PreK-12 schools

State officials were blocked from enforcing Iowa’s law against school-issued mask mandates after a federal judge ruled in favor of families challenging the law.

If implemented, students who show COVID-19 symptoms during the school day would go to a designated “caring room” to see the school nurse. There, the nurse or a certified nursing assistant would call the student’s parents and administer a rapid COVID-19 test.

The ACLU and disability rights groups are working with 11 Iowa parents in a lawsuit aimed at overturning a statewide ban on school mask mandates.

Gov. Kim Reynolds is again encouraging Iowans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as infections and hospitalizations have been increasing in the state, but she’s not changing state policies or implementing mitigation measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The U.S. Department of Education opened investigations into Iowa and four other Republican-led states Monday for banning mask mandates in schools, citing concerns that such policies may violate the civil rights of students with disabilities.

The mother of two Council Bluffs elementary students is suing Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education over a law that bans school districts from requiring masks.

Today is the first day back to school for students in Sioux City. For the first time in years, there will be a completely new boundary map that determines which school students go to. Also, teachers and administrators have to comply with a new state law. The law limiting some lessons on race may pose a new challenge to a district trying to diversify its schools.

It’s the first day of school for many students across Iowa. While families were hoping for a year unaffected by the pandemic, that’s not the case.

Iowa schools received $30 million in CARES Act money, which helped some districts provide mental health services for kids.

On Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe spoke with parents, politicians and health experts about preparing for back to school as cases of COVID-19 in children rise around the country.