Text: HF00283 Text: HF00285 Text: HF00200 - HF00299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 279.51, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 1 2 1997, is amended by striking the paragraph and inserting in 1 3 lieu thereof the following: 1 4 c. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, and for 1 5 each fiscal year thereafter, two million eight hundred 1 6 thousand dollars of the funds appropriated shall be allocated 1 7 as provided in this lettered paragraph. 1 8 (1) Grants shall be made available to school districts for 1 9 the establishment or continuation of student assistance 1 10 programs. The funds shall be allocated to school districts 1 11 which receive approval for project grants pursuant to an 1 12 application form to be developed and reviewed by the 1 13 department of education. The purpose of the project is to 1 14 administer a systemic kindergarten through grade twelve 1 15 prevention and intervention program designed to effect a 1 16 positive change in at-risk student behavior, including but not 1 17 limited to, dropping out of school; alcohol, tobacco, and 1 18 other drug use; poor academic performance or poor coping 1 19 skills; and gang membership. Student assistance teams shall 1 20 be comprised of school faculty and may include support staff, 1 21 parents, students, and other volunteers. The teams shall meet 1 22 on a regular basis to evaluate at-risk student behavior 1 23 suggesting a need for intervention, and to implement 1 24 appropriate strategies designed to redirect students toward 1 25 more positive behavior, or make referrals for area education 1 26 agency testing, professional counseling, or treatment. 1 27 (2) The department of education, in conjunction with each 1 28 area education agency, shall coordinate the development of a 1 29 comprehensive, research-based training program to be offered 1 30 annually to school districts within each region for team 1 31 development or training. The department shall coordinate the 1 32 selection of team trainers. Trainers shall be recognized 1 33 experts in student assistance program administration, and 1 34 shall be selected by the department based upon input from area 1 35 education agency faculty and at-risk advisory committees. 2 1 Each area education agency shall be responsible for 2 2 administering project training to team members utilizing the 2 3 funds appropriated in paragraph "a". 2 4 (3) The department shall identify or develop evaluation 2 5 tools designed to measure the effectiveness of student 2 6 assistance program teams in reducing at-risk behavior, 2 7 utilizing funds appropriated under this lettered paragraph. 2 8 Evaluation results shall be reported by each school district 2 9 receiving project grants to the department on an annual basis 2 10 and the reports shall be submitted to the general assembly. 2 11 (4) The department shall take notice that federal drug- 2 12 free schools moneys pursuant to the federal Safe and Drug-Free 2 13 Schools and Communities Act, 20 U.S.C. } 7101, may be used to 2 14 supplement the state funds allocated in this lettered 2 15 paragraph for the financing of local student assistance 2 16 program teams, which may include student-centered activities, 2 17 parent involvement programs, and stipends for team personnel 2 18 as allowed by the federal Act. School districts may utilize 2 19 the state funds allocated in this lettered paragraph to 2 20 provide for substitute teaching staff during training sessions 2 21 for faculty who are student assistance program team members, 2 22 or alternatively provide stipends to faculty for training 2 23 conducted during periods when school is not in session. 2 24 (5) State funds allocated in this lettered paragraph which 2 25 remain after the payment of staff development costs and the 2 26 development of the evaluation mechanism shall by allocated on 2 27 a per-pupil basis by rule in the same manner as are drug-free 2 28 schools funds received pursuant to the federal Safe and Drug- 2 29 Free Schools and Communities Act. 2 30 Sec. 2. The department shall adopt rules relating to 2 31 implementation of this Act prior to the July 1, 1998, funding 2 32 implementation date. 2 33 EXPLANATION 2 34 This bill provides for the establishment of student 2 35 assistance programs designed to develop and train student 3 1 assistance program teams to engage in student at-risk behavior 3 2 prevention and intervention. Identified at-risk behaviors 3 3 include, but are not limited to, dropping out of school; poor 3 4 grades or poor coping skills; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug 3 5 use; and gang membership. Teams may be comprised of school 3 6 faculty, support staff, parents, students, and other 3 7 volunteers. Teams will be trained at the regional area 3 8 education agency for their school district by recognized 3 9 experts in student assistance programs selected by the 3 10 department of education with input from faculty and area 3 11 education agency at-risk advisory committees. Training will 3 12 be financed with a portion set aside from the funds in this 3 13 paragraph. The department of education is directed to 3 14 identify or develop an evaluation mechanism to assess project 3 15 effectiveness, and to relay annual assessment reports from 3 16 school districts receiving project grants to the general 3 17 assembly. 3 18 The projects will be financed starting in the fiscal year 3 19 beginning July 1, 1998, utilizing the $2.8 million 3 20 appropriation for school-based youth services education 3 21 contained in section 279.51, subsection 1, paragraph "c", as 3 22 amended in this bill. After paying administration and trainer 3 23 costs and the cost of evaluation mechanism development and 3 24 implementation, remaining funds shall be allocated to each 3 25 school district on a per-pupil basis in the same manner as 3 26 federal funds are distributed pursuant to the federal Safe and 3 27 Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. The bill provides for 3 28 the payment of stipends to faculty, or the furnishing of 3 29 substitute teaching staff, during periods when training is 3 30 taking place. 3 31 The department is directed to develop rules for project 3 32 implementation prior to the July 1, 1998, funding 3 33 implementation date. 3 34 LSB 1258YH 77 3 35 rn/sc/14.2
Text: HF00283 Text: HF00285 Text: HF00200 - HF00299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
© 1997 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov. Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Thu Feb 27 03:40:34 CST 1997
URL: /DOCS/GA/77GA/Legislation/HF/00200/HF00284/970218.html
jhf