Last week in the Legislature we spent a marathon day debating education bills. We passed four pieces of Legislation from the Higher Education Committee that I serve on and four pieces of legislation for our K-12 public schools. All four higher education bills had the support of the Board of Regents and all four of the K-12 education bills had wide bipartisan support.
Higher Education
1. Freedom from Indoctrination Act – This bill made sure that no student is forced to take courses promoting ideological activism, such as DEI or critical race theory, as a condition of obtaining a degree. Students are still free to enroll in these types of classes but not forced.
2. Core Curriculum Act – This bill requires common-sense to be offered. The CCA establishes undergraduate general education requirements in the Universities to include things like: English, mathematics, Western heritage, and American heritage. It also mandates that core curriculum courses do not distort historical events or promote identity politics.
3. Center for Intellectual Freedom Act – This bill establishes a center for intellectual freedom at the University of Iowa to conduct teaching and research in the historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society. There are definitely plenty of left-leaning courses at the University- this bill is designed to give everyone a voice.
4. College Affordability – This bill requires tuition rates for each academic year to be set on or before April 30th. The bill also directs each regent university to offer at least one Work-Study program where a student earns their degree while working part-time and getting their tuition paid by their employer.
K-12 Education
1. Cell Phones in Schools – This bill requires school districts to implement a policy that, at a minimum, prohibits the use of cell phones during instruction times. Schools can implement a more stringent policy and must contain medical exemptions for students that require it.
2. Improving Mathematics Instrution – This bill ensures that children struggling in math receive the personalized help they need by requiring schools to assess students in math three times per year from Kindergarten-6th grade. If a student is identified as high-risk, schools must implement personalized mathematics plans and interventions. It will also equip teachers with evidence-based professional development.
3. Iowa Education Teacher Salaries – This provides language for the implementation of year two of the teacher salary increase bill we passed last Session. Last year we passed a bill to increase the minimum teacher salary from $33,500-$50,000 and ensure 12-year teachers make no less than $62,000. A request by the school in this bill also allow teachers who have retired to return to the classroom with a minimum salary of $50,000 to be able to still collect their IPERS.
4. Definition of Harassment and Bullying – This bill defines bullying and harassment as repeated and targeting behavior that creates a hostile work environment. This clear definition will allow bullying to be addressed consistently.
Again, all eight of these bills received bipartisan support.
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann represents House District 82. Contact him at Bobby.Kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov; call 563-260-3355, or mail, 1527 330th Street, Wilton IA 52778