendance center in which the classroom
or classrooms are located; a qualified guidance counselor
licensed by the board of educational examiners under chapter
256, subchapter VII, part 3; the student's parent or legal
guardian, if the student is not an emancipated minor; and the
student shall participate in a meeting to discuss the student's
nonviolent disruptions and to establish a behavioral plan and
a course of discipline to correct the student's behavior,
which may include locating the student in an alternative
Senate File 2428, p. 7
learning environment, including a therapeutic classroom, when
appropriate.
b. (1) A teacher shall remove or cause to be removed a
student who causes a violent disruption from the teacher's
classroom and place the student under the supervision of the
principal of the attendance center in which the classroom is
located, or the principal's designee.
(2) (a) A student who is enrolled in kindergarten through
grade five, and who was removed from the classroom pursuant
to subparagraph (1), shall not be readmitted to the teacher's
classroom until after the principal, or the principal's
designee, and the teacher meet to discuss the readmission of
the student.
(b) A student who is enrolled in grades six through twelve,
and who was removed from the classroom pursuant to subparagraph
(1), shall not be readmitted to the teacher's classroom until
after the principal, or the principal's designee, and the
teacher meet to discuss the readmission of the student. Such
student shall not be readmitted to the teacher's classroom
until, at the earliest, the immediately subsequent school day.
(c) Notwithstanding any policy adopted by the oversight
review committee pursuant to subsection 4, paragraph "a", a
student shall not be readmitted to a teacher's classroom if all
of the following criteria are satisfied:
(i) The teacher removed the student from the teacher's
classroom because the student caused a violent disruption that
included the student assaulting the teacher.
(ii) The teacher does not consent to allowing the student to
return to the teacher's classroom.
3. a. If the principal determines that disciplinary
action should be taken against a student who was removed from
a teacher's classroom pursuant to subsection 2, then the
principal shall do all of the following:
(1) Take such disciplinary action.
(2) Provide written and, if possible, electronic notice of
such disciplinary action to the student's parent or guardian.
b. (1) If a student was removed from a teacher's classroom
pursuant to subsection 2 two or more times in a semester, or
the trimester or quarter equivalent, then the principal shall
Senate File 2428, p. 8
discipline the student by doing any of the following:
(a) Assigning the student to either in-school or
out-of-school suspension.
(b) Recommending to the superintendent that the student be
located in an alternative learning environment that has been
approved by the superintendent.
(2) If a student was removed from a teacher's classroom
pursuant to subsection 2 because the student's conduct,
statements, or other actions were severe or pervasive, and,
if requested by the teacher, then the principal shall impose
the maximum amount of punishment applicable to such conduct,
statements, or other actions as provided in policies adopted
by the board of directors of the school district, including
placing the student in an alternative learning environment that
has been approved by the superintendent.
4. a. The board of directors of a school district shall
require each attendance center within the school district
to create an oversight review committee that is responsible
for developing a policy, consistent with this section, that
establishes when a student who has been removed from the
classroom pursuant to subsection 2 may be readmitted to the
classroom.
b. The oversight review committee must consist of all of the
following members:
(1) Two teachers who work in the attendance center and who
must be selected by the teachers of the attendance center.
(2) One administrative employee, mental health
professional, or behavioral interventionist who works in the
attendance center and who must be selected by the principal of
the attendance center.
c. The oversight review committee may issue recommendations
related to when a student who was removed from a teacher's
classroom pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph "a", subparagraph
(1), should be readmitted to the teacher's classroom.
5. If a student who has an individualized education program
was removed from a teacher's classroom pursuant to subsection
2, then all of the following shall apply:
a. (1) All of the following individuals shall, if
practicable, participate in the meeting of the student's
Senate File 2428, p. 9
individualized education program team that takes place
immediately subsequent to the student's exclusion from the
classroom:
(a) The teacher who removed the student from the classroom
pursuant to subsection 2.
(b) Any teacher who is not described in subparagraph
division (a) and who provides classroom instruction to the
student .
(c) Any other employee of the school district who does not
hold a license issued by the board of educational examiners,
including para-educators and bus drivers, and who was directly
involved in the student's conduct, statements, or other actions
that led to the student's exclusion from the classroom.
(2) If a teacher or other employee is not able to
participate in the meeting of the student's individualized
education program team that takes place immediately subsequent
to the student's exclusion from the classroom, as required
under subparagraph (1), then the teacher or other employee
shall review the minutes or summary of the meeting prepared by
the individualized education program team pursuant to paragraph
"b", subparagraph (2), and shall provide written notice to the
student's individualized education program team indicating that
the teacher or other employee has read the minutes or summary.
b. (1) In the meeting of the student's individualized
education program team that takes place immediately subsequent
to the student's exclusion from the classroom, the student's
individualized education program team shall discuss all of the
following :
(a) The appropriateness of the student's current
educational programming.
(b) Whether adjustments need to be made to the student's
individualized education program to address the student's
behaviors .
(c) Whether the student's current placement or an
alternative learning environment would best provide the student
with a free appropriate public education.
(d) The accommodations, modifications, and adaptations that
are required to allow the student to be successful in a general
education setting, what supports are needed to assist the
Senate File 2428, p. 10
teacher and other school district employees in providing those
accommodations, modifications, and adaptations, and whether it
is possible for the school district to provide those supports,
accommodations, modifications, and adaptations.
(e) Whether and to what extent the provision of special
education services and activities in the general education
environment will impact the student and the other students in
the classroom.
(2) If a teacher or other employee is not able to
participate in the meeting of the student's individualized
education program team that takes place immediately subsequent
to the student's exclusion from the classroom, as required
under paragraph "a", subparagraph (1), then the student's
individualized education program team shall prepare minutes or
a summary of the meeting and provide the minutes or summary to
the teacher or other employee.
c. If the student was removed from the classroom five or
more times within any fifteen-consecutive-school-day period,
then the student's individualized education program team shall
meet to discuss the student's behavior.
6. A teacher may appeal all of the following to the board of
directors of the school district:
a. A principal's refusal to allow the teacher to remove a
student from the teacher's classroom pursuant to subsection 2.
b. A principal's readmission of a student to the teacher's
classroom prior to the time such student should have been
readmitted pursuant to subsection 2.
7. The board of directors of a school district shall
immediately grant a teacher a leave of absence for physical
recovery with full pay for not more than three days if the
teacher is injured due to a student's violent disruption;
provided, however, that the board of directors of a school
district may grant a teacher such a leave of absence for four
or more days if the teacher provides to the board of directors
of the school district a note from a physician indicating that
such a leave of absence is needed.
8. a. Each principal of an attendance center shall make a
mental health professional, guidance counselor, or behavioral
interventionist available to students, teachers, and other
Senate File 2428, p. 11
school employees to address the immediate trauma associated
with a violent disruption or nonviolent disruption, upon the
request of a teacher.
b. Notwithstanding paragraph "a", a mental health
professional, guidance counselor, or behavioral interventionist
shall not provide any mental health services to a student who
is less than eighteen years of age to address the immediate
trauma associated with a violent disruption or nonviolent
disruption unless the student's parent or guardian consents to
the student receiving such mental health services, or unless
the student is an emancipated minor.
9. Each principal shall carry out the principal's
responsibilities under this section in an expeditious manner,
and shall do all of the following in an expeditious manner:
a. Carry out all manifestation determination review
meetings, as required under section 504 of the federal
Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794.
b. Impose the appropriate amount of punishment in accordance
with policies adopted by the board of directors of the school
district and federal law.
c, Perform functional behavior assessments as needed.
d. Adjust behavioral intervention plans as needed.
10. This section shall not be construed to do any of the
following :
a. Infringe on any right provided to any student under
federal law, including but not limited to all of the following:
(1) Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.
§794.
(2) The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.
(3) The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,
20 U.S.C. §1232g.
(4) The federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42
U.S.C. §12101 et seq.
b. Supersede, abrogate, or preempt any federal law, rule,
or regulation.
c. Relieve any person from any duties, obligations, or
requirements imposed by federal law.
Sec. 8. NEW SECTION . 279.89 Teacher authority to request a
Senate File 2428, p. 12
meeting of a student's individualized education program team.
1. For purposes of this section:
a. '’'Administrator" means the same as defined in section
256.145.
b. ^Teacher" means the same as defined in section 256.145.
2. A teacher may request a meeting of a student's
individualized education program team at any time by submitting
an electronic or written request to an administrator.
3. An administrator may deny a teacher's request for a
meeting of a student's individualized education program team
submitted pursuant to subsection 2; provided, however, that
such a denial must satisfy all of the following requirements:
a. Be provided to the teacher in writing.
b. Describe why applicable federal law does not require the
meeting of the student's individualized education program team.
Sec. 9. NEW SECTION . 279.90 Individualized education
programs and section 504 plan requirements.
1. a. The board of directors of each school district shall
ensure all of the following:
(1) That each student's individualized education program is
accessible to each school district employee who is responsible
for the implementation of the student's individualized
education program, including regular education teachers,
special education teachers, and any other service providers.
(2) That each school district employee who is responsible
for the implementation of a student's individualized education
program, including regular education teachers, special
education teachers, and any other service providers, reads all
changes to the accommodations or modifications described in the
student's individualized education program.
(3) Each teacher and service provider described in
subparagraph (1) is informed of all of the following:
(a) The teacher's or service provider's specific
responsibilities related to implementing the student's
individualized education program.
(b) The specific accommodations, modifications, and
supports that must be provided for the student in accordance
with the student's individualized education program.
b. After a regular education teacher has read the most
Senate File 2428, p. 13
recent changes to the accommodations or modifications described
in a student's individualized education program, as required
under paragraph "a", subparagraph (2), the regular education
teacher shall provide written notice to the special education
teacher who is on the student's individualized education
program team indicating that the regular education teacher
has read the most recent changes to the accommodations or
modifications .
2. Each teacher employed by the school district who teaches
a student who has a plan under section 504 of the federal
Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, shall read the plan. After
the teacher has read the plan, the teacher shall provide
written notice to any special education teacher who provides
special education services to the student, or to the principal
of the attendance center, indicating that the teacher has read
the plan.
3. At least one para-educator or other employee of the
school district who assists a teacher in providing classroom
instruction to a student who has an individualized education
program, or to a student who has a plan under section 504 of
the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, shall attend
all meetings related to the student's individualized education
program or plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation
Act, 29 U.S.C. §794. If practicable, meetings related to
a student's individualized education program or plan under
section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794,
that a para-educator or other employee is required to attend
pursuant to this subsection shall take place during normal
business hours.
4. The board of directors of each school district shall
provide training to all members of a student's individualized
education program team related to the least restrictive
environment requirements under the federal Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq. , that
is based on the training program and training materials
distributed by the director of the department of education to
the school district pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 80.
Sec. 10. Section 284.6, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
Senate File 2428, p. 14
3. A school district shall develop a district professional
development plan. The district professional development plan
shall i-nclud e must satisfy all of the following requirements:
a. Include a description of the means by which the school
district will provide access to all teachers in the district to
professional development programs or offerings that meet the
requirements of subsection 1. The plan shall align
b. Align all professional development with the school
district's long-range student learning goals and the Iowa
teaching standards. T he— plan shall indicat e
c. Indicate the school district's approved professional
development provider or providers.
d. Include programs and offerings for all teachers to
support serving students with disabilities.
e. Include information related to all of the following:
(1) The general requirements related to providing a free
appropriate public education, including the school district's
obligation to identify and evaluate a student who may have a
disability .
(2) The provision of supports and services through
a student's individualized education program, including
each individual teacher's responsibilities relating to the
development and implementation of a student's individualized
education program.
(3) The general requirements related to providing education
to a student with a disability consistent with the least
restrictive environment requirements under the federal
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400
et seq.
Sec. 11. 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
Senate File 2428, p. 15
shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act
by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school
districts.
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate
PAT GRASSLEY//
Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2428, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secretary of the Senate
Approve d^A^fc _, 2026
KI^^EYNOLDs/
Governor f