WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HSB 43

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to community college and department of education reporting requirements, the national board certification pilot project, and employees of the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program or the Iowa school for the deaf, and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Redirects unused National Board Certification funds to provide stipends for teachers earning an Advanced Dyslexia Specialist endorsement.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 890.
#communitycolleges #education #educationdepartment #pilotprograms #schoolforthedeaf
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HSB 43

Summary: HSB 43 (renumbered HF 890) – Education-related bill (Introduced Jan 21, 2025)

Overview

HSB 43, later renumbered as HF 890, is an education-focused bill proposing changes in several areas:
- reallocation of certain National Board Certification funds
- expansion of discharge/employee provisions to staff at the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IESBVI) and the Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD)
- establishment of a state compensation schedule and employee benefits for IESBVI and ISD staff
- the bill’s overall subject includes community college reporting, department of education reporting, and related pilot programs

Key provisions in the version provided focus on two main elements: (1) national board certification funding reallocation, and (2) Division III provisions affecting IESBVI and ISD employees.

Main provisions

1) National Board Certification funding reallocation (effective upon enactment)

  • Funds appropriated under the Student Achievement and Teacher Quality program that DE (Department of Education) uses for issuing National Board Certification (NBC) awards, and that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year, shall not revert to the general fund.
  • Instead, these funds shall be available for expenditure by the Department of Education to provide stipends to individuals who obtain an Advanced Dyslexia Specialist endorsement from the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE).
  • Effective date: this provision takes effect upon enactment.

2) Division III: IESBVI and ISD employee provisions

  • The discharge of a teacher (Code section 279.27) will apply to:
    • employees of the IESBVI program and ISD
    • regardless of whether they are licensed by the BOEE
    • and who are responsible for the care, instruction, or supervision of children
  • Administrative provisions requiring compensation and benefits:
    • The Department of Administrative Services (DAS), in consultation with the DE, must establish:
    • an annual compensation schedule for all employees of IESBVI and ISD
    • a corresponding set of employee benefits for these employees

Who is affected

  • Department of Education (DE) and Department of Administrative Services (DAS)
  • IESBVI and ISD employees (including those not licensed by BOEE but who care for or supervise children)
  • Individuals pursuing or holding an Advanced Dyslexia Specialist endorsement (beneficiaries of the new stipends)
  • Stakeholders in NBC-related programs and reporting requirements related to community colleges

Legislative history and timing

  • Introduced: January 21, 2025 (Education committee referral)
  • Subcommittee: January 21–28, 2025 (Wheeler, Fett, Matson)
  • Subcommittee action: January 28, 2025 (recommended passage)
  • Committee action: January 28, 2025 (report recommending passage; vote 22 yeas, 0 nays; 1 excused)
  • Status: Committee report approving the bill, renumbered as HF 890 (as of March 7, 2025)

Potential impact and considerations

  • Improves targeted use of NBC funds by enabling stipends for dyslexia-related professional development, potentially supporting literacy outcomes.
  • Extends disciplinary and employment standards to IESBVI and ISD staff, with a formalized compensation framework, which could affect budgeting and human resources practices.
  • The changes could influence reporting requirements and administrative processes related to community colleges and the Department of Education, consistent with the bill’s broader aims.

Note: The provided excerpt emphasizes the NBCT funding shift and Division III governance/compensation changes; other provisions related to community colleges, the Department of Education reporting, and pilot programs are referenced in the bill’s title but not detailed in the excerpt.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.