HF 2138 (LSB 5560YH (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 2138

BY  HEARTSILL

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the creation of a unified educational data system task force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  UNIFIED EDUCATIONAL DATA SYSTEM TASK FORCE.
   1.  The department of education, in collaboration with the office of the chief information officer and the area education agencies, shall convene a unified educational data system task force to develop and recommend a comprehensive approach to data collection by the department. The task force shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:
   a.  Study the costs and benefits of creating a user-friendly uniform system that unifies data systems currently administered by the department, including but not limited to the education data warehouse, the student reporting in Iowa system, the unique student identifier system, and the Iowa transcript center. The study shall review the purpose and desired results prompting the collection of certain data and shall focus on improving efficiency, accuracy, and security of and access to the data collected.
   b.  Study the costs and benefits of utilizing a single, user-friendly, universal statewide student information system by which school districts and accredited nonpublic schools can submit necessary data to the department.
   c.  Identify measures by which the department may denote for users the purpose and results in aggregate of the data collected by the department.
   d.  Study the costs and means of developing and administering a training program that provides school administrators with the skills and experience necessary to use a unified educational data system to manage and submit the necessary data as required by the department.
   e.  Develop a formula to accurately, comprehensively, and meticulously calculate data used to determine, at a minimum, graduation rates, dropout rates, and enrollment in schools and school districts.
   2.  The task force shall consist of education stakeholders including but not limited to persons representing the department, the office of the chief information officer, area education agencies, school districts which offer prekindergarten through grade twelve, the boards of directors of school districts, the authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools, teachers, administrators, parents, and postsecondary institutions.
   3.  The task force shall submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the state board of education and the general assembly by November 16, 2018.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the department of education, in collaboration with the office of the chief information officer and the area education agencies, to convene a unified educational data system task force to develop and recommend a comprehensive approach to data collection by the department.
   The task force shall study the costs and benefits of creating a user-friendly uniform system that unifies data systems currently administered by the department.
   The task force shall consist of education stakeholders including but not limited to persons representing the department, the office of the chief information officer, area education agencies, school districts which offer prekindergarten through grade 12, the boards of directors of school districts, the authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools, teachers, administrators, parents, and postsecondary institutions.
   The task force shall submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the state board of education and the general assembly by November 16, 2018.