Iowa lawmakers closed the 2026 legislative session with education victories that build on several years of sustained policy efforts. This year, state leaders advanced policies that strengthen academic opportunity and expand educational choice, reinforcing the state’s long-term commitment to student-centered policies.
The session also carried added significance because it marked Gov. Kim Reynolds’ final legislative session. Throughout her tenure, Gov. Reynolds has made education policy a defining priority, championing literacy and math improvements, teacher pay increases, career pathways expansion and school choice through an education savings account program.
Below is a recap of legislation signed into law by Gov. Reynolds this past legislative session and where we might expect legislators to focus in 2027.
Iowa’s 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data showed a need for a comprehensive statewide math strategy. With 39% of Iowa fourth grade students and just 27% of eighth grade students at or above NAEP Proficient in math, Iowa lawmakers passed a comprehensive math policy in 2025 to focus on improving math achievement through evidence-based instruction, interventions and teacher professional development
In 2026, Sen. Lynn Evans and Rep. Dan Gehlbach championed SF 2220, building directly on Iowa’s 2025 policy. The new law includes ExcelinEd’s model policy, which requires school districts to develop advanced math pathways that guarantee access to the next most rigorous course or program for students in grades 4-12 who score within the advanced performance level on the statewide summative assessment. The law also ensures academically ready students can access Algebra I during middle school.
Access to advanced coursework in middle school can significantly influence later success in high school math, higher education and STEM-related fields. Iowa’s action reflects growing recognition among state policymakers that advanced learning opportunities should be based on student readiness.
A statewide guaranteed access policy also ensures students are not denied access because of inconsistent local policies or limited course availability. The 2025 and 2026 math policies will work together to create a more coherent statewide strategy, improving outcomes and accelerating student readiness for college and high-demand careers. Overall, more than 330,000 Iowa students in grades 4–12 stand to benefit from stronger statewide access to rigorous math pathways.
Iowa lawmakers entered the 2026 legislative session with a strong history of school choice policy. Signed by Gov. Reynolds in 2023, Iowa’s education scholarship account (ESA) program, Students First Education Savings Accounts, provides eligible students with an amount equal to the per pupil funding for public districts to enroll in an accredited nonpublic school.
This session, Gov. Reynolds signed Rep. Skyler Wheeler and Sen. Jesse Green’s HF 2754, an education choice and public charter school measure that further strengthens school choice in Iowa.
The law increases support for public charter schools by extending teacher salary supplemental funding to charter school educators and creating a revolving loan fund to help charter schools more affordably finance facilities. The law also includes part-time public school enrollment policy, which ensures charter school students can participate in extracurricular activities available through traditional public schools, if the activity is not offered where they currently attend.
In addition, the bill creates a second application window for Iowa’s ESA program, giving more families flexibility to participate in the state’s growing choice initiatives. Sen. Green, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee, joined ExcelinEd in Action on a recent podcast to discuss HF 2754.
As Iowa expands learning options for families, lawmakers are also addressing practical barriers that can limit access to high-quality alternatives. Facility financing, extracurricular participation and enrollment flexibility all play a significant role in whether families can fully benefit from expanded educational opportunities.
During her more than nine years in office, Gov. Reynolds helped champion policies that reflect a broader strategy focused on academic achievement, educational opportunity and long-term economic readiness. The 2026 session reinforced many of those priorities while positioning the state to continue advancing student-centered policies in the years ahead.
In the 2027 legislative session, following a gubernatorial race in late 2026, we anticipate that lawmakers will take a renewed focus on college and career pathways and further strengthen statewide math policy, which may include solutions such as requiring 60 minutes of daily math instruction. We look forward to supporting policymakers as they take additional steps to transform Iowa’s education system.
