Iowa board adopts Chapter 12 rules clarifying human growth instruction for grades 5–8

The Iowa State Board of Education on Jan. 14 approved adopted-and-filed amendments to Chapter 12 that implement last year’s Senate File 175 changes to human growth and development instruction.

Department rules coordinator Thomas Mayes told the board that public comment prompted the department to read the statute’s grade bands as inclusive — ‘‘fifth and sixth’’ and ‘‘seventh and eighth’’ — rather than the alternative reading that would have used ‘‘or.’’ Mayes said the department received 47 written comments and five speakers at the Dec. 30 hearing and made technical edits (for example, changing a reference from specific ‘‘video’’ materials to broader ‘‘content’’) while preserving the statute’s requirements.

The department also explained why the rule language is silent about grades 9–12: statutory references for that high‑school band already operate by reference in the existing chapter, so changes to the statute for 9–12 automatically populate into the rules. Mayes said families retain an opt‑out under current law for human growth and development instruction.

Board members moved to adopt the rule as presented; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board record shows the motion carried with members voting in the affirmative.

The adopted rule implements the statutory framework of SF 175 and reflects changes the department said were responsive to substantive public comments. The department indicated staff will present a short preview of planned technical corrections to early‑access rules at the next meeting.

The formal adoption completes the department’s rulemaking step for Chapter 12; school districts will be expected to align local instruction to the amended rule language and to existing statutory opt‑out processes.