Gov. Reynolds signs law banning LGBTQ instruction, school books that aren't 'age appropriate'
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a sweeping education bill into law Friday morning. It contains major changes to how Iowa schools are legally allowed to approach gender identity and sexuality.
State democrats and LGBTQ groups have fought against several restrictions included in the new law for months. They argue banning instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-6 will limit children's ability to be open with teachers about gender and sexuality issues. They also argue the new law strips LGBTQ representation from books and other curriculum.
The law's passage was not a surprise, said Keenan Crow, director of policy and advocacy at the LGBTQ equality group One Iowa. "But we are still very disappointed by it."
"Like many other pieces of her agenda, this legislation punches down on a vulnerable group of kids, and it benefits no one," Crow said of Reynolds.
Reynolds praised the legislation Friday morning writing in a statement, "This legislative session, we secured transformational education reform that puts parents in the driver's seat, eliminates burdensome regulations on public schools, provides flexibility to raise teacher salaries, and empowers teachers to prepare our kids for their future."
Here's what's in Iowa's new wide-ranging education law:
Restrictions on topics involving gender identity and sexual orientation
School districts are prohibited from providing any instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-6.
Iowa public elementary schools are not allowed to provide any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction of any kind relating to gender identity or sexual orientation.
School districts cannot "knowingly give false or misleading information" to a parent about their child's gender identity or intention to transition to a gender different than the sex on their child's official birth certificate.
School districts are required to notify a parent if their child requests "an accommodation intended to affirm the student's gender identity." That includes a request to go by a different name or pronoun at school that's different from "the school district's registration forms or records."
Removing books from schools
School districts must maintain a K-12 library program that "contains only age-appropriate materials and supports student achievement goals of the total school curriculum."
Books that contain "descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act" must be removed from school libraries or classrooms.
Superintendents or educators who violate the rules will face penalties.
Each school district is required to post on its online site a list of all books found in each school library. They also have to post the process for parents to request that any "educational material" be removed from schools and the procedures for how the district reviews removal requests.
School districts must create a policy for parents to request their child not read or view certain instructional materials, including textbooks and related core materials.
Students are not allowed to sit on book removal review committees.
Surveys
Schools would need parental approval before they could give surveys to students related to numerous topics, including mental health issues, sex and political affiliation.
Health curriculum
Schools are no longer required to teach kids about HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV as a part of the statewide health curriculum. Instruction on "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" is also no longer be required.
School bullying and harassment
Students are legally allowed to transfer to another school within their district if there's proof they were bullied or harassed by another student.
School districts are required to notify a student's parent within 24 hours after witnessing another student harass, bully or physically injure their child.
Parental rights
The bill codifies parental rights into law. Iowa parents now legally have the "ultimate responsibility over" their children and the law grants parents "the fundamental, constitutionally protected right to make decisions related to their minor child's medical care, moral upbringing, religious upbringing, residence, education, and extracurricular activities."
All restrictions on those rights would be subject to strict scrutiny.