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House File 348 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and
2sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools
3in kindergarten through grade six.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2023,
2are amended to read as follows:
32. The kindergarten program shall include experiences
4designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and
5growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well
6as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and
7protect and increase physical well-being with attention given
8to experiences relating to the development of life skills and,
9subject to section 279.77, age-appropriate and research-based
10 human growth and development. A kindergarten teacher shall be
11licensed to teach in kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic
12school must meet the requirements of this subsection only if
13the nonpublic school offers a kindergarten program; provided,
14however, that section 279.77 shall not apply to a nonpublic
15school.
163. The following areas shall be taught in grades one through
17six: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics,
18science, health, age-appropriate and research-based
19human growth and development, physical education, traffic
20safety, music, and visual art, and, subject to section
21279.77, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and
22development. Computer science instruction incorporating
23the standards established under section 256.7, subsection
2426, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in
25at least one grade level commencing with the school year
26beginning July 1, 2023. The health curriculum shall include
27the characteristics of communicable diseases including acquired
28immune deficiency syndrome. The state board as part of
29accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for
30implementing the elementary program.
31 Sec. 2. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
32by adding the following new paragraph:
33 NEW PARAGRAPH. 0j. Be subject to and comply with the
34requirements of section 279.77 relating to sexual orientation
35and gender identity instruction in kindergarten through grade
-1-1six in the same manner as a school district.
2 Sec. 3. Section 279.50, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2023, are
3amended to read as follows:
41. Each Subject to section 279.77, each school board shall
5provide instruction in kindergarten which gives attention
6to experiences relating to life skills and human growth and
7development as required in section 256.11. School districts
8shall use research provided in section 256.9, subsection 46,
9paragraph “b”, to evaluate and upgrade their instructional
10materials and teaching strategies for human growth and
11development.
122. Each school board shall provide age-appropriate and
13research-based instruction in human growth and development
14including instruction regarding human sexuality, self-esteem,
15stress management, interpersonal relationships, domestic
16abuse, HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV,
17and acquired immune deficiency syndrome as required in section
18256.11, in grades one seven through twelve.
19 Sec. 4. Section 279.50, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
20following new subsection:
21 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. Subject to section 279.77, each
22school board shall provide age-appropriate and research-based
23instruction in human growth and development including
24instruction regarding human sexuality, self-esteem, stress
25management, interpersonal relationships, domestic abuse, HPV
26and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV, and acquired
27immune deficiency syndrome as required in section 256.11, in
28grades one through six.
29 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 279.77 Sexual orientation and gender
30identity — prohibited instruction.
311. As used in this section:
32a. “Gender identity” means the same as defined in section
33216.2.
34b. “Sexual orientation” means the same as defined in section
35216.2.
-2- 12. A school district shall not provide any program,
2curriculum, material, test, survey, questionnaire, activity,
3announcement, promotion, or instruction of any kind relating
4to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in
5kindergarten through grade six.
6EXPLANATION
7The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
8the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
9This bill prohibits instruction related to gender identity
10and sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools
11in kindergarten through grade six. The bill makes conforming
12changes to Code sections 256.11 (educational standards) and
13279.50 (human growth and development instruction) to provide
14that the human growth and development instruction provided to
15students in kindergarten through grade six shall not include
16any program, curriculum, material, test, survey, questionnaire,
17activity, announcement, promotion, or instruction of any kind
18relating to gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill
19defines “gender identity” and “sexual orientation”.
20The bill requires the human growth and development
21instruction provided in the kindergarten program to be both
22age-appropriate and research-based.
-3-jda/jh
2sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools
3in kindergarten through grade six.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2023,
2are amended to read as follows:
32. The kindergarten program shall include experiences
4designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and
5growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well
6as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and
7protect and increase physical well-being with attention given
8to experiences relating to the development of life skills and,
9subject to section 279.77, age-appropriate and research-based
10 human growth and development. A kindergarten teacher shall be
11licensed to teach in kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic
12school must meet the requirements of this subsection only if
13the nonpublic school offers a kindergarten program; provided,
14however, that section 279.77 shall not apply to a nonpublic
15school.
163. The following areas shall be taught in grades one through
17six: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics,
18science, health, age-appropriate and research-based
19human growth and development, physical education, traffic
20safety, music, and visual art, and, subject to section
21279.77, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and
22development. Computer science instruction incorporating
23the standards established under section 256.7, subsection
2426, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in
25at least one grade level commencing with the school year
26beginning July 1, 2023. The health curriculum shall include
27the characteristics of communicable diseases including acquired
28immune deficiency syndrome. The state board as part of
29accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for
30implementing the elementary program.
31 Sec. 2. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
32by adding the following new paragraph:
33 NEW PARAGRAPH. 0j. Be subject to and comply with the
34requirements of section 279.77 relating to sexual orientation
35and gender identity instruction in kindergarten through grade
-1-1six in the same manner as a school district.
2 Sec. 3. Section 279.50, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2023, are
3amended to read as follows:
41. Each Subject to section 279.77, each school board shall
5provide instruction in kindergarten which gives attention
6to experiences relating to life skills and human growth and
7development as required in section 256.11. School districts
8shall use research provided in section 256.9, subsection 46,
9paragraph “b”, to evaluate and upgrade their instructional
10materials and teaching strategies for human growth and
11development.
122. Each school board shall provide age-appropriate and
13research-based instruction in human growth and development
14including instruction regarding human sexuality, self-esteem,
15stress management, interpersonal relationships, domestic
16abuse, HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV,
17and acquired immune deficiency syndrome as required in section
18256.11, in grades one seven through twelve.
19 Sec. 4. Section 279.50, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
20following new subsection:
21 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. Subject to section 279.77, each
22school board shall provide age-appropriate and research-based
23instruction in human growth and development including
24instruction regarding human sexuality, self-esteem, stress
25management, interpersonal relationships, domestic abuse, HPV
26and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV, and acquired
27immune deficiency syndrome as required in section 256.11, in
28grades one through six.
29 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 279.77 Sexual orientation and gender
30identity — prohibited instruction.
311. As used in this section:
32a. “Gender identity” means the same as defined in section
33216.2.
34b. “Sexual orientation” means the same as defined in section
35216.2.
-2- 12. A school district shall not provide any program,
2curriculum, material, test, survey, questionnaire, activity,
3announcement, promotion, or instruction of any kind relating
4to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in
5kindergarten through grade six.
6EXPLANATION
7The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
8the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
9This bill prohibits instruction related to gender identity
10and sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools
11in kindergarten through grade six. The bill makes conforming
12changes to Code sections 256.11 (educational standards) and
13279.50 (human growth and development instruction) to provide
14that the human growth and development instruction provided to
15students in kindergarten through grade six shall not include
16any program, curriculum, material, test, survey, questionnaire,
17activity, announcement, promotion, or instruction of any kind
18relating to gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill
19defines “gender identity” and “sexual orientation”.
20The bill requires the human growth and development
21instruction provided in the kindergarten program to be both
22age-appropriate and research-based.
-3-jda/jh