Welcome to SCALE Iowa: Updates, Resources and What’s Ahead
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
August 2026
Welcome to SCALE Iowa. We are glad you have joined us as we begin building a statewide network of school board leaders committed to academic excellence, effective governance, transparency, and community trust.
Coming soon: SCALE Iowa member survey
Every district is different, and we want SCALE Iowa's work to reflect the issues school board members are actually facing. We will soon send a brief survey to learn more about the concerns coming before your board, and the resources and training that would be most helpful to you.
Back-to-School Zoom in September
We are also planning our first virtual SCALE Iowa gathering for September. This will be an opportunity to meet one another, discuss the start of the school year, share what is happening across Iowa, and help shape SCALE’s priorities.
Watch for the date and registration information
New Iowa education laws and guidance
Several new laws will affect Iowa. The Iowa Department of Education has released its 2026 summary of enacted education legislation, including:
Student instructional technology: Digital instruction for students in grades K–5 is limited to 60 minutes per school day, with certain exceptions. Districts must adopt and publish a technology-use policy, prohibit digital devices during recess, and allow parents to request additional reductions in their child’s digital instruction. The Department has released a detailed HF 2676 FAQ and sample board policy.
Physical fitness and activity: Schools must assess physically able K–12 students using the Presidential Physical Fitness Test as part of physical education. The minimum physical activity requirement for students in grades K–4 increases to at least 40 minutes per school day.
School nutrition: Beginning July 1, 2027, participating schools may not serve or sell foods containing specified dyes and additives during the school day.
Student discipline: SF 2428 establishes new requirements for responding to violent and nonviolent classroom disruptions, including student removal and readmission procedures, teacher appeals, parent notification, and protections for students with IEPs or 504 plans. Review the Department’s Nonviolent and Violent Disruptions FAQ.
SCALE Iowa is building a collection of practical resources on our website to help school board members in their roles. If there are topics you would like addressed or resources that would be helpful, simply email info@scale-iowa.com
Resource Spotlight: Benchmarking
How does your district compare with other districts serving similar students?
The article Benchmarking: One of the Most Valuable Tools School Boards Aren’t Using explains how comparing enrollment, staffing, spending, and student outcomes with true peer districts can help school boards ask better questions and make more informed decisions.
Benchmarking is not about copying another district. It provides context for evaluating what is working, where improvements may be needed, and whether resources are aligned with student outcomes. The article also highlights the ITR School District Report Card, which allows you to explore and compare data from Iowa school districts.
Two opportunities to learn more about EdTech
With increased attention on the use of technology in Iowa classrooms, here are two timely opportunities for school board members:
See how other districts are reducing classroom technology
While these districts are not in Iowa, this Skills Before Screens webinar offers valuable insight from Burke County Board Chair Tiana Beachler and Granville County Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne.
They share how their districts are scaling back technology in favor of analog, skill-building instruction, along with practical advice for districts seeking to be more intentional about EdTech. Dr. Winborne’s advice to other education leaders: Be bold!
Preorder The Digital Delusion and join the conversation
On August 25, 2026 | 4:00 p.m. Central | Live online join The Anxious Generation author Jonathan Haidt and neuroscientist and educator Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath for a live virtual conversation about technology, learning, attention, and child development, followed by an audience Q&A.
Admission is included with a preorder of The Digital Delusion from any retailer. Proof of purchase is required when registering. Pre-order the book and register for the event.
Upcoming event: Learn. Lead. Right.
The Leadership Institute, Minnesota Partnership for Achievement, and Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty are hosting an Upper Midwest leadership event on:
November 14, 2026, in the Twin Cities metro area.
SCALE Iowa is just getting started, and we are glad you are here. Together, we can learn from one another, strengthen school board leadership, and keep academic excellence at the center of our schools.
To learn more or sign up to stay informed visit: https://www.scale-iowa.com/
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