Anti-NGSS bill in Iowa

House File 2054, introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives on January 19, 2016, and referred to the House Committee on Education, would, if enacted, reverse Iowa's decision to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards — and there is reason to believe that part of the motivation is the NGSS's treatment of evolution and climate change.

The lead sponsor of HF 2054 is Sandy Salmon (R-District 63), who in 2015 introduced House File 272, which would have prevented Iowa from adopting the NGSS. She told the Cedar Rapids Gazette (March 2, 2015) that she was "concerned that the standards miss some key math and science concepts, present evolution as scientific fact[,] and shine a negative light on human impacts on climate change." HF 272 died in committee.

The Iowa Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards at its August 6, 2015, meeting. HF 2054 would undo that decision, directing the board to adopt the same science standards used during the 2014-2015 school year and requiring further changes to be approved by the legislature and governor.