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Department of Education briefs state board on legislative progress; several DOE bills pass first funnel
Summary
The Department of Education updated the board on multiple education bills advancing through the legislature, including measures on math intervention, device restrictions, Teach Iowa job posting system, and career education changes.
The Iowa Department of Education gave the State Board an overview of bills that have advanced through early legislative deadlines and other department priorities during its March 21 meeting.
The director told the board that all the governor’s education‑related bills cleared the first funnel and several department‑sponsored bills made committee progress. Highlights included House File 784 (the Math Counts Act) to support early identification and progress monitoring for students not on track in math, expanded evidence‑based professional development and supports for teacher preparation, and family‑centered math resources. The department also noted legislation moving to limit student use of personal electronic devices during instructional time and a multicomponent “education improvements” bill that would reinstate Teach Iowa in statute for statewide education job postings and clarify retiree return‑to‑work provisions.
Other legislation reported as progressing included: a continuum‑of‑care bill to support early childhood partnerships and expand full‑day early care and preschool programming; bills to establish a CTE (career and technical education) industry‑recognized credential diploma seal and embed career instruction in grades 5–7; and a Senate change addressing “grooming” behaviors in the Board of Educational Examiners’ ethics code. The department said all six of its prefiled bills moved through committee in at least one chamber and that several will require continued departmental testimony and technical assistance.
The director also briefed the board on operational items: release of the public Education Value‑Added Assessment System (EVAAS/EBOS) reports, a new round of LETRS (structured literacy) registration for teachers, and a dyslexia handbook approved by the Dyslexia Board. Division updates included launch of the Achieve family portal for parents of children with IFSPs and IEPs and upcoming special‑education webinars on FBAs/BIPs and Least Restrictive Environment monitoring.
Why it matters: The legislative items reported by the department would affect classroom instruction, career education pathways, and early childhood programming across Iowa. The board will receive further updates as bills move through the legislative process.
