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SF 204

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to private instruction, world language instruction, dual enrollment, and the tuition and textbook tax credit, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Campbell and 3 co-sponsors

The bill allows private instruction diplomas to be treated as equivalent to high school diplomas and bans discrimination based on diploma source.

Subcommittee recommends passage.
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Bill Summary · SF 204

Legislative Bill Summary – SF 204

Overview

SF 204 is a bill relating to education policies, with a focus on private instruction, world language instruction, dual enrollment, and the tuition and textbook tax credit. The bill establishes that diplomas or credentials earned through competent private instruction or independent private instruction shall be recognized as legitimate completion of secondary education and treated the same as traditional high school diplomas for purposes of eligibility and discrimination protections. It also grants certain verification authority to parents/guardians and includes provisions related to world language instruction in a later division. The bill is currently in subcommittee, which has recommended passage.

Key Provisions

Recognition of private instruction diplomas

  • A diploma or credential issued by a program of secondary education operated under competent private instruction or independent private instruction (Code chapter 299A) shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate completion of secondary education and attainment of a high school equivalency.
  • This recognition applies to diplomas/credentials issued before, on, or after the new Code section’s effective date.

Non-discrimination based on diploma source

  • The state, its political subdivisions, community colleges, institutions under the state University of Iowa Board of Regents, and accredited private institutions may not discriminate against an individual based on the source of their diploma or credential.
  • A diploma/credential earned through competent private instruction or independent private instruction must be treated the same as a high school diploma awarded by a school district or an accredited nonpublic school.

Verification and parental authority

  • Parents/guardians/legal custodians of a compulsory-attendance-age child may execute documents required by law to verify:
    • Placement in competent private instruction or independent private instruction
    • The child’s full-time or part-time status in such instruction
    • The grades obtained in such instruction
    • Any other required educational information

Effective date and retroactivity

  • The private-instruction recognition and nondiscrimination provisions take effect upon enactment.
  • They apply to diplomas/credentials issued before, on, or after the effective date of the new Code section (i.e., retroactive applicability).

Division II – World Language Instruction

  • The bill includes a separate division addressing world language instruction, though the excerpt provided does not detail the specific provisions. (Division II is referenced as part of the overall bill.)

Who Is Affected

  • Students receiving secondary education through competent private instruction or independent private instruction (Code chapter 299A).
  • Parents/guardians of these students (via verification authority).
  • Public and private postsecondary institutions, districts, and state/regents-controlled entities that issue diplomas or credentials, which would be subject to nondiscrimination protections under the bill.
  • Stakeholders involved in world language instruction, dual enrollment, and related educational programs (Division II).

Procedural History

  • Introduced: February 4, 2025.
  • Subcommittee actions:
    • 2025-02-04: Introduced and referred to Education.
    • 2025-02-10: Subcommittee members named (Pike, Quirmbach, Salmon).
    • 2025-02-12: Subcommittee meeting scheduled for 2025-02-13 at 11:30 AM (Senate Lounge).
    • 2025-02-13: Subcommittee recommends passage.
  • Sponsors: Guth (primary), Campbell (primary), Salmon (primary), Pike (primary).

Notes for Readers

  • The most concrete provisions in the available text relate to recognizing private-instruction diplomas as equivalent to traditional diplomas and prohibiting discrimination based on diploma source, with parental verification rights. Details on dual enrollment and tuition/textbook tax credit provisions are not fully shown in the excerpt provided.
  • Division II text on world language instruction is acknowledged but not specified in the provided content.

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

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