Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 279.13 (2026)

Contracts with teachers — automatic continuation — initial background investigations

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. a. Contracts with teachers, which for the purpose of this section means all licensed employees of a school district and nurses employed by the board, excluding superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and assistant principals, shall be in writing and shall state the number of contract days, the annual compensation to be paid, and any other matters as may be mutually agreed upon. The contract may include employment for a term not exceeding the ensuing school year, except as otherwise authorized.

b. (1) Prior to entering into an initial contract with a teacher who holds a license other than an initial license issued by the board of educational examiners under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, the school district or accredited nonpublic school shall initiate a state criminal history record check of the applicant through the division of criminal investigation of the department of public safety, submit the applicant’s fingerprints to the division for submission to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal history record check, and review the sex offender registry information under section 692A.121 available to the general public, the central registry for child abuse information established under section 235A.14, and the central registry for dependent adult abuse information established under section 235B.5 for information regarding the applicant for employment as a teacher.

(2) The school district or accredited nonpublic school may charge the applicant a fee not to exceed the actual cost charged the school district or accredited nonpublic school for the state and national criminal history checks and registry checks conducted pursuant to subparagraph (1).

c. The contract is invalid if the teacher is under contract with another board of directors to teach during the same time period until a release from the other contract is achieved. The contract shall be signed by the president of the board, or by the superintendent if the board has adopted a policy authorizing the superintendent to sign teaching contracts, when tendered, and after it is signed by the teacher, the contract shall be filed with the secretary of the board before the teacher enters into performance under the contract.

2. The contract shall remain in force and effect for the period stated in the contract and shall be automatically continued for equivalent periods except as modified or terminated by mutual agreement of the board of directors and the teacher or as modified or terminated in accordance with the provisions specified in this chapter. A contract shall not be offered by the employing board to a teacher under its jurisdiction prior to March 15 of any year. A teacher who has not accepted a contract for the ensuing school year tendered by the employing board may resign effective at the end of the current school year by filing a written resignation with the secretary of the board. The resignation must be filed not later than the last day of the current school year or the date specified by the employing board for return of the contract, whichever date occurs first. However, a teacher shall not be required to return a contract to the board or to resign less than twenty-one days after the contract has been offered.

3. If the provisions of a contract executed or automatically renewed under this section conflict with a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under chapter 20 and effective when the contract is executed or renewed, the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement shall prevail.

4. For purposes of this section, sections 279.14, 279.15, 279.16, 279.19, and 279.27, unless the context otherwise requires, the following individuals employed by a community college are “teachers”:

a. (1) An instructor or faculty member who provides instruction to students enrolled in the community college that results in community college credit hours for the students and such instruction constitutes more than one-half of the instructor’s or faculty member’s\n\nTue Dec 09 22:17:58 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 279 (98, 4) §279.13, DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES 10\n\nworkload, but does not include an adjunct instructor, a continuing education instructor, or a noncredit instructor.

(2) For purposes of this paragraph:

(a) “Continuing education instructor” means an individual employed by the community college who provides instruction that is primarily targeted toward adult learners or learners who are pursuing a community college education for a career or trade, including workforce development, job skills, personal enrichment, high school equivalency programs, and professional certification.

(b) “Noncredit instructor” means an individual employed by the community college who provides instruction in courses or programs that do not result in community college credit hours for students, including courses or programs related to workforce training, personal development, tutoring, or continuing education.

b. A librarian, including those denoted as being a learning resource specialist or a media specialist.

c. A counselor.

5. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a temporary contract may be issued to a teacher for a period of up to six months. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a temporary contract may also be issued to a teacher to fill a vacancy created by a leave of absence in accordance with the provisions of section 29A.28, which contract shall automatically terminate upon return from military leave of the former incumbent of the teaching position. Temporary contracts shall not be subject to the provisions of sections 279.15 through 279.19, or section 279.27. A separate extracurricular contract issued pursuant to section 279.19A to a person issued a temporary contract under this section shall automatically terminate with the termination of the temporary contract as required under section 279.19A, subsection 8. [R60, §2055; C73, §1757; C97, §2778; SS15, §2778; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4229; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.13] 89 Acts, ch 265, §40; 2001 Acts, ch 159, §10; 2003 Acts, ch 19, §1; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §31; 2007 Acts, ch 108, §11; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §102; 2008 Acts, ch 1181, §35, 36; 2009 Acts, ch 119, §40; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §103; 2017 Acts, ch 2, §28, 29, 48, 49; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2582; 2023 Acts, ch 100, §5; 2025 Acts, ch 145, §8, 9 Referred to in §256.103, 256.146, 256.160, 256.220, 256E.7, 273.3, 273.22, 275.33, 279.16, 279.19A, 279.19B, 279.23, 279.43, 279.69, 280.22, 284.2, 284.3A, 284.15, 284.16 Subsection 4, unnumbered paragraph 1 amended Subsection 4, paragraph a amended \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 20 cases, 1972–2009 · leading case: Shenandoah Educ. Ass'n v. Shenandoah Cmty. Sch. Dist., 337 N.W.2d 477 (Iowa 1983).

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Shenandoah Educ. Ass'n v. Shenandoah Cmty. Sch. Dist., 337 N.W.2d 477 (Iowa 1983). · cites it 8× “We take notice of the fact that Iowa Code § 279.13 was amended by 1976 Iowa Acts, ch.”

Eskel Norbeck v. Davenport Cmty. Sch. Dist., 545 F.2d 63 (8th Cir. 1976). · cites it 4× “Norbeck also asserted a claim for breach of contract, and the board’s failure to conform with the procedural requirements of Iowa Code § 279.13 (1971). The district court dismissed all claims except the one brought under § 1983, alleging a violation of his right of association.”

Meinders v. Dunkerton Cmty. Sch. Dist., 645 N.W.2d 632 (Iowa 2002). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 279.13 (emphasis added). B. Analysis.”

Slockett v. Iowa Valley Cmty. Sch. Dist., 359 N.W.2d 446 (Iowa 1984). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code §§ 279.13 through 279.18, and 279.”

Moravek v. Davenport Cmty. Sch. Dist., 262 N.W.2d 797 (Iowa 1978). · cites it 2× “Plaintiff has failed to exhaust the administrative remedies provided to him under Iowa Code § 279.13 by failing to request a public hearing to protest his termination.”

Keith v. Cmty. Sch. Dist. of Wilton in the Counties of Cedar & Muscatine, 262 N.W.2d 249 (Iowa 1978). “” Also of importance at trial were the following two sections of Keith’s contract: U * * * “(7) That this contract shall be subject to the provisions of Iowa Code, § 279.13, known as the continuing contract law, * *.”

Bishop v. E. Allamakee Cmty. Sch. Dist., 346 N.W.2d 500 (Iowa 1984). “, Iowa Code § 279.13 (2) (automatic continuation of contract unless modified or termination by mutual agreement of parties in accordance with procedures of this chapter, resignation of teachers must be filed not later than last day of school); § 279.”

Gianforte v. Whitehead, 773 N.W.2d 540 (Iowa 2009). “13(2). The termination of a contract by the board is governed by rules and regulations established by the legislature in chapter 279 of the Code.”

Simonson v. Iowa State Univ., 603 N.W.2d 557 (Iowa 1999). “3d at 899 (the parties agreed that a high school teacher had a protected property interest in his employment by virtue of his continuing contract under Iowa Code §§ 279.13 -.19 prescribing procedures for teacher termination or nonrenewal of teacher contracts, culminating with a…”

Scheelhaase v. Woodbury Cent. Cmty. Sch. Dist., 349 F. Supp. 988 (N.D. Iowa 1972). · cites it 3× “At the conclusion of the 1969-1970 school year, plaintiff’s contract was terminated by the Board under provisions of Iowa Code § 279.13 (1971). 1 3. Both a private conference and public hearing were granted plaintiff pursuant to the statute.”

Zoll v. E. Allamakee Cmty. Sch. Dist., 588 F.2d 246 (8th Cir. 1978). “Zoll’s request'on June 9,1975, pursuant to Iowa Code § 279.13 (1975). At the conclusion of the hearing, the board voted four to one not to renew her contract.”

Merged Area (Educ.) VII v. Iowa Dep't of Job Serv., 367 N.W.2d 272 (Iowa Ct. App. 1985). “See Iowa Code §§ 279.13 , .15 (1981). Accompanying the notice to each instructor was a separate letter indicating that H.”

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