HF 845 (LSB 1827HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 845

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 448)

(COMPANION TO SF 510 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  15.  Adopt rules establishing course standards for elective social studies courses listed in paragraph “a”, any of which a school district may offer and teach to students in grades nine through twelve subject to the provisions of section 279.50B. The rules shall include practitioner preparation and professional development requirements for practitioners employed by a school district to teach a course listed under paragraph “a”.
   a.  (1)  A course on the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible.
   (2)  A course on the New Testament of the Bible.
   (3)  A course on the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible and the New Testament of the Bible.
   b.  A school district may offer and teach a course listed in paragraph “a” for all of the following purposes:
   (1)  To provide students with knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including but not limited to literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy.
   (2)  To familiarize students with, as applicable, the following:
   (a)  The contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible or the New Testament of the Bible.
   (b)  The history of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible or the New Testament of the Bible.
   (c)  The literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible or the New Testament of the Bible.
   (d)  The influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible or the New Testament of the Bible on law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture.
   c.  In complying with this subsection, the state board shall not violate any provision of law as defined in section 17A.2. A course offered and taught in accordance with this section is subject to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality and the diverse religious views, traditions, and the perspectives of students enrolled in the school district shall be recognized and accommodated. A course offered and taught in accordance with this subsection shall not endorse, favor, promote, or disfavor, or be hostile toward, any particular religion, faith, or nonreligious perspective.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  279.50B  Elective social studies courses —— religious scripture.
   1.  If the board of directors of a school district considers and approves, by majority vote of the membership of the school board, a recommendation from the school improvement advisory committee that an elective social studies course be offered and taught in accordance with section 280.12, subsection 4, such a course may be offered and taught in the school district.
   2.  A student enrolled in a course offered and taught pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 15, and this section, shall not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text for the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament of the Bible, or the New Testament of the Bible for the course, and may use instead a translation other than the text chosen for the course by the teacher, the school improvement advisory committee, the school district, or the state board of education.
   3.  A school improvement advisory committee appointed in accordance with section 280.12, or the principal of a school offering an elective social studies course in accordance with section 256.7, subsection 15, and this section, may authorize the display of historic artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts, including religious materials, in conjunction with the course if such display is appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course and is consistent with the provisions of section 280.6.
   4.  In offering and teaching a course in accordance with section 256.7, subsection 15, and this section, a school district shall not knowingly violate any provision of law as defined in section 17A.2. A course offered in accordance with section 256.7, subsection 15, and this section, is subject to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality, and the diverse religious views, traditions, and the course so offered shall recognize and acknowledge the perspectives of students enrolled in the school district. The course shall not endorse, favor, promote, or disfavor, or be hostile toward, any particular religion, faith, or nonreligious perspective.
    Sec. 3.  Section 280.12, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  Consider a recommendation from the school improvement advisory committee that an elective social studies course which meets the requirements and purposes set forth in section 256.7, subsection 15, be offered and taught in the school district in accordance with section 279.50B.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the state board of education to adopt rules establishing course standards for elective social studies courses on the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old or New Testament of the Bible. The bill authorizes a school district to offer and teach such a course to students in grades 9 through 12 if the district’s school improvement advisory committee recommends, and the board of directors of the school district approves, the course.
   The purpose of the course must be to provide students with knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, and to familiarize students with the contents, history, literary style and structure, and influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old or New Testament of the Bible.
   The state board’s rules must include practitioner preparation and professional development requirements for practitioners employed by a school district to teach such a course.
   Under the bill, the state board and school districts are prohibited from violating any provision of law in complying with the provisions of the bill. A course offered under the bill is subject to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality, and shall recognize and accommodate the diverse religious views, traditions, and the perspectives of students enrolled in the school district. Such a course shall not endorse, favor, promote, or disfavor, or be hostile toward, any particular religion, faith, or nonreligious perspective.
   If a school improvement advisory committee recommends such a course, the school board must consider the recommendation. To offer and teach such a course, the school board must approve the recommendation by majority vote of its membership. 
   A student enrolled in such a course shall not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text for the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old or New Testament of the Bible. 
   A school improvement advisory committee or the principal of a school offering such a course may authorize the display of historic artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts, including religious materials, in conjunction with the course if such display is appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course and does not require a child to read religious books contrary to the wishes of the child’s parent or guardian. Under current law, religious text books such as the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran shall not be excluded from any public school.