In 2026, Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File (HF) 2231 into law. HF 2231 requires the Iowa Department of Education (Department) to develop and administer the Seal of Civic Excellence to any participating school district or accredited nonpublic school.
The Iowa Seal of Civic Excellence is intended to recognize and honor high school students who have attained and demonstrated a high level of knowledge, skills, and dispositions in civics. The seal also helps recognize a student’s readiness for college, career and civic life.
Why is the Seal of Civic Excellence Important?
According to former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, “The practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned anew by each generation.”
- Civic knowledge is the foundational understanding of how the government works at the local, state, and national levels.
- Civic skills and dispositions refers to the attitudes, values, and character traits that enable students to participate in their communities and work to solve public problems and participate in civic life.
High-quality civic education fosters civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Schools offering the Iowa Seal of Civic Excellence benefit because it enhances these qualities, builds future-ready skills, and improves school climate and community involvement.
Students who earn the Seal of Civic Excellence demonstrate they have learned, and can put into practice, the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required to meaningfully participate in a Constitutional Democracy.