An act relating to social studies instruction, including instruction in United States government, provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and including applicability provisions, the official text

House File 520 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 520 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO HF 236) A BILL FOR An Act relating to social studies instruction, including 1 instruction in United States government, provided to 2 students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and 3 including applicability provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2518HV (2) 91 jda/jh H.F. 520 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 1 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. (1) Five units of the social studies including 3 instruction in voting statutes and procedures, voter 4 registration requirements, the use of paper ballots and voting 5 systems in the election process, and the method of acquiring 6 and casting an absentee ballot. All students shall complete a 7 minimum of one-half one unit of United States government and 8 one unit of United States history. 9 (2) The one-half one unit of United States government shall 10 include the all of the following: 11 (a) The voting procedure as described in this lettered 12 paragraph and section 280.9A . The government instruction shall 13 also include a 14 (b) A study of the Constitution of the United States and the 15 Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution and an assessment 16 of a student’s knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of 17 Rights. 18 (c) Instruction related to civics, including the roles and 19 responsibilities of citizens in a society and in state and 20 local governments. 21 Sec. 2. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph g, Code 22 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 23 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (02) The educational standards 24 established in section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “b” , 25 related to United States government instruction. 26 Sec. 3. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended 27 by adding the following new paragraph: 28 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0q. Be subject to and comply with the 29 requirements of section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “b” , 30 relating to United States government instruction in the same 31 manner as a school district. 32 Sec. 4. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to school years 33 beginning on or after July 1, 2026. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 2518HV (2) 91 jda/jh 1/ 2 H.F. 520 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This bill relates to social studies instruction, including 3 instruction in United States government, provided to students 4 enrolled in grades 9 through 12. 5 The bill requires students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 6 in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter 7 schools, and innovation zone schools to complete a minimum of 8 one unit of United States government instruction as part of the 9 social studies curriculum. The bill provides that the United 10 States government instruction shall include instruction related 11 to civics. Under current law, students enrolled in grades 9 12 through 12 in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools 13 are required to complete a minimum of one-half unit of United 14 States government instruction. 15 The bill applies to school years beginning on or after July 16 1, 2026. 17 -2- LSB 2518HV (2) 91 jda/jh 2/ 2