House File 284 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY WESSEL=KROESCHELL and ABDUL=SAMAD Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act establishing a task force to develop a plan for the 2 implementation of an online school for certain populations. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1858HH 83 5 kh/rj/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION == ONLINE SCHOOL TASK 1 2 FORCE. 1 3 1. The department of education shall convene a task force 1 4 to develop a plan for the implementation of an online school 1 5 for certain populations residing in this state using the 1 6 internet or another telecommunications system. The plan shall 1 7 address, at a minimum, online learning tools, online 1 8 curricula, online course credit, and the issuance of a high 1 9 school diploma for coursework successfully completed online. 1 10 The online school plan shall be designed for populations that 1 11 include but are not limited to persons who have dropped out, 1 12 or are at risk of dropping out, of school; persons who are 1 13 institutionalized underachievers; persons with mental illness, 1 14 mental retardation, or other developmental disabilities; 1 15 persons with learning disabilities; and other persons who face 1 16 barriers to academic achievement. 1 17 2. The director of the department of education shall 1 18 appoint members to the task force which shall include 1 19 education practitioners and stakeholders, persons who 1 20 represent the target populations, and educational technology 1 21 specialists. 1 22 3. The task force shall select a chairperson from its 1 23 membership. A majority of the members of the task force shall 1 24 constitute a quorum. 1 25 4. The task force shall submit its findings and 1 26 recommendations in a report to the state board of education 1 27 and the general assembly by January 15, 2010. 1 28 EXPLANATION 1 29 This bill directs the department of education to convene a 1 30 task force to develop a plan for the implementation of an 1 31 online school for certain populations in the state, including 1 32 but not limited to persons who have dropped out, or are at 1 33 risk of dropping out, of school; persons who are 1 34 institutionalized underachievers; persons with mental illness, 1 35 mental retardation, or other developmental disabilities; 2 1 persons with learning disabilities; and other persons who face 2 2 barriers to academic achievement. The plan must address 2 3 online learning tools, online curricula, online course credit, 2 4 and the issuance of a high school diploma for coursework 2 5 successfully completed online. 2 6 The director of the department is directed to appoint 2 7 members to the task force which shall include education 2 8 practitioners and stakeholders, persons who represent the 2 9 target populations, and educational technology specialists. 2 10 The task force must submit its findings and recommendations 2 11 in a report to the state board of education and the general 2 12 assembly by January 15, 2010. 2 13 LSB 1858HH 83 2 14 kh/rj/5