Text: SSB02104 Text: SSB02106 Text: SSB02100 - SSB02199 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 256D.1 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND
1 2 INTENT.
1 3 The general assembly finds that it is in the best interest
1 4 of the state to encourage and fund early education programs
1 5 focused on kindergarten through grade three in the public
1 6 school districts. The goal of these programs shall be, at a
1 7 minimum, to produce students who are self-confident,
1 8 independent, intellectually inquisitive, able to use language
1 9 to communicate, and able to relate well and be empathetic to
1 10 others. Toward that goal, it is the intent of this chapter to
1 11 establish and fund an early education improvement program.
1 12 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 256D.2 EARLY EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT
1 13 PROGRAM APPROPRIATION.
1 14 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
1 15 state to the department of education for the fiscal year
1 16 beginning July 1, 1998, and for each succeeding fiscal year,
1 17 the sum of seven million dollars for the early education
1 18 improvement program.
1 19 2. For each fiscal year for which moneys are appropriated
1 20 in subsection 1, the amount of moneys allocated to school
1 21 districts shall be in the proportion that the basic enrollment
1 22 of a district bears to the sum of the basic enrollments of all
1 23 school districts in the state for the budget year. However, a
1 24 district shall not receive less than ten thousand dollars in a
1 25 fiscal year. The Iowa braille and sight saving school, the
1 26 state school for the deaf, and the Price laboratory school at
1 27 the university of northern Iowa shall annually certify their
1 28 basic enrollments to the department of education by October 1.
1 29 3. For each year for which an appropriation is made to the
1 30 early education improvement program, the department of
1 31 education shall notify the department of revenue and finance
1 32 of the amount to be paid to each school district based upon
1 33 the distribution plan set forth for the appropriation made
1 34 pursuant to this section. The allocation to each school
1 35 district under this section shall be made in one payment on or
2 1 about October 15 of the fiscal year for which the
2 2 appropriation is made, taking into consideration the relative
2 3 budget and cash position of the state resources.
2 4 4. Moneys received under this section shall not be
2 5 commingled with state aid payments made under section 257.16
2 6 to a school district and shall be accounted for by the school
2 7 district separately from state aid payments.
2 8 5. Payments made to school districts under this section
2 9 are miscellaneous income for purposes of chapter 257 and are
2 10 considered encumbered. Each school district shall maintain a
2 11 separate listing within their budgets for payments received
2 12 and expenditures made pursuant to this section.
2 13 6. Moneys received under this section shall not be used
2 14 for payment of any collective bargaining agreement or
2 15 arbitrator's decision negotiated or awarded under chapter 20.
2 16 7. For purposes of this chapter, "school district" means a
2 17 public school district, the Iowa braille and sight saving
2 18 school, the state school for the deaf, and the Price
2 19 laboratory school at the university of northern Iowa.
2 20 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 256D.3 EARLY EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT
2 21 PROGRAM – REPORTS.
2 22 1. Progress, as determined by public school districts
2 23 through appropriate assessments, for children enrolled in
2 24 kindergarten through grade three in attaining or surpassing
2 25 student achievement goals as established under the
2 26 accreditation process in chapter 256, shall be submitted in an
2 27 annual report to the department of education.
2 28 2. Progress, as determined individually by the Iowa
2 29 braille and sight saving school, the state school for the
2 30 deaf, and the Price laboratory school at the university of
2 31 northern Iowa, including the progress of children enrolled in
2 32 kindergarten through grade three in attaining or surpassing
2 33 student achievement goals, shall be submitted in an annual
2 34 report to the state board of regents and the department of
2 35 education.
3 1 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 256D.4 EARLY EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT
3 2 PROGRAM EXPENDITURES.
3 3 School districts shall expend funds received pursuant to
3 4 section 256D.2 to support education practices, programs, or
3 5 assistance for kindergarten through grade three that include,
3 6 but are not limited to, the following: full day, everyday
3 7 kindergarten; reducing adult to student ratios through the
3 8 hiring of adult teaching assistants and volunteers; student
3 9 mentor or volunteer coordinator programs; implementation of
3 10 instructional programs designed to improve student achievement
3 11 in the areas of mathematics, reading, and science; parental
3 12 involvement programs; and contributions toward implementation
3 13 of an extended school year program.
3 14 EXPLANATION
3 15 This bill establishes an early education improvement
3 16 program, focused on kindergarten through grade three, with an
3 17 annual appropriation of $7 million from the state general fund
3 18 to the department of education.
3 19 The general assembly finds, according to the bill, that it
3 20 is in the best interest of the state to encourage and fund
3 21 early education programs in public school districts. The bill
3 22 defines the goals of an eligible early education improvement
3 23 program and lists the components of early education practices
3 24 and programs for which state funding may be expended.
3 25 The bill provides for a per pupil annual distribution of
3 26 the funds appropriated, but stipulates that a school district
3 27 shall receive no less than $10,000. The bill defines the term
3 28 "school district" to include public school districts, the Iowa
3 29 braille and sight saving school, the state school for the
3 30 deaf, and the Price laboratory school at the university of
3 31 northern Iowa.
3 32 The bill also requires that school districts report to the
3 33 appropriate state agencies progress made in attaining or
3 34 surpassing student achievement goals.
3 35 LSB 4195XC 77
4 1 kh/jw/5.1
Text: SSB02104 Text: SSB02106 Text: SSB02100 - SSB02199 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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