Community colleges would align courses and remedial education statewide

Regional career and technical education partnerships may use state and federal funds for program support, guidance, equipment, and classroom supplies. The provision covers partnerships serving participating school districts and community colleges. Partnerships must show that all spending supports high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations. Allowed spending includes staffing, professional development, career guidance, equipment, and standard classroom supplies. The provision excludes supplies that will become products sold or used personally by students, teachers, or others.

The education department, working with Iowa community colleges, would implement one statewide course-numbering system and a lower-division general education framework. The course system covers coursework offered by Iowa community colleges; the general education framework covers community college general education coursework. Each course would have a shared number, description, and learning outcomes across equivalent courses. Schools would use the shared course information in catalogs, registration systems, and transcripts. The framework would preserve each college's control over course delivery and content while supporting consistent transfer. The department would adopt rules and maintain a statewide course directory. The general education framework applies beginning with the school year starting July 1, 2027, and in later school years.

Iowa community colleges would replace prerequisite remedial math and English classes with corequisite support and help carry out a statewide framework. The requirement covers all Iowa community colleges and their developmental education in mathematics and English. The education department would set the framework through rules after consulting community colleges. Corequisite support means students take needed developmental help alongside related college-level work rather than completing it first. The replacement must be in place by the 2028-29 school year.

The education department would submit a study to lawmakers on implementing statewide general education standards and course numbers. The study would cover Iowa community colleges and public colleges governed by the state board of regents. The department would consult the state board of regents. The study is due by December 31, 2026.