House File 2244 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2244 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 594) (COMPANION TO SF 2121 BY EVANS) A BILL FOR An Act relating to social studies instruction provided to 1 students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, and 2 including applicability provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5664HV (3) 91 jda/jh

H.F. 2244 Section 1. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph h, Code 1 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 2 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (02) The educational standards of 3 section 256.11 relating to the social studies curriculum for 4 grades seven through twelve. 5 Sec. 2. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended 6 by adding the following new paragraph: 7 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0u. Be subject to and comply with the 8 requirements of section 256.11 relating to the social studies 9 curriculum for grades seven through twelve in the same manner 10 as a school district. 11 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, subsection 4, paragraph a, 12 subparagraph (2), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 13 (2) Social studies, including instruction related to civics 14 and United States government . The instruction related to 15 civics and United States government shall be at least one-half 16 semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, during grade 17 seven and grade eight. 18 Sec. 4. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 19 2026, is amended to read as follows: 20 b. (1) Five units of the social studies including 21 instruction in voting statutes and procedures, voter 22 registration requirements, the use of paper ballots and voting 23 systems in the election process, and the method of acquiring 24 and casting an absentee ballot. All students shall complete 25 a minimum of one-half one unit of civics and United States 26 government and one unit of United States history. 27 (2) The one-half one unit of civics and United States 28 government shall include the all of the following: 29 (a) The voting procedure as described in this lettered 30 paragraph and section 280.9A . The government instruction shall 31 also include a 32 (b) A study of the Constitution of the United States and the 33 Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution and an assessment 34 of a student’s knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of 35 -1- LSB 5664HV (3) 91 jda/jh 1/ 2

H.F. 2244 Rights. 1 Sec. 5. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to school years 2 beginning on or after July 1, 2028. 3 EXPLANATION 4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 5 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 6 This bill relates to social studies instruction provided to 7 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12. 8 Current law requires that the social studies instruction 9 provided to students enrolled in school districts and 10 accredited nonpublic schools in grades seven and eight include 11 instruction related to civics. The bill requires that the 12 social studies instruction provided to students enrolled 13 in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter 14 schools, and innovation zone schools in grades seven and eight 15 also include instruction related to United States government. 16 The instruction related to civics and United States government 17 must be at least one-half semester, or the trimester or quarter 18 equivalent. 19 Current law requires school districts and accredited 20 nonpublic schools to offer and teach one-half unit of United 21 States government instruction as part of the required five 22 units of social studies instruction in grades 9 through 12. 23 The bill requires that the United States government instruction 24 provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited 25 nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools 26 in grades 9 through 12 also include instruction related to 27 civics, and increases the offer and teach requirement from 28 one-half unit to one unit. 29 The bill applies to school years beginning on or after July 30 1, 2028. 31 -2- LSB 5664HV (3) 91 jda/jh 2/ 2