Iowa schools overhaul curriculum: Fetal development lessons replace gender identity policies
By bellecarter // 2025-11-28
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  • Iowa will require schools to teach students in grades 5–12 about prenatal development "starting at fertilization," using approved visual aids—excluding materials from pro-abortion groups.
  • The state is removing "gender identity" as a protected class in school policies, replacing it with "gender theory," aligning with conservative efforts to limit discussions on gender and sexuality in schools.
  • Advocacy groups like Inspired Life argue parents—not schools—should guide children's understanding of gender, while critics warn the changes marginalize transgender students.
  • The fetal development curriculum supports Iowa's pro-life stance, aiming to shift public opinion on abortion, while the removal of gender identity protections follows broader Republican-led education reforms.
  • New rules grant Iowa's HHS authority to investigate abuse by school staff, requiring termination of guilty employees amid heightened scrutiny over misconduct in schools.
In a sweeping shift for public education, Iowa's State Board of Education is finalizing rules that will require schools to teach students about fetal development while removing references to "gender identity" from policies. The changes, set for public review on Dec. 30, follow contentious legislative battles over parental rights, science-based education and the role of schools in shaping students' views on gender and human life. The proposed rules mandate that students in grades 5 through 12 learn about prenatal development "starting at fertilization" using visual aids—provided they do not originate from pro-abortion organizations. Simultaneously, the board is revising policies to comply with a new state law that strips "gender identity" as a protected class under Iowa's Civil Rights Act, replacing it with "gender theory" in school codes.

Parental rights vs. school authority

The move has drawn sharp reactions from advocacy groups on both sides. Inspired Life, a Christian organization, praised the gender policy revisions, stating that parents—not schools—should guide children's understanding of gender and sexuality. "Parents are responsible for guiding their children's understanding of gender and sexuality according to their values and their beliefs," the group previously argued, emphasizing that schools should prioritize core academics like math and science. Critics, however, warn that the changes marginalize transgender students. Jordan Mix, director of educational programming with Iowa Safe Schools, told KCCI that the policy sends a harmful message: "It really sends the message to our students that their gender identity is something to hide or to keep private and not something that is just merely a part of who they are."

Science, policy and the abortion debate

The fetal development curriculum aligns with Iowa's broader pro-life legislative push, reinforcing the argument that life begins at conception. Similar initiatives, like Live Action's "Baby Olivia" project, aim to shift public opinion by presenting biological facts to young audiences. Supporters argue that early education on human development could reduce future support for abortion—a strategy gaining traction in conservative states. Meanwhile, the removal of "gender identity" protections follows national trends where Republican-led states have restricted discussions on gender and sexuality in schools. The Trump administration previously sought to depoliticize education by cutting federal funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, while the Biden White House had expanded Title IX protections for transgender students—a policy now reversed in Iowa.

New oversight for school abuse cases

In a separate but related move, the board approved rules granting the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authority to investigate abuse cases involving school employees. Under the new guidelines, HHS will handle allegations of physical or sexual abuse by staff, volunteers or vendors occurring during school hours or activities. Schools must terminate any employee found guilty of abuse, though districts retain authority over complaints that don't meet HHS thresholds. The changes come amid heightened scrutiny over school safety and accountability, particularly following high-profile cases of misconduct in educational settings. For BrightU.AI's Enoch, the debate reflects a broader national divide over what schools should teach—and who should decide. For supporters, the changes restore parental authority and scientific clarity. For opponents, they risk erasing protections for vulnerable students. Either way, Iowa's classrooms are poised to become the next battleground in America's culture wars. Iowa's latest education reforms underscore a deepening ideological rift over the role of schools in shaping young minds. By mandating lessons on fetal development and rolling back gender identity protections, the state has positioned itself at the forefront of conservative education policy—a move that will likely inspire similar efforts nationwide. As the rules near final approval, the Dec. 30 hearing may offer the last chance for public input before Iowa's schools undergo a significant transformation. Watch the video below that talks about experiments on children under the guise of gender diversity. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com KCCI.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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