Text: SF00405 Text: SF00407 Text: SF00400 - SF00499 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. SPECIAL EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM – READING 1 2 LABORATORY. 1 3 1. Recognizing the state's desire to assist children to 1 4 grow, develop, and learn to their fullest extent and empower 1 5 young readers in grades kindergarten through three, and to 1 6 support student achievement and overall academic performance, 1 7 and recognizing that instructional methodologies and 1 8 strategies are important considerations in determining the 1 9 appropriate education for a child with a learning disability, 1 10 a reading laboratory pilot program is established. The 1 11 objective of the program shall be to evaluate methodologies 1 12 and strategies used to teach reading that could be implemented 1 13 to ensure that the state is meeting the unique needs of 1 14 individual children; and to assist with student placement 1 15 decisions in education programs, including placement in the 1 16 special education program. 1 17 2. The program shall be administered by the department of 1 18 education, and shall afford a private education provider the 1 19 opportunity to demonstrate effective methodologies and 1 20 strategies in teaching reading for students in grades 1 21 kindergarten through three identified with special needs. A 1 22 private education provider shall be selected by the department 1 23 which meets the following criteria from among those submitting 1 24 an application for consideration: 1 25 a. The provider shall be doing business in at least two 1 26 locations in a county which contains a school district with an 1 27 enrollment of at least twenty-five thousand pupils in grades 1 28 kindergarten through twelve. 1 29 b. The provider shall possess at least fifteen years of 1 30 business experience in the application of methodologies and 1 31 strategies designed to improve reading skills for students in 1 32 grades kindergarten through twelve. 1 33 c. The provider shall employ at least forty trained staff, 1 34 including at least one staff member who is a licensed special 1 35 education consultant. 2 1 d. The provider shall be able to document success in 2 2 improving student achievement in reading skills in grades 2 3 kindergarten through three. 2 4 The department shall develop private provider application 2 5 forms, and shall publish notice and provide information on the 2 6 department's website regarding the existence of the pilot 2 7 program, application procedures, and program participation. 2 8 The private education provider which meets all of the 2 9 eligibility criteria set forth in this subsection shall be 2 10 selected by the department, and the selection process shall be 2 11 conducted without bidding. 2 12 3. Students in grades kindergarten through three, residing 2 13 in a county which contains a school district with an 2 14 enrollment of at least twenty-five thousand students in grades 2 15 kindergarten through twelve, and who have been identified by 2 16 the school district as qualifying for special education 2 17 services with mild or moderate learning disabilities involving 2 18 difficulty in reading, shall be eligible to participate in the 2 19 program. School districts shall be responsible for 2 20 determining a pool of students who meet the eligibility 2 21 requirements, in coordination with the local area education 2 22 agency; for notifying parents regarding the existence of the 2 23 program and providing an application form and any other 2 24 necessary information; and for submitting applications to the 2 25 department. The department shall select a maximum of fifty 2 26 students from those students submitting an application. 2 27 Selection of students shall be done randomly in the event that 2 28 more than fifty students submit applications, beginning with 2 29 students in the third grade, then second, then first, and 2 30 finally kindergarten, with students eligible for free and 2 31 reduced-price meals under the federal National School Lunch 2 32 Act and the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. } 2 33 1751-1785, given priority. Additional eligibility 2 34 requirements may be established by the private education 2 35 provider, including intelligence quotient testing scores, in 3 1 order to provide reliable and beneficial program results. 3 2 Students submitting an application shall be provided with an 3 3 intelligence test selected by the department and administered 3 4 by the local area education agency. The results of the test 3 5 shall remain confidential and shall only be used by the area 3 6 education agency to determine eligibility and participation in 3 7 the pilot program. 3 8 4. Pilot program instruction shall be provided on the 3 9 premises of the private education provider. Student 3 10 instruction shall be provided over a nine-week period during 3 11 the months of June, July, and August 2003. The private 3 12 education provider shall ensure that each student receives 3 13 reading instruction appropriate for the child, for a minimum 3 14 of seven hours per week, with the instruction received 3 15 considered separate and distinct from the student's current 3 16 individual education plan. The school district shall provide 3 17 transportation for the student to the private education 3 18 provider's location, or shall provide parental reimbursement 3 19 for transportation in an amount determined by the school 3 20 district board of directors. 3 21 5. The private education provider shall gather performance 3 22 data to provide for program accountability, including but not 3 23 limited to pretesting and posttesting, to measure improvement 3 24 by each student during instruction, and upon the conclusion of 3 25 the program. The private education provider shall consult 3 26 with the local area education agency for assistance with 3 27 pretesting and posttesting, and the area education agency 3 28 shall approve the tests utilized. The private education 3 29 provider shall provide progress reports to the parents or 3 30 guardians of participating students, to the school district in 3 31 which the participating students are enrolled, and to the 3 32 department. The department, in conjunction with the 3 33 legislative fiscal bureau and the private provider, shall 3 34 review and analyze the data collected and submitted by the 3 35 private education provider. Full assurance relating to 4 1 confidentiality of identification of individual students' 4 2 scores shall be provided. The department shall submit a cost- 4 3 benefit analysis report to the members of the general assembly 4 4 by January 1, 2004, summarizing the results of the pilot 4 5 program. The report shall include an analysis of the student 4 6 improvement as measured through test scores, and a short-term 4 7 and long-term cost savings analysis for implementing the 4 8 private education provider's instruction methodology and 4 9 strategies. The analysis of the cost savings shall include 4 10 savings due to a reduction in the statewide average length of 4 11 participation in the special education program. The report 4 12 shall also include recommendations relating to statewide 4 13 implementation of the pilot program. The legislative fiscal 4 14 bureau shall conduct a survey of other reading studies 4 15 conducted in the state and shall include in the report results 4 16 relating to public school reading initiatives. The department 4 17 shall submit a follow-up report by January 1, 2005, tracking 4 18 continued improvement by students who participated in the 4 19 program, and including the number of students who are no 4 20 longer identified as requiring special education instruction. 4 21 6. The establishment of the pilot program pursuant to this 4 22 section shall be contingent upon the appropriation of an 4 23 amount sufficient to fund the costs of the program for the 4 24 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004. 4 25 Sec. 2. Section 256D.9, Code 2003, is amended to read as 4 26 follows: 4 27 256D.9 FUTURE REPEAL. 4 28 This chapter is repealed effective July 1,20032004. 4 29 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 4 30 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 4 31 EXPLANATION 4 32 This bill provides for the establishment of a special 4 33 education alternative instruction pilot program focusing on 4 34 improving reading skills in grades kindergarten through three. 4 35 The bill provides intent language supporting the 5 1 establishment of the program, citing the state's desire to 5 2 assist children to grow, develop, and learn to their fullest 5 3 extent, to empower young readers in grades kindergarten 5 4 through three, and to support student achievement and overall 5 5 academic performance. The bill provides that the objective of 5 6 the program shall be to evaluate methodologies and strategies 5 7 used to teach reading that could be implemented to ensure that 5 8 the state is meeting the unique needs of individual children, 5 9 and to assist with student placement decisions in education 5 10 programs, including placement in the special education 5 11 program. 5 12 The bill provides that the program shall be administered by 5 13 the department of education, and shall involve instruction by 5 14 a private education provider intended to demonstrate effective 5 15 methodologies and strategies in teaching reading for students 5 16 in grades kindergarten through three identified with special 5 17 needs. The bill provides that a private provider shall be 5 18 selected by the department which meets specified criteria, 5 19 including doing business in at least two locations located in 5 20 a county which contains a school district with an enrollment 5 21 of at least 25,000 pupils in grades kindergarten through 12, 5 22 possessing at least 15 years of business experience in the 5 23 application of methodologies and strategies designed to 5 24 improve reading skills, employment of at least 40 trained 5 25 staff, including at least one staff member who is a licensed 5 26 special education consultant, and documented success in 5 27 improving student achievement in reading skills in grades 5 28 kindergarten through three. The bill provides that the 5 29 department shall develop private provider application forms 5 30 and shall publish notice regarding the program, and that the 5 31 selection process shall be conducted without bidding. 5 32 The bill provides that eligible students shall be in grades 5 33 kindergarten through three, residing in a county containing a 5 34 school district with an enrollment of at least 25,000 students 5 35 in grades kindergarten through 12, and shall have been 6 1 identified as qualifying for special education services with 6 2 mild or moderate learning disabilities involving difficulty in 6 3 reading. The bill provides that school districts shall be 6 4 responsible for determining a pool of students who meet the 6 5 eligibility requirements, in coordination with the local area 6 6 education agency; for notifying parents regarding the 6 7 existence of the program and providing an application form and 6 8 any other necessary information; and for submitting 6 9 applications to the department. The bill provides that the 6 10 department shall select a maximum of 50 students from those 6 11 students submitting an application. The bill provides that in 6 12 the event that more than 50 students submit an application, 6 13 selection shall be done randomly, beginning with third grade 6 14 students, then second, then first, and finally kindergarten, 6 15 with students eligible for free and reduced-price meals under 6 16 the federal National School Lunch Act and the federal Child 6 17 Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. } 1751-1785, given priority. 6 18 The bill provides that additional eligibility requirements may 6 19 be established by the private provider, and that students 6 20 submitting an application shall be provided with an 6 21 intelligence test selected by the department and administered 6 22 by the local area education agency. The bill provides that 6 23 the results of the test shall remain confidential and shall 6 24 only be used by the area education agency to determine 6 25 eligibility and participation in the pilot program. 6 26 The bill provides that instruction shall be provided on the 6 27 premises of the private provider over a nine-week period 6 28 during the months of June, July, and August 2003, for a 6 29 minimum of seven hours per week, with the instruction received 6 30 considered separate and distinct from the student's current 6 31 individual education plan. The bill provides that the school 6 32 district shall provide transportation for the student to the 6 33 private provider's location, or parental reimbursement for 6 34 transportation expenses. 6 35 The bill provides that the private provider shall gather 7 1 performance data to provide for program accountability, with 7 2 the assistance of the local area education agency, and shall 7 3 provide progress reports to the parents or guardians of 7 4 participating students, to the school district in which the 7 5 participating students are enrolled, and to the department. 7 6 The bill provides that the department, in conjunction with the 7 7 legislative fiscal bureau and the private provider, shall 7 8 review and analyze the data, with full assurance relating to 7 9 confidentiality of identification of individual students' 7 10 scores, and that the department shall submit a cost-benefit 7 11 analysis report to the members of the general assembly by 7 12 January 1, 2004, summarizing the results of the pilot program. 7 13 The bill provides that the report shall include an analysis of 7 14 the student improvement as measured through test scores, a 7 15 short-term and long-term cost savings analysis for 7 16 implementing the provider's instruction methodology and 7 17 strategies, recommendations relating to statewide 7 18 implementation of the program, and results relating to public 7 19 school reading initiatives surveyed by the legislative fiscal 7 20 bureau. The bill provides for a follow-up progress report 7 21 regarding students who had participated in the program by 7 22 January 1, 2005. 7 23 The bill provides that establishment of the program shall 7 24 be contingent upon an appropriation to fund the costs of the 7 25 program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending 7 26 June 30, 2004. 7 27 The bill additionally provides that Code chapter 256D, 7 28 relating to the Iowa early intervention block grant program, 7 29 which contains a repeal date of July 1, 2003, shall instead be 7 30 repealed on July 1, 2004. 7 31 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 7 32 LSB 1849SV 80 7 33 rn/cf/24.1
Text: SF00405 Text: SF00407 Text: SF00400 - SF00499 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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