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House File 782, which Governor Reynolds signed into law today, requires Iowa K-12 public school boards to adopt a policy beginning in the 2025-26 school year that, at a minimum, restricts the use of personal electronic devices during instructional periods. Boards have the option of restricting the use of phones in schools, including prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the entire school day.
Today, the Iowa Department of Education published a Model Policy for Restricting Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices During Classroom Instruction Time, as required by the new legislation. Districts can choose to use or adapt the Department’s model policy or adopt their own policy to satisfy its responsibilities established by the legislation, including:
- Identify policies and information related to various educational devices and technologies that will be made available to students for instructional purposes;
- Identify the methods that a parent or guardian of a student may use to communicate with the student during school hours or while the student is participating in a school-sponsored activity;
- Identify the methods that a parent or guardian of a student may use to communicate with the student during an emergency situation;
- Include protocols that the school district will use to securely store a student’s personal electronic device when such device is in the possession of a school district;
- Specify the discipline associated with a student’s violation of the policies;
- Establish a process through which a student’s parent or guardian may petition the school district to allow the student to maintain access to the student’s personal electronic device during the portion of the school day in which classroom instructional time is delivered if the student’s parent or guardian can establish that there is a legitimate reason related to the student’s physical or mental health;
- Ensure that a student who has an IEP or 504 plan maintains access to the student’s personal electronic device during the portion of the school day in which classroom instructional time is delivered if the student's IEP or 504 plan requires the student to maintain such access.
Access the Guidance and Updates on the Legislation webpage for further detail about requirements of specific state and federal legislation.
Please contact General Counsel Thomas Mayes at thomas.mayes@iowa.gov or your school improvement consultant with questions.
The Department is excited to share its partnership with Professor Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, to study the first-hand observations of Iowa administrators and teachers in her nationwide Phones In Focus survey (phonesinfocus.org).
We appreciate your consideration of sharing this voluntary Phones In Focus survey (phonesinfocus.org) with your middle and high school administrators and teachers to share what's happening in Iowa schools and classrooms and their perspective on how to best implement model policies.
Before the 2025-26 school year, this five-minute, voluntary survey will:
- Provide state and district decision-makers with a map of school cell phone policies.
- Identify policies and implementation practices that work best by matching survey data to existing longitudinal data on student outcomes (e.g., attendance, growth, achievement).
At the end of the survey, there is a real-time snapshot of how educators across the nation are answering the same questions.
Please contact Division Administrator of PK-12 Learning Tina Wahlert at tina.wahlert@iowa.gov with questions.
Iowa’s high school graduation rate climbed nearly a full percentage point, reaching 88.3% for the graduating class of 2024, according to figures released today by the Department. This marks the first time since 2020 that Iowa’s graduation rate has returned to prepandemic levels.
State data show 88.3% of students in Iowa’s class of 2024 graduated within four years, increasing 0.8 percentage points from 87.5% for the class of 2023 and is the same rate as the class of 2019. A total of 34,158 Iowa students earned their high school diplomas in the class of 2024.
Iowa’s four-year graduation rate experienced by students with disabilities is 70.3%, representing an increase of 2.4 percentage points. The graduation rate for students from low-income backgrounds as determined by eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals is 80.2% which is a 1.5 percentage point increase from the previous year.
Graduation rates for students who are English learners declined slightly from 73.7% the prior year to 73.4% for the graduating class of 2024. The graduation rate for males is 86.7%, 3.2 percentage points lower than the graduation rate for females (89.9%); this gap has decreased since the class of 2022 when it was at 4.5 percentage points. Additionally, four-year graduation rates by racial and ethnic background increased for most student groups, including Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, two or more races, and white.
Please contact Bureau Chief Jay Pennington at jay.pennington@iowa.gov with questions.
Give students the targeted support they need to make the most of summer learning with Amira, EPS Reading Assistant—an AI-driven tutor that provides immediate feedback and personalized intervention. Designed for grades K–8, this adaptive tool helps students build fluency, comprehension and confidence.
This summer, Amira, EPS Reading Assistant can:
- Implement with minimal teacher effort and on-demand training.
- Boost learning with real-time feedback and targeted support.
- Enable independent practice while teachers focus on small groups.
- Support measurable progress quickly, ideal for short summer programs.
- Offer bilingual support (English & Spanish) to students.
- Create robust reports to track student growth.
Sign Up Now for Amira, EPS Reading Assistant!
Please contact Education Program Consultant April-Gosselink-Lemke at april.gosselink-lemke@iowa.gov with questions.
Through the Department’s expanded Access for ALL initiative, Iowa schools can now receive the Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading (uPar) and Read&Write software at no cost. The two resources help identify students who need additional assistance with reading comprehension and provide access to grade-level content through innovative text-reading technology.
Access for ALL supports students as they move from learning to read to reading to learn. Any Iowa student in grades 3-12 reading below grade level can benefit from the Access for ALL supports.
Iowa schools can use the online uPar protocol to assess student reading comprehension and identify methods for how students best understand text, whether by reading independently or using text reader support.
After completing the uPar protocol, schools may apply for licenses at no cost for Read&Write, a literacy support software that reads aloud to students to help them access grade-level content and strengthen their reading and comprehension skills.
Iowa schools can register for the uPar assessment protocol and apply for the Read&Write licenses at no cost on the Access for ALL website.
Please contact Education Program Consultant MeLissa Lawson at melissa.lawson@iowa.gov with questions.
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Registration is now open! The Teaching for Impact: Training for All Educators Supporting Learners with Disabilities professional development opportunity is returning to Des Moines on June 5-6. Sponsored by the Department, the training will feature topics on academics, college and career readiness, early childhood, school-based behavioral health and support for student success. Emphasis will be placed on integrating information into practice across a variety of educational settings, and sessions will include examples of the content in practice as well as suggestions for classroom application. Participants will also have many opportunities to share best practices with other attendees and make valuable connections.
New this year, district and building administrators who support special education services can attend Leading for Impact: Workshop for Administrators, a professional development workshop with topics specifically designed for administrators. This workshop opportunity runs simultaneously with Teaching for Impact and allows district leaders to learn and work with peers to strengthen their district’s special education services.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Nancy Hunt at nancy.hunt@iowa.gov with questions.
The Division of Special Education will provide a Policy and Practice webinar on May 14 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. that will focus on free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in special education. Participants may join the webinars via Zoom using passcode 431127.
All previous session recordings and resources from the 2024-25 school year—including 1) Considerations for Exiting, 2) Shortened School Days, 3) General Supervision, 4) Designing Behavior Instruction and Supports, and 5) Least Restrictive Environment—are located on the Department's Special Education State Guidance webpage under Policy and Practice Webinars.
Please contact the Student Instruction, Evaluation and Services Consultant Mary Beilke mary.beilke@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department has released an updated list of approved universal screening and progress monitoring tools to meet the requirements of 279.68 Early Literacy Implementation (ELI) and House File 2618. The approved list for the 2025-26 school year is posted on the Department’s Early Literacy page.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Greg Feldmann at greg.feldmann@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department recently published the Iowa Dyslexia Handbook, created in response to an Iowa Dyslexia Task Force recommendation and in partnership with the Iowa Dyslexia Board. The handbook includes an overview of general information about dyslexia, information and resources for parents and educators, frequently asked questions and more.
Visit the Department’s Dyslexia webpage to access the handbook and find additional information.
The Department is providing statewide training on the use of the new Iowa Dyslexia Handbook. The training sessions are listed below. Each training will be held from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
May 14, 2025
Prairie Lakes AEA Pocahontas
500 NE Sixth Street
Pocahontas, Iowa
June 4, 2025
Heartland AEA Johnston
6500 Corporate Drive
Johnston, Iowa
June 11, 2025
Green Hills AEA Halverson Center Campus
24997 IA-92
Council Bluffs, Iowa
June 17, 2025
Great Prairie AEA Ottumwa
2814 N. Court Rd.
Ottumwa, Iowa
Please contact Education Program Consultant Wanda Steuri at wanda.steuri@iowa.gov with questions.
The Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services is hosting “Iowa Team Up: Putting the Puzzle Pieces of Procurement Together” in partnership with the Urban School Food Alliance on May 28 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Registration is now open.
Throughout June and July, the Department will also provide several summer training opportunities, including 1) Healthy School Meals Regional Workshops, 2) Farm to School Regional Culinary Training, 3) Back to School Conference and 4) Introduction to School Nutrition Leadership.
Please share this information with your nutrition directors and managers. Contact your assigned school nutrition consultant with questions.
Registration for 2025-26 Course to College participation is now open. Course to College is an engagement program connecting school counselors and College and Career Transition Counselors (CCTCs) throughout the state to resources and tools that build postsecondary pathway supports surrounding the “5 College-Going Steps.”
More information can be found on the Department’s Course to College webpage. Schools currently registered received renewal information on April 4. If your school is not yet registered but would like more information or registration details, please reach out to the contact listed below.
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Danielle Sampson at danielle.sampson@iowa.gov with questions.
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Iowa school districts can apply now for the next round of the Credentials to Careers grant to align secondary career and technical education programs with industry-recognized credentials (IRC) and labor market value. The grant application is available in IowaGrants.gov through May 30.
School districts can apply for grants of up to $50,000, prioritizing districts not previously awarded a Credentials to Careers grant. Applicants will be screened and scored on selected grant criteria. Schools must complete a separate application for each IRC, and all IRCs must be on the approved list. More information can be found on the Department’s Industry-Recognized Credential webpage.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov with questions.
The Bureau of Iowa College Aid will celebrate Decision Day season with a statewide celebration on May 12-16, hosting the virtual event on the Iowa Department of Education's YouTube page. It will feature slideshows of all participating schools, highlighting their seniors' postsecondary pathway decisions.
Course to College-registered schools must submit a slideshow with their students by April 25 to participate. Slide deck templates, guidelines and decision celebration ideas can be found in our Course to College shared resources, which are available to all registered schools.
Please contact Program Planner Danielle Sampson at danielle.sampson@iowa.gov to submit your slideshow or with questions.
The Department is partnering with the Iowa Hospital Association to introduce middle school and high school students across the state to high-demand health care careers during Health Sciences Career Day in Iowa, a live virtual event on Thursday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Students will have an opportunity to see health care professionals at work through engaging video content, hear more about their education, training and experience during live panel discussions and ask panelists questions from their classrooms.
Health Sciences Career Day in Iowa will feature six high-demand professions that offer students a range of postsecondary education pathways from certificate programs or associate degrees to bachelor’s and advanced degrees, including:
- Physicians – WinnMed, Decorah
- Nursing – UnityPoint Health, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Grinnell
- Radiology Technician – MercyOne, West Des Moines
- Respiratory Therapist – Clarinda Regional Health Center, Clarinda
- Laboratory Technician – Pella Regional Health Center, Pella
- Behavioral Health – Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames
Registered participants will be able to access any and all sessions, and educators are welcome to join with an entire class or make it available for groups of students interested in health sciences and related careers.
Educators can register for Health Sciences Career Day in Iowa through the Iowa Hospital Association.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov with questions.
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) invites all Iowa high school students in grades 10-12 to apply for the Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC). This is an opportunity for students to discuss broadband and technology topics, learn about Iowa technology companies, discover careers and network with peers. No advanced technical knowledge is required.
The SYBAC runs from September 2025 through April 2026 in monthly video meetings at 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Students obtain a cybersecurity certificate, interact with industry leaders, start building their professional networks, and can add participation to their college applications or resumes.
Student applicants must submit a Membership Application and ask a teacher to complete the Teacher Recommendation form.
More information can be found on the ICN website and a downloadable flyer is available to help spread the word with interested students.
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More than 96,400 family contacts have been invited to create an account in the ACHIEVE Family Portal. Currently, over 6,000 accounts have been created thus far.
As we continue to improve implementation together, family members frequently report being locked out of the account creation process due to incorrect Learner State ID information being entered. Districts are encouraged to share truncated State ID information with eligible family contacts as soon as possible. A sample communication template can be found on the ACHIEVE website (see page 5 of the Sample Communication Guide for Special Education).
Please contact Education Program Consultant Shannon Grundmeier at shannon.grundmeier@iowa.gov with questions.
As districts ensure equitable participation using the proportionate share required under Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I, Part A and Title VIII, Part F, the Department’s State Ombudsman is available to address questions. Upon request, the State Ombudsman can also provide additional support related to the federally required consultation process as districts provide equitable services to eligible nonpublic school children, teachers and families.
Please contact the State Ombudsman Luke Markway at luke.markway@iowa.gov with questions.
At the beginning of May, school districts will be notified in CASA of the collection for Real Property and Federal Interest Reporting for projects funded with Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) grants, including ESSER. Per 2 CFR § 200.330 set by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Department “must require the recipient or subrecipient (LEAs) to submit reports on the status of real property…Such reports must be submitted at least annually…for at least 15 years…” Subrecipients were also required to record Notices of Federal Interest for projects that used ESF grants. Disclosure of these requirements was included in the grantee assurances for the ESSER programs.
This collection includes information about capital expenditures to purchase land, construct a building or make improvements to a building in order to comply with Notice of Federal Interest requirements (ESSER/GEER Quarterly Report and Claim Reimbursements for 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23) and ESSER II/III Quarterly Reports and Claims for 2023-24.
Please contact Chief Financial Officer Sandi Hurtado-Peters at sandra.hurtado-peters1@iowa.gov with questions on ESSER and Real Property reporting.
Schools interested in participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2025-26 school year must complete the CEP Intent to Implement no later than June 30. The USDA CEP Factsheet provides a brief summary of the alternative claiming process.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Patti Harding at patti.harding@iowa.gov with questions.
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 Visit and subscribe to the Annual Notices and Deadlines Calendar for a list of state and federal notices and deadlines for all public and nonpublic schools.
It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, political party affiliation, or actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code sections 216.9 and 256.10(2), Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1681 – 1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy by the Iowa Department of Education, please contact the legal counsel for the Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E. 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0146, telephone number: 515-281-5295, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, telephone number: 312-730-1560, FAX number: 312-730-1576, TDD number: 800-877-8339, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
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