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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa adjusts teacher minimum salary rules, special education placement funding, and job posting requirements
Last action · June 6, 2025: Signed by Governor . H.J. 1227 .
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What This Bill Does
Senate File 442 modifies teacher salary funding calculations, establishes a $50,000 minimum salary exception for retired teachers returning to full-time work with 12+ years of experience, sets rules for out-of-state special education placements, and transfers the state online job posting system to the Department of Education.
School districts face altered calculations for state funding supplements, retired teachers returning to the classroom with over 12 years of experience are subject to a distinct $50,000 salary floor instead of the standard $62,000, and local districts gain clear reimbursement pathways for approved out-of-state special education placements.
- Senate File 442 originated from the Senate Committee on Education as a successor to SSB 1100 during the 91st General Assembly of Iowa. context
- The Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) governs public retirement benefits and bona fide retirement rules for teachers and other public employees in Iowa under Chapter 97B. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
School districts
School districts have their teacher salary supplement costs recalculated, must submit job openings to the Department of Education, and may enter agreements for out-of-state special education placements.
Returning retired teachers
Teachers with at least 12 years of experience who have had a bona fide retirement and returned to full-time employment are subject to a minimum annual salary of $50,000.
Students requiring special education
Eligible children may be placed in out-of-state facilities or with out-of-state providers to receive required special education services under approved agreements.
Department of Education
The department assumes operational control of the online job posting system, reviews out-of-state special education placement accountings, and issues payments to school districts.
Key Facts
- The Department of Management shall calculate and assign to school districts a teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil in an amount based on the average cost to meet minimum teacher salary requirements, plus supplemental state aid.
- If a district's teacher salary supplement district cost is insufficient to comply with minimum salary requirements and associated IPERS and FICA costs, the Department of Management shall set the cost per pupil at the exact amount necessary.
- For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, a teacher with at least 12 years of experience who has had a bona fide retirement and returned to covered full-time employment shall be paid a minimum annual salary of $50,000.
- For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, standard teachers with at least 12 years of experience maintain a minimum annual salary of at least $62,000.
Show all 11 facts
- Pre-student teaching field experiences for teacher intern preparation programs may comprise a total of at least 50 hours in duration.
- A student with prior work experience as a substitute teacher may receive credit toward student teaching if the Board of Educational Examiners has issued a substitute license or substitute authorization.
- A child's district of residence may place a child in an out-of-state facility or with an out-of-state provider for special education under an agreement requiring periodic invoices and educational service compliance.
- By August 1 following the school year, a district of residence may submit an accounting of out-of-state placement costs to the Department of Education.
- By August 15 following the school year, the Department of Education shall review or modify out-of-state placement accountings and make payments to the resident district, which are deducted from state foundation aid.
- The Department of Education shall provide for the operation of an online state job posting system accessible via its internet site.
- School districts, charter schools, and area education agencies shall submit all job openings to the Department of Education for posting on the online system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for a returning retired teacher with 12 or more years of experience?
Who is responsible for operating the online state job posting system under this bill?
How are out-of-state special education placements funded?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
42 actions- Jun 6, 2025HouseEnrolledSigned by Governor . H.J. 1227 .
- May 19, 2025HouseReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1224 .
- May 13, 2025HouseExplanation of vote. H.J. 1176 .
- May 9, 2025HouseMessage from House. S.J. 948 .
- May 8, 2025HouseImmediate message. H.J. 1110 .
- May 8, 2025HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 83, nays 1. H.J. 1103 .
Show 36 earlier actions
- May 8, 2025HouseFloorHouse concurred in Senate amendment H-1224 . H.J. 1102 .
- Apr 10, 2025HouseSenate amendment H-1224 filed. H.J. 929 .
- Apr 10, 2025HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 926 .
- Apr 9, 2025SenateImmediate message. S.J. 745 .
- Apr 9, 2025SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 47, nays 0. S.J. 744 .
- Apr 9, 2025SenateFloorAmendment S-3080 adopted. S.J. 744 .
- Apr 9, 2025SenateAmendment S-3088 filed, ruled out of order. S.J. 744 .
- Apr 9, 2025SenateWithdrawn. S.J. 745 .
- Apr 8, 2025SenateAmendment S-3080 filed. S.J. 740 .
- Apr 8, 2025SenateDeferred. S.J. 731 .
- Apr 8, 2025SenateSubstituted for SF 442 . S.J. 731 .
- Apr 8, 2025SenateDeferred. S.J. 731 .
- Apr 8, 2025SenateHF 787 substituted. S.J. 731 .
- Apr 8, 2025SenateFloorAmendment S-3079 filed, adopted. S.J. 731 .
- Apr 3, 2025SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 689 .
- Apr 3, 2025SenatePlaced on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 689 .
- Mar 19, 2025SenateIntroducedRead first time, attached to SF 442 . S.J. 571 .
- Mar 19, 2025HouseMessage from House. S.J. 571 .
- Mar 19, 2025SenateAttached to HF 787 . S.J. 571 .
- Mar 18, 2025HouseImmediate message. H.J. 717 .
- Mar 18, 2025HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 96, nays 1. H.J. 715 .
- Mar 5, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 519 .
- Mar 5, 2025Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 787 .
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 23. Nays, 0. H.J. 466 .
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee report, recommending passage. H.J. 466 .
- Feb 26, 2025SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 368 .
- Feb 26, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 363 .
- Feb 25, 2025Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 442 .
- Feb 20, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 18, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 18, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/19/2025 3:30PM Room 217 Conference Room.
- Feb 13, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/18/2025 12:00PM RM 102.
- Feb 11, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Wheeler, Johnson, C. and Matson. H.J. 292 .
- Feb 11, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Education. H.J. 287 .
- Feb 5, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee: Evans, Pike, and Quirmbach.
- Feb 4, 2025Iowa LegislatureIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Education.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transfer of Job Posting Responsibilities
Responsibility for the online state job posting system is formally moved from the Department of Workforce Development to the Department of Education.
State Foundation Aid Adjustment for Out-of-State Placements
Costs for approved out-of-state special education placements are reimbursed by the Department of Education and subsequently shared statewide via monthly deductions from state foundation aid.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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