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A bill for an act relating to play-based learning in preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten.(Formerly HF 460.)
Subcommittee members: Gruenhagen-CH, Donahue, Salmon
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: Room 315
Comments Submitted:
The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.
03-16-2026
Jennifer Barnhart
Please pass this bill to make early childhood education ageappropriate and encourage the development of executive function skills that will serve children for the rest of their lives.
03-16-2026
Rachel Shumaker
Please bring back developmentally appropriate learning by play for our youngest learners. As a veteran early education teacher of 14 years having taught preschool, 1st grade, and the majority of my career in kindergarten, I have seen the increase in demand on our students. The increased demand has brought many more behaviors, stress, and anxiety for students. We need to step back and change to what is age appropriate learning for these vulnerable learners. That would be with play based learning. Thank you!
03-16-2026
Kelly McMahon [Individual ]
Thank you members of the subcommittee for taking the time to hold a hearing on H.F. 2652. For the last nine years I have had to advocate to keep play in my Kindergarten classroom. Fortunately, my principal understands the importance of this time of my school day. Unfortunately, far too many of my colleagues are forced to deny their Kindergarten students childdirected play during their school day.The benefits of implementing childdirected play in Kindergarten enhances not only early reading and math skills, but the development of essential executive functioning skills that all business leaders want. In fact, childdirected play aligns extremely well with the Science of Reading. All current Kindergarten standards can be taught, practiced and assessed authentically through play. Since play engages so many parts of the brain at once, it takes fewer repetitions to master a skill. Please vote in favor of passage of H.F. 2652.Thank you for your time!
03-16-2026
joe baldridge
I'm supporting HF 2652 because playbased learning is exactly what young kids need. Lets be honest no 5 year old is built for spreadsheets and standardized tests. They learn best by exploring, imagining, and occasionally turning a block tower into a structural engineering experiment gone wrong.This bill lets teachers use methods that actually work for young kids, not ones designed for adults who already drink coffee. HF 2652 is good for students, good for teachers, and great for keeping classroom chaos pointed in a productive direction.Please pass it Iowas youngest learners deserve a school day that matches how they grow.