Text: HSB00100 Text: HSB00102 Text: HSB00100 - HSB00199 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 256.24 QUALITY EDUCATION PLANS.
1 2 1. The general assembly recognizes that rural education
1 3 plays a vital role in maintaining the state of Iowa's
1 4 tradition of educational excellence and promoting the state's
1 5 economic prosperity and future growth. In order to continue
1 6 to provide a quality educational experience in the rural areas
1 7 of the state, and maximize potential for success at the
1 8 postsecondary level and in the workplace, students must have
1 9 access to a varied and comprehensive curriculum taught by
1 10 qualified teachers. The general assembly finds that with
1 11 widespread declining enrollment throughout the rural areas of
1 12 the state, low-enrollment schools and school districts must
1 13 actively seek out partnership opportunities to facilitate a
1 14 quality rural educational experience for students in rural
1 15 areas.
1 16 2. The department shall establish a quality education team
1 17 to oversee the development of quality education plans in all
1 18 school districts with a resident enrollment in grades nine
1 19 through twelve of fewer than one hundred students, or a total
1 20 resident enrollment in grades kindergarten through twelve of
1 21 fewer than two hundred fifty students. Quality education team
1 22 members shall be appointed by the governor, and shall consist
1 23 of two members representing the department of education and
1 24 four members selected from and representing rural school
1 25 districts. The department shall provide a report to the
1 26 general assembly by February 1, 2003, regarding establishment
1 27 of the quality education team and quality education plan
1 28 implementation timing and strategies.
1 29 3. The quality education plan developed by the school
1 30 districts identified in subsection 2 shall address the
1 31 district's curriculum, administrative functions, and total
1 32 school district expenses and budgeting for the four-year
1 33 period commencing with the school budget year beginning July
1 34 1, 2004. The goal of the quality education plan shall be to
1 35 achieve greater efficiency and economy while promoting student
2 1 access to expanded curricula and teachers with enhanced
2 2 qualifications. The plan may include options for school
2 3 district consolidation or dissolution, regional academies,
2 4 public school instruction in nonpublicly owned buildings, and
2 5 alternatives to or exceptions from existing department of
2 6 education general standards regarding curriculum,
2 7 accreditation, and certified teaching staff.
2 8 4. Each school district identified in subsection 2 shall
2 9 submit a quality education plan to the quality education team
2 10 no later than April 30, 2004, for review and approval by the
2 11 team. A plan may be approved by the quality education team as
2 12 submitted, or subject to modifications recommended by the team
2 13 based upon its review. The quality education team shall
2 14 forward the plan with its recommendations and modifications to
2 15 the department. The department may approve, reject, or modify
2 16 a plan approved by the team. If implementation of an approved
2 17 plan requires modification of a school district's certified
2 18 budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, the school
2 19 district may request and the department of management shall
2 20 amend the school district's certified budget by June 30, 2004,
2 21 in accordance with the provisions of an approved plan.
2 22 Approved plans shall be implemented for a four-year period
2 23 commencing with the school budget year beginning July 1, 2004.
2 24 A school district submitting a quality education plan which is
2 25 not approved upon initial review shall be given the
2 26 opportunity to submit a revised plan by December 31, 2004, for
2 27 implementation for the four-year period commencing with the
2 28 school budget year beginning July 1, 2005.
2 29 5. A school district identified in subsection 2 that
2 30 either fails to submit a quality education plan or does not
2 31 receive approval for a plan under subsection 4 shall be
2 32 subject to alternative budget adjustment provisions pursuant
2 33 to section 257.14, subsection 4.
2 34 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 256.25 SHARED ADMINISTRATIVE
2 35 SERVICES.
3 1 1. The general assembly finds that the sharing of
3 2 administrative services between school districts offers a
3 3 significant opportunity for cost reduction, thereby allocating
3 4 limited state education resources directly into the classroom
3 5 to the greatest extent possible. Shared administrative
3 6 services can also afford school districts with access to
3 7 individuals with enhanced administrative experience and
3 8 expertise, contributing to improved overall school district
3 9 operations.
3 10 2. To facilitate reduced administrative services costs and
3 11 access to increased administrative expertise, the department
3 12 shall develop a plan establishing guidelines for the sharing
3 13 of administrative services between school districts.
3 14 Administrative services that may be combined or shared between
3 15 school districts shall include, but are not limited to,
3 16 business offices and functions, human resources, food
3 17 services, and transportation. Efficiencies may be gained
3 18 between two school districts, by school districts forming
3 19 regional cooperatives, by school districts working with other
3 20 governmental agencies, or by the provision of administrative
3 21 services through contracting with a private vendor. The plan
3 22 shall be submitted to the general assembly by February 1,
3 23 2004. The guidelines developed shall apply to school
3 24 districts for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2004,
3 25 with implementation of a sharing program commencing with the
3 26 school budget year beginning July 1, 2005.
3 27 3. This section shall not apply to a school district that
3 28 has developed and implemented a quality education plan
3 29 pursuant to section 256.24.
3 30 4. A school district qualifying for the budget guarantee
3 31 referred to in subsection 2 that fails to establish a sharing
3 32 program, which meets the guidelines established by the
3 33 department pursuant to subsection 2, by July 1, 2005, shall be
3 34 subject to alternative budget adjustment provisions pursuant
3 35 to section 257.14, subsection 4.
4 1 Sec. 3. Section 257.14, Code 2003, is amended by adding
4 2 the following new subsection:
4 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. A school district which received a
4 4 budget adjustment for the budget year beginning July 1, 2004,
4 5 pursuant to subsection 3, paragraph "a", and which would
4 6 otherwise be eligible to apply the eighty, seventy, sixty,
4 7 fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, and ten percent provisions in
4 8 succeeding budget years pursuant to subsection 3, paragraphs
4 9 "b" through "i", shall be subject to alternative budget
4 10 adjustment provisions if the school district either fails to
4 11 submit a quality education plan or receive approval for a plan
4 12 pursuant to section 256.24, or fails to establish a sharing
4 13 program pursuant to section 256.25. The alternative budget
4 14 adjustment provisions shall be applied to a school district to
4 15 which this subsection applies according to the following
4 16 schedule:
4 17 a. For the budget year commencing July 1, 2005, the
4 18 greater of the difference between the regular program district
4 19 cost for the budget year and one hundred one percent of the
4 20 regular program district cost for the base year, or seventy
4 21 percent of the amount by which the budget guarantee as
4 22 calculated for the budget year beginning July 1, 2003, exceeds
4 23 the adjusted guarantee amount. For purposes of this
4 24 paragraph, the "adjusted guarantee amount" means the amount
4 25 which would be applicable for the budget year beginning July
4 26 1, 2005, if the budget guarantee were determined for that
4 27 budget year as calculated for the budget year beginning July
4 28 1, 2003.
4 29 b. For the budget year commencing July 1, 2006, the
4 30 greater of the difference between the regular program district
4 31 cost for the budget year and one hundred one percent of the
4 32 regular program district cost for the base year, or fifty
4 33 percent of the amount by which the budget guarantee as
4 34 calculated for the budget year beginning July 1, 2003, exceeds
4 35 the adjusted guarantee amount. For purposes of this
5 1 paragraph, the "adjusted guarantee amount" means the amount
5 2 that would be applicable for the budget year beginning July 1,
5 3 2006, if the budget guarantee were determined for that budget
5 4 year as calculated for the budget year beginning July 1, 2003.
5 5 c. For the budget year commencing July 1, 2007, the
5 6 greater of the difference between the regular program district
5 7 cost for the budget year and one hundred one percent of the
5 8 regular program district cost for the base year, or thirty
5 9 percent of the amount by which the budget guarantee as
5 10 calculated for the budget year beginning July 1, 2003, exceeds
5 11 the adjusted guarantee amount. For purposes of this
5 12 paragraph, the "adjusted guarantee amount" means the amount
5 13 which would be applicable for the budget year beginning July
5 14 1, 2007, if the budget guarantee were determined for that
5 15 budget year as calculated for the budget year beginning July
5 16 1, 2003.
5 17 d. For the budget year commencing July 1, 2008, the
5 18 greater of the difference between the regular program district
5 19 cost for the budget year and one hundred one percent of the
5 20 regular program district cost for the base year, or ten
5 21 percent of the amount by which the budget guarantee as
5 22 calculated for the budget year beginning July 1, 2003, exceeds
5 23 the adjusted guarantee amount. For purposes of this
5 24 paragraph, the "adjusted guarantee amount" means the amount
5 25 which would be applicable for the budget year beginning July
5 26 1, 2008, if the budget guarantee were determined for that
5 27 budget year as calculated for the budget year beginning July
5 28 1, 2003.
5 29 e. For the budget year commencing July 1, 2009, and each
5 30 budget year thereafter, the difference between the regular
5 31 program district cost for the budget year and one hundred one
5 32 percent of the regular program district cost for the base
5 33 year.
5 34 Sec. 4. SPECIAL EDUCATION ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTION – PILOT
5 35 PROJECT.
6 1 1. A special education alternative instruction pilot
6 2 project is established, to be administered by the department
6 3 of education. The pilot project is established in recognition
6 4 of this state's status as a leader in the provision of special
6 5 education services and instruction; in recognition of the
6 6 department's desire to assist children with special needs in
6 7 receiving services and opportunities that challenge them to
6 8 learn, grow, and develop their potential; to ensure that
6 9 special education students are treated as individuals rather
6 10 than as members of a category or group; and to assist special
6 11 education students in becoming contributing members of their
6 12 communities.
6 13 2. The pilot project shall be implemented during the
6 14 school budget year beginning July 1, 2004, through an area
6 15 education agency selected by the department. The project
6 16 shall consist of one semester of instruction at a private
6 17 provider facility, and shall involve the application of an
6 18 alternative teaching method or program for thirty students in
6 19 grades one through five who have been assessed with mild or
6 20 moderate learning disabilities. The pilot project proposal
6 21 shall be submitted to the United States department of
6 22 education for review and approval prior to implementation. In
6 23 order for a student to participate in the pilot project, the
6 24 teaching method or program developed must first be determined
6 25 to be appropriate to meet the special needs of the prospective
6 26 student participant as identified in that student's
6 27 individualized education plan.
6 28 3. Participating students shall be tested both prior to
6 29 and upon completing the semester to measure the results of the
6 30 application of the private provider's teaching method or
6 31 program. The goal of the pilot project shall be, at a
6 32 minimum, to attain the education goals set forth in a
6 33 student's individualized education plan such that the student
6 34 shall no longer require special education services. A
6 35 complete report of the pilot project and an analysis of the
7 1 results obtained shall be submitted to the members of the
7 2 legislative council by November 1, 2005.
7 3 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
7 4 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
7 5 EXPLANATION
7 6 This bill includes provisions facilitating partnership
7 7 opportunities for rural school districts, sharing
7 8 administrative services by school districts, and implementing
7 9 a pilot project involving an alternative special education
7 10 teaching method.
7 11 The bill provides for the establishment of a quality
7 12 education team, appointed by the governor, to oversee the
7 13 development of quality education plans in small-enrollment
7 14 school districts in the state. The bill provides that the
7 15 plans would be applicable to school districts with a resident
7 16 enrollment in grades nine through 12 of fewer than 100
7 17 students, or a total resident enrollment in grades
7 18 kindergarten through 12 of fewer than 250 students. The bill
7 19 provides that establishment of the quality education team, and
7 20 development of quality education plans, is in recognition of
7 21 the importance of rural education in Iowa, and the fact that
7 22 in order to continue to provide a quality educational
7 23 experience in the rural areas of the state in the face of
7 24 declining enrollment, small-enrollment school districts must
7 25 actively seek out partnership opportunities. The bill
7 26 provides that the quality education team shall provide a
7 27 report to the general assembly by February 1, 2003, regarding
7 28 quality education plan implementation timing and strategies.
7 29 The bill provides that a quality education plan shall
7 30 address curriculum, administrative functions, and total school
7 31 district expenses and budgeting for the four-year period
7 32 commencing with the school budget year beginning July 1, 2004,
7 33 with the goal of achieving greater efficiency and economy
7 34 while promoting student access to expanded curricula and
7 35 teachers with enhanced qualifications. The bill provides that
8 1 plans may include options for school district consolidation or
8 2 dissolution, regional academies, public school instruction in
8 3 nonpublicly owned buildings, and alternatives to or exceptions
8 4 from existing department of education standards. The bill
8 5 provides that quality education plans shall be submitted to
8 6 the quality education team no later than April 30, 2004, that
8 7 a school district's certified budget for fiscal year 2004-2005
8 8 shall be amended by the department of management to reflect
8 9 approved plan provisions, and that a plan may be approved by
8 10 the quality education team as submitted, or subject to
8 11 modifications based upon team recommendations, and finally
8 12 approved by the department. The bill provides that approved
8 13 plans shall be implemented for a four-year period commencing
8 14 with the school budget year beginning July 1, 2004, and that a
8 15 school district with a plan which is not approved upon initial
8 16 review shall be given the opportunity to submit a revised plan
8 17 by December 31, 2004, for implementation for the four-year
8 18 period commencing with the school budget year beginning July
8 19 1, 2005.
8 20 The bill provides that school districts that are not
8 21 subject to the quality education plan requirements of Code
8 22 section 256.40, which would indicate an enrollment of greater
8 23 than 100 students in grades nine through 12 and 250 students
8 24 in grades kindergarten through 12, shall be encouraged to
8 25 consolidate or share administrative services. The bill
8 26 provides that to facilitate reduced administrative services
8 27 costs and access to increased administrative expertise, the
8 28 department of education shall develop a plan establishing
8 29 guidelines for the sharing of administrative services by
8 30 school districts. The bill provides that administrative
8 31 services which may be combined or shared between school
8 32 districts shall include, but not be limited to, business
8 33 offices and functions, human resources, food services, and
8 34 transportation. The bill provides that efficiencies may be
8 35 gained between two school districts, by school districts
9 1 forming regional cooperatives, by school districts working
9 2 with other governmental agencies, or by the provision of
9 3 administrative services by contracting with a private vendor.
9 4 The bill provides that the department shall submit the plan to
9 5 the general assembly by February 1, 2004. The bill provides
9 6 that the guidelines which are developed shall apply to all
9 7 school districts qualifying for the budget guarantee pursuant
9 8 to Code section 257.14 for the school budget year beginning
9 9 July 1, 2004, with implementation of a sharing program
9 10 commencing with the school budget year beginning July 1, 2005.
9 11 The bill provides that if, by specified dates, a school
9 12 district either fails to submit a quality education plan or
9 13 receive approval for a plan, or fails to establish an
9 14 administrative sharing program, the school district shall be
9 15 subject to alternative budget adjustment provisions pursuant
9 16 to Code section 257.14. The bill provides that the
9 17 alternative provisions accelerate the "rollback" rate
9 18 contained in Code section 257.14, subsection 3, such that a
9 19 school district which qualified for the budget guarantee for
9 20 the school budget year beginning July 1, 2004, and received a
9 21 10 percent reduction (to the 90 percent level) for that budget
9 22 year shall be subject to a reduction over the next five years
9 23 at twice the rate which would otherwise be applicable for each
9 24 of those years. This would result in a school district
9 25 rollback from the 90 percent level for the school budget year
9 26 beginning July 1, 2004, to a zero rollback for the school
9 27 budget year beginning July 1, 2009.
9 28 The bill provides for the establishment of a special
9 29 education alternative instruction pilot project by the
9 30 department of education, in recognition of the significance of
9 31 the state's commitment and leadership status in the area of
9 32 special education. The bill provides that the pilot project
9 33 shall be implemented for one semester during the school budget
9 34 year beginning July 1, 2004, through an area education agency
9 35 selected by the department, at a private provider facility.
10 1 The bill provides that the project shall involve the
10 2 application of an alternative teaching method for 30 students
10 3 in grades one through five who have been assessed with mild or
10 4 moderate learning disabilities, and that the project proposal
10 5 shall be submitted to the United States department of
10 6 education for review and approval prior to implementation.
10 7 The bill provides for the determination that the program is
10 8 appropriate to meet the special needs of a prospective student
10 9 participant as identified in that student's individualized
10 10 education plan prior to selection for participation, and for
10 11 testing prior to and following completion of the project. The
10 12 bill provides that the goal of the project shall be, at a
10 13 minimum, to attain the education goals set forth in the
10 14 individualized education plan such that a student shall no
10 15 longer require special education services, and that a report
10 16 and analysis of results shall be submitted to the members of
10 17 the legislative council by November 1, 2005.
10 18 The bill takes effect upon enactment.
10 19 LSB 1522IC 80
10 20 rn/sh/8.1
Text: HSB00100 Text: HSB00102 Text: HSB00100 - HSB00199 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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