SF 2404 — A bill for an act requiring the department of education to develop and administer a pilot program that requires certain specified school districts to establish attendance centers for students requiring special education and students with behavioral issues.

Senate File 2404 - IntroducedReprinted SENATE FILE 2404 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 2181) (COMPANION TO HF 2003 BY WILLS) (As Amended and Passed by the Senate March 10, 2026) A BILL FOR An Act requiring the department of education to develop and administer a pilot program that requires certain specified school districts to establish attendance centers for students requiring special education and students with behavioral issues.

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A rural school district or an urban school district shall not be required to participate in the pilot program unless any one of the following applies:

a.

The rural school district or urban school district agrees to participate in the pilot program and provides notice to the department indicating that the rural school district or urban school district has the ability to fully fund the rural school district’s or urban school district’s participation in the pilot program.

b.

The department fully funds the rural school district’s or urban school district’s participation in the pilot program using moneys appropriated by the general assembly for purposes of this section.

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2404 4.

(4) Feedback from the parents or guardians of eligible LSBstudents 5556SVwho (1)participated 91in -1-the jda/jhpilot 1/4program S.F.during the current school year related to the effectiveness of the pilot program.

2404 students who participated in the pilot program during the current school year related to the effectiveness of the pilot program.

Notwithstanding section 257.10, subsection 7, for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, not less than forty-eight percent of the ninety percent of funds calculated under section 257.10, subsection 7, and received by the rural school district or urban school district shall be used by the rural school district or urban school district, as applicable, for purposes of the pilot program.

6.

(2) A student whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with the student’s ability to be successful inSF the2404 regular(2) educational91 environment,-2- evenjda/jh/mb with2/3 theS.F. use of supplementary aids and services.

2404 in the regular educational environment, even with the use of supplementary aids and services.

“Rural school district” means a school district as described in chapter 274 that is located in a county with a population of greater than seventeen thousand five hundred but LSBless 5556SVthan (1)eighteen 91thousand, -2-and jda/jhthat 2/4contains S.F.a city with a population of greater than five thousand four hundred, but less than five thousand five hundred, all according to the 2020 federal decennial census.

2404 less than eighteen thousand, and that contains a city with a population of greater than five thousand four hundred, but less than five thousand five hundred, all according to the 2020 federal decennial census.

7.6.

EXPLANATIONSF The2404 inclusion(2) of91 this-3- explanationjda/jh/mb does3/3 not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.

This bill requires the department of education (DE) to develop and administer a pilot program that requires a rural school district and an urban school district to establish attendance centers to be used to provide educational services to eligible students.

DE is responsible for determining the rural school district and urban school district that will be required to participate in the pilot program.

In addition, DE, in consultation with the rural school district and urban school district, is required to determine the courses of study and curricula that the rural school district and urban school district will provide to eligible students and the instructional facilities that the rural school district and urban school district will use to provide educational services to eligible students.

Annually, on or before June 1 of each year, the rural school district and urban school district are required to submit to DE an annual report that contains information related to the pilot program.

Additionally, on or before June 30 of each year, DE is required to compile those annual reports and submit the compilation to the general assembly.

Under current law, not less than 90 percent of funds calculated under Code section 257.10(7) (special education support services district cost) and received by a school district are required be used by the school district for LSB 5556SV (1) 91 -3- jda/jh 3/4 S.F.

2404 special education support services contracted from an area education agency.

The bill requires, instead, that the rural school district and urban school district use not less than 48 percent of that 90 percent of funds for purposes of the pilot program.

The bill defines “eligible student” to mean children requiring special education, as defined in Code section 256B.2, and a student whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with the student’s ability to be successful in the regular educational environment.

The bill defines “rural school district” as a school district that is located in a county with a population of greater than 17,500 but less than 18,000, and that contains a city with a population of greater than 5,400, but less than 5,500.

The bill defines “urban school district” to mean a school district with a total enrollment of at least 7,000 students.

The bill repeals the Code section establishing the pilot program, Code section 256.20, July 1, 2031.

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