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PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 1997, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 21. Receive for review, modification, and 1 4 adoption, the reports of the council for voluntary high 1 5 standards and assessment development submitted under section 1 6 280.16A and transmit to area education agencies, schools, and 1 7 school districts the voluntary model content standards and 1 8 assessments adopted by the state board. The state board shall 1 9 advise and assist area education agencies in creating methods 1 10 for assisting schools in developing, adopting, and 1 11 implementing high content standards and assessments, as 1 12 defined in section 280.16. The board shall also evaluate and 1 13 identify departmental personnel and resources that may be 1 14 reallocated to assist schools and school districts with the 1 15 development and implementation of high content standards and 1 16 assessments. In addition, the board shall determine the level 1 17 of public demand on schools and school district personnel for 1 18 a shift to a content standard-driven curriculum and for 1 19 accountability of student achievement. The board shall submit 1 20 its findings and recommendations relating to voluntary model 1 21 content standards and assessments and the level of public 1 22 demand relating to a shift to a content standard-driven 1 23 curriculum and for accountability of student achievement to 1 24 the chairpersons and ranking members of the standing 1 25 committees on education of the senate and the house of 1 26 representatives, and to the chairpersons and ranking members 1 27 of the joint appropriations subcommittee on education by 1 28 February 1, 2000. The board shall revise the standards and 1 29 procedures prescribed in accordance with subsection 3 as 1 30 necessary to acknowledge the voluntary model content standards 1 31 adopted pursuant to section 280.16A. 1 32 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, Code 1997, is amended by adding the 1 33 following new subsection: 1 34 NEW SUBSECTION. 49. Grant, for up to five years, 1 35 exemptions from one or more of the minimum education standards 2 1 contained in section 256.11 and rules adopted by the state 2 2 board of education to nonpublic schools or public school 2 3 districts who have adopted high content standards and whose 2 4 assessments demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director 2 5 that the content standards adopted by the nonpublic school or 2 6 public school district in accordance with section 280.16 2 7 exceed the minimum education standards contained in section 2 8 256.11. To receive an exemption under this subsection, a 2 9 nonpublic school or public school district shall file a 2 10 request with the department that includes all of the 2 11 following: 2 12 a. A description of the content standards adopted by the 2 13 nonpublic school or public school district and the curriculum 2 14 designed to support the content standards and strengthen and 2 15 expand student achievement. 2 16 b. Identification of the standard or standards for which 2 17 the exemption is being sought, including a statement of the 2 18 reasons for requesting the exemption from the standard or 2 19 standards. 2 20 c. Identification of a method for periodic demonstration 2 21 that student achievement will not be lessened by the granting 2 22 of the exemption. 2 23 The director shall develop a procedure for application for 2 24 exemption and receipt, review, and evaluation of nonpublic 2 25 school and public school district requests, including but not 2 26 limited to development of criteria for the granting or denying 2 27 of requests for exemptions and a time line for the submission, 2 28 review, and granting or denying of requests for exemption from 2 29 one or more standards. 2 30 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 280.16 STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT OF 2 31 EDUCATION. 2 32 1. The general assembly recognizes this state's exemplary 2 33 educational achievements, but finds and declares that the 2 34 state's educational system is capable of higher levels of 2 35 educational achievement and challenges the state's department 3 1 of education, practitioner preparation programs, schools and 3 2 school districts, area education agencies, teachers, 3 3 administrators, staff, parents, and children to further 3 4 improve educational achievement in Iowa by demanding, setting, 3 5 and reaching high content standards and implementing 3 6 assessments. 3 7 2. Not later than January 1, 1999, each accredited 3 8 nonpublic school and each school district shall hold at least 3 9 one public hearing to consider the findings and 3 10 recommendations of the voluntary high standards and assessment 3 11 development council and to present a plan for and discuss a 3 12 shift in school curriculum to a content standards education 3 13 program. The board shall publish notice of the time and place 3 14 of the public hearing not less than ten nor more than twenty 3 15 days before the public hearing in a newspaper of general 3 16 circulation in the district. After the public hearing the 3 17 board shall also assess the public demand for local school 3 18 accountability in reporting progress toward higher levels of 3 19 student achievement and performance to the residents of the 3 20 district or the families of students enrolled in the nonpublic 3 21 school. 3 22 3. By July 1, 2000, the authorities in charge of each 3 23 accredited nonpublic school and the board of directors of each 3 24 school district shall consider the findings and 3 25 recommendations of the voluntary high standards and assessment 3 26 development council, develop and adopt high content standards 3 27 for the student achievement goals adopted by the school or 3 28 school district in accordance with section 280.18. The 3 29 authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school and 3 30 the board of directors of each school district shall, by July 3 31 1, 2001, and each succeeding year, make public a report 3 32 documenting the school or school district's progress relating 3 33 to student achievement of locally determined content 3 34 standards. 3 35 4. As used in this chapter and section 256.7, subsection 4 1 21, unless the context otherwise requires, "assessments" means 4 2 methods used to test a student's knowledge or ability in 4 3 specific academic areas, and "content standard" means the 4 4 locally determined minimum level of knowledge and ability each 4 5 student shall be expected to attain in a specific academic 4 6 area by a certain grade level. 4 7 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 280.16A VOLUNTARY HIGH STANDARDS 4 8 AND ASSESSMENT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ESTABLISHED. 4 9 1. A voluntary high standards and assessment development 4 10 council is established consisting of nine members, four of 4 11 whom shall be appointed by the governor, two of whom shall be 4 12 appointed by the majority leader of the senate, two of whom 4 13 shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of 4 14 representatives, and the director of the department of 4 15 education or the director's designee. Appointments shall 4 16 comply with sections 69.16 and 69.16A. Vacancies shall be 4 17 filled in the same manner as the appointment of the original 4 18 members. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall 4 19 receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses, 4 20 including travel at the state rate, incurred in the 4 21 performance of their duties. Payment shall be made from funds 4 22 available pursuant to section 2.12; however, members appointed 4 23 by the governor shall be paid from funds appropriated to the 4 24 office of the governor. Administrative support and staffing 4 25 for the council shall be provided by the department of 4 26 education. The director of the department of education or the 4 27 director's designee shall convene the initial meeting, at 4 28 which the council shall elect, for a one-year term, a 4 29 chairperson from among its members. 4 30 2. The council shall schedule and conduct at least five 4 31 public hearings, each in a different geographic region of the 4 32 state, to hear testimony regarding the expansion of student 4 33 achievement goals and the development of voluntary model 4 34 content standards and assessments. 4 35 3. The council shall seek specific recommendations on the 5 1 expansion of student achievement goals and the development of 5 2 voluntary model minimum content standards and assessments from 5 3 area education agencies, nonpublic schools and school 5 4 districts, educators, parents, students, representatives from 5 5 postsecondary institutions, representatives from business and 5 6 employee organizations, and community members representative 5 7 of the cultural diversity of the state. 5 8 4. The council shall do all of the following: 5 9 a. Develop recommendations for the expansion of student 5 10 achievement goals adopted in accordance with section 280.18, 5 11 which include, but are not limited to, the following areas: 5 12 reading, writing, speaking, listening, mathematics, reasoning, 5 13 studying, and technological literacy. 5 14 b. Develop voluntary model minimum content standards for 5 15 the student achievement goals adopted by schools and school 5 16 districts utilizing the reports filed with the department of 5 17 education in accordance with section 280.18. 5 18 c. Submit a report, by July 1, 1998, containing its 5 19 findings and recommendations to the state board of education 5 20 for review, modification, and adoption of the recommendations 5 21 for the expansion of student achievement goals and the 5 22 development of voluntary model content standards based upon 5 23 those goals. The state board of education shall adopt 5 24 voluntary model content standards by January 1, 1999, and 5 25 shall publish and distribute the voluntary model content 5 26 standards adopted for use by area education agencies, schools, 5 27 and school districts. 5 28 5. By July 1, 1999, the council shall submit a report 5 29 containing its findings and recommendations to the state board 5 30 of education for review, modification, and adoption of the 5 31 recommendations for the voluntary assessments based upon the 5 32 voluntary model content standards adopted by the state board 5 33 of education. The state board shall adopt voluntary model 5 34 assessments by January 15, 2000, and shall publish and 5 35 distribute the voluntary model assessments adopted for use by 6 1 area education agencies, schools, and school districts. 6 2 EXPLANATION 6 3 This bill provides that while the general assembly 6 4 recognizes Iowa's exemplary educational achievements, it finds 6 5 and declares that its educational system is capable of higher 6 6 achievement and challenges educational professionals and other 6 7 interested persons in the state to further improve educational 6 8 achievement in Iowa by demanding, setting, and reaching high, 6 9 clear content standards, and implementing assessments. The 6 10 bill also establishes a nine-member council for voluntary high 6 11 standards and assessment development to develop 6 12 recommendations for the expansion of student achievement 6 13 goals, model minimum content standards for those goals, and to 6 14 propose assessments. 6 15 Four members of the council for voluntary high standards 6 16 and assessment development shall be appointed by the governor, 6 17 four shall be appointed by the leadership of the general 6 18 assembly, and the ninth member is the director of the 6 19 department of education. Administrative support and staffing 6 20 for the council shall be provided by the department of 6 21 education. The council shall schedule and conduct at least 6 22 five public hearings in different geographic regions of the 6 23 state and shall seek specific recommendations on the expansion 6 24 of student achievement goals and the development of voluntary 6 25 model minimum content standards and assessments from education 6 26 professionals, parents, students, community members, and 6 27 representatives from business and employee organizations. 6 28 The bill requires the council to submit, by July 1, 1998, a 6 29 report containing its findings and recommendations to the 6 30 state board of education for review, modification, and 6 31 adoption of its recommendations for the expansion of student 6 32 achievement goals and the development of voluntary model 6 33 content standards based upon those goals. The state board of 6 34 education is directed by the bill to adopt voluntary model 6 35 content standards by January 1, 1999, and to publish and 7 1 distribute the model content standards adopted for use by area 7 2 education agencies, schools, and school districts. The board 7 3 is also directed to revise, based upon its adoption of 7 4 voluntary model content standards, the standards and 7 5 procedures it prescribes for the approval of practitioner 7 6 preparation programs. 7 7 By July 1, 1999, the council is directed under the bill to 7 8 submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to 7 9 the state board of education for review, modification, and 7 10 adoption of its recommendations for the assessments based upon 7 11 the voluntary model content standards adopted by the state 7 12 board of education. The state board shall adopt voluntary 7 13 model assessments by January 1, 2000, and to publish and 7 14 distribute the voluntary model assessments adopted for use by 7 15 area education agencies, schools, and school districts. 7 16 The bill directs the state board of education to determine 7 17 the level of public demand on schools and school district 7 18 personnel to shift to a content standard-driven curriculum and 7 19 for accountability of student achievement, and further directs 7 20 the board to evaluate and identify departmental personnel and 7 21 resources that may be relocated to assist schools and school 7 22 districts with the adoption of high content standards and 7 23 assessments. 7 24 The board is also to consult with and assist area education 7 25 agencies in developing methods for assisting schools in 7 26 developing, adopting, and implementing high content standards 7 27 and assessments. The board is to submit its findings and 7 28 recommendations to the chairpersons and ranking members of the 7 29 standing committees on education of the senate and the house 7 30 of representatives, and to the chairpersons and ranking 7 31 members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on education 7 32 by February 1, 2000. 7 33 The bill requires each accredited nonpublic school and 7 34 school district to hold at least one public hearing by January 7 35 1, 1999, to consider a shift in school curriculum to a content 8 1 standards education program and assess the public's demand for 8 2 local school accountability in reporting progress toward 8 3 higher levels of student achievement and performance. Each 8 4 school and school district is directed to adopt high content 8 5 standards for their student achievement goals, adopted in 8 6 accordance with section 280.18, by July 1, 2000, and by July 8 7 1, 2001, and each succeeding year, make public a report 8 8 documenting the school or school district's progress relating 8 9 to student achievement of locally determined content 8 10 standards. 8 11 LSB 1928YH 77 8 12 kh/jw/5
Text: HF00213 Text: HF00215 Text: HF00200 - HF00299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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