This page covers middle school and high school curriculum, graduation requirements, academic programs and the student experience. Reporting here tracks developments in state requirements, graduation rates and programs supporting student wellbeing.
The state auditor enters the gubernatorial race following legislative changes to his current office.
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October 30, 2026
Iowa Eighth-Graders Join High School Varsity SportsA new law allows middle school students to compete in high school athletics throughout Iowa.
October 29, 2026
Iowa Students Begin Taking New State Civics TestsThe 2026-27 school year marks the first time high school students must pass a civics exam to graduate.
October 29, 2026
Iowa Lawmakers Seek to Remove DEI From Required CoursesLegislative leaders have requested that the Iowa Board of Regents prohibit DEI content in core degree curriculum.
October 21, 2026
Iowa Parent Raises Concerns Over Voucher OversightA Cedar Falls mother is highlighting gaps in state supervision of private school funding.
October 14, 2026
Iowa Students Attended Statewide Youth Cyber SummitMore than 20 schools gathered to practice cybersecurity incident management skills.
October 12, 2026
Iowa Students Held Mock Election in 2026A total of 11,671 students across 94 schools participated in the 2026 Iowa Youth Straw Poll.
October 8, 2026
Kansas Governor Criticized Iowa Candidate ResidencyKansas Governor Laura Kelly questioned the Iowa residency status of gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn.
October 2, 2026
Annie's Foundation Tracked Iowa Book RemovalsA Johnston-based organization issued public records requests to map the fate of thousands of books pulled from school shelves.
October 2, 2026
Desegregation Icons Began Iowa Speaking TourCivil rights figures Carlotta Walls LaNier and Leona Tate launched a three-day series of school history events.
October 2, 2026
Zach Lahn Will Run for Iowa Governor in 2026Republican nominee Zach Lahn is campaigning on proposals to retain young residents in the state.
Regular subjects here include classroom standards, changes to graduation requirements, student wellbeing initiatives and high school programming. Reporting follows the state from the capital to the rural counties. Graduation requirements frequently shift as state standards for college and workforce readiness evolve. Enrollment trends and school funding levels often dictate how districts deliver these programs year over year.
