South Central Calhoun CSD 

What is Senate File 496?   the Iowa legislature defines SF 496 as the following:  

An act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardians's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll this student in another attendance center withing the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to student enrolled in school districts, accredited non public schools and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited non public schools, the depaertment of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction and special education , and including effective date provisions.  (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=sf496)

What are the requirements under the Law for Iowa schools?

•  Requires schools to secure prior written parent or guardian consent before administering: 

  • • A formal examination or survey designed to assess a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health not required by federal or state law. 

    • Any survey, analysis, activity, or evaluation that may reveal information on the student or the student’s family, including political affiliations and beliefs; mental or physiological problems; sexual behavior, orientation, or attitudes; illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior; critical appraisals of others with whom the child has familial relations; legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, religious practices, affiliations, and beliefs; and income, except as provided by law.  

1. Establishes a procedure for intra-district enrollment in response to proven instances of bullying and harassment.

   • •  Requires a school official to notify the parents or guardians of a student enrolled in a school district within twenty-four hours after the school official receives a report that the student may have been the victim of conduct that constitutes harassment or bullying.  

2. Clarifies that a student under competent private instruction may dual enroll in a school district to receive special education services. 

   • • Removes the requirement that the Director of Special Education of an Area Education Agency approve the special education placement of a student under competent private instruction.   

3. Modifies education requirements related to age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development instruction in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. 

4. Prohibits a school district from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction related to gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten through grade six.  - Note: This portion of the law is currently Not Enforceable due to District Court Preliminary Injunction regarding pending lawsuits.

5. Prohibits a school district from knowingly providing false or misleading information to a parent or guardian regarding a student’s gender identity or intention to transition to a gender other than that specified on the student’s birth certificate. 

• Requires that a parent or guardian be informed if a student requests an accommodation intended to affirm a gender identity other than that assigned to the student on the school district’s registration forms or records. 

6. Expands standards for school district kindergarten through grade 12 library programs which ensure programs contain only age-appropriate materials as defined in new Iowa Code section 256.11, subsection 19, established in the Act. Authorizes the Department to investigate allegations of noncompliance and provides a multi-step process should a school district or employee knowingly violate the law.    Note: This portion of the law is currently Not Enforceable due to District Court Preliminary Injunction regarding pending lawsuits.

   • Requires a school district to publish policies and procedures on its website, including those related to:  Note: This portion of the law is currently Not Enforceable due to District Court Preliminary Injunction regarding pending lawsuits.

• Requests for the removal of educational materials available to students in a school classroom or school library. 

• Requests for review of decisions made by the board of directors of the school district, and the petition process under Iowa Code section 279.8B. 

• The review of instructional materials, which does not include lesson plans, used in a classroom.  

• Requires that a school district make available on its website a comprehensive list of all books available to students in a library operated by the school district.   Note: This portion of the law is currently Not Enforceable due to District Court Preliminary Injunction regarding pending lawsuits.

• Prohibits students from serving on any committee that determines, or provides a recommendation related to, whether materials should be removed from a school library.   Note: This portion of the law is currently Not Enforceable due to District Court Preliminary Injunction regarding pending lawsuits.