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SF 138

A bill for an act relating to elective social studies courses emphasizing religious scripture that school districts may offer and teach.

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

Iowa bill SF 510 permits school districts to offer elective social studies courses centered on religious scripture, raising Establishment Clause concerns and teacher qualification questions.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 510.
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Bill Summary · SF 138

Legislative bill overview

SF 138 (renumbered SF 510) authorizes Iowa school districts to offer elective social studies courses that emphasize religious scripture as curriculum content. The bill permits—but does not require—districts to develop and teach these courses as part of their social studies offerings.

Why is this important

This bill addresses curriculum design in public schools, specifically whether religious texts should be incorporated into secular educational settings. It affects how school districts allocate resources, what teachers must be qualified to teach, and how students encounter religious material in public education.

Potential points of contention

  • Establishment Clause concerns: Critics argue that public school courses emphasizing religious scripture may violate the First Amendment's prohibition on government establishment of religion, even if framed as "elective" and comparative
  • Teacher qualification and neutrality: Questions about whether public school teachers are adequately trained to teach religious texts in an academically rigorous, non-devotional manner without promoting particular faiths
  • Parental rights and curriculum transparency: Debate over what "emphasizing scripture" entails, whether parents have adequate notice, and whether opt-out mechanisms exist for students whose families object to religious content in public schools
  • Comparative religion vs. scripture promotion: Ambiguity about whether courses would study scripture comparatively (academic approach) or present it as authoritative truth (potentially devotional approach)

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

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