The Iowa Legislature passed a bill to loosen the requirements for Iowa schools regarding foreign languages and fine arts, as the bill allows schools to choose to offer only three units of foreign language classes instead of the current four, and only two units of fine arts instead of three. State Representative Brooke Boden tells KNIA News she voted in favor of the bill to assist rural schools.

“You’ve got teacher shortage and work shortages, and making sure those schools are still able to offer a robust education and offer those special fine arts opportunities, but also get those kids graduated. In a lot of places it is difficult to find libraries, music teachers, and a lot of the specials out in the rural districts. So being able to offer them a shorter credit is better for the rural schools.”

Boden said she felt it was necessary to be realistic for rural schools, and expects many of the bigger schools to continue to offer everything they had before.