SF 2341 (LSB 5706SV (2) 87)

SENATE FILE 2341

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3119)

(As Amended and Passed by the Senate 2018-02-28)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to administration of a civics examination students must pass as a condition of high school graduation and for issuance of a high school equivalency diploma and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.9, Code 2018, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  60.  Approve alternative assessment measures pursuant to section 280.9A, subsection 1, paragraph “b”.
    Sec. 2.  Section 259A.1, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   259A.1  Assessment of competency.
   The department of education shall cause to be made available for qualified individuals a high school equivalency diploma. The diploma shall be issued on the basis of demonstrated to qualified individuals who successfully pass the civics examination as set forth in section 280.9A, and demonstrate competence in all of the following core areas: reading, language arts, literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
    Sec. 3.  Section 280.9A, subsection 1, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The board of directors of each local public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school shall require that all students in grades nine through twelve successfully complete or pass, as applicable, as a condition of graduation, instruction all of the following:
   a.  Instruction in American history and the governments of Iowa and the United States, including instruction in voting statutes and procedures, voter registration requirements, the use of paper ballots and voting systems in the election process, and the method of acquiring and casting an absentee ballot.
   b.  A multiple-choice civics examination that consists of all of the questions used in the latest available civics examination administered by the United States citizenship and immigration services. The proctored examination shall be completed without ancillary materials and only students who score a proficiency of sixty percent or higher shall be considered to have successfully passed the examination. Alternative assessment measures approved by the department of education pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 60, may be administered to children requiring special education as defined in section 256B.2, subsection 1, and to students identified as limited English proficient pursuant to section 280.4. Each student shall be provided with an opportunity to take the civics examination at least one time per school calendar year. A student may take the test at any time after enrolling in grade seven and may repeat the test as often as necessary to demonstrate proficiency. If a student in grade seven or eight passes the civics examination, the student has met the graduation requirement applicable to this paragraph “b”. A fee shall not be imposed or collected in connection with this paragraph “b”.
    Sec. 4.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2019.
    Sec. 5.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.