ARC 6927C
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT[281]
Adopted and Filed
Rule making related to paraeducator preparation programs
The State Board of Education hereby amends Chapter 80, “Standards for Paraeducator Preparation Programs,” Iowa Administrative Code.
Legal Authority for Rule Making
This rule making is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 256.7(22).
State or Federal Law Implemented
This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 256.7(22).
Purpose and Summary
The Department of Education’s educator preparation team approved nine new programs in the fall of 2022. Due to state initiatives to expand alternative programs to teacher licensure, it is expected that the demand and interest in offering paraeducator preparation programs will continue to grow. Many of these new programs are offered by higher education institutions, which require additional rigorous standards. Due to the added number of the programs, it will be challenging to administer high-quality reviews that provide meaningful feedback for program change and growth within the required five-year cycle. Therefore, this rule making changes the review timeline to every seven years. This allows the educator preparation team to align the paraeducator preparation review with the educator preparation review. This makes the process more efficient for the programs and the Department consultants due to close alignment of other preparation standards with paraeducator standards.
Public Comment and Changes to Rule Making
Notice of Intended Action for this rule making was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on December 14, 2022, as ARC 6757C. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.
Adoption of Rule Making
This rule making was adopted by the State Board on February 9, 2023.
Fiscal Impact
This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.
Jobs Impact
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
Waivers
Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the State Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 281—Chapter 4.
Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).
Effective Date
This rule making will become effective on April 12, 2023.
The following rule-making actions are adopted:
	Item 1. Amend rule 281—80.5(272) as follows:
281—80.5(272) Application; approval of programs. Approval of paraeducator preparation programs by the state board shall be based on the recommendation of the director after study of the factual and evaluative evidence of record about each program in terms of the standards contained in this chapter. Approval, if granted, shall be for a term of five seven years; however, approval for a shorter term may be granted by the state board if it determines conditions so warrant. If approval is not granted, the applicant institution will be advised concerning the areas in which improvement or changes appear to be essential for approval. In this case, the institution shall be given the opportunity to present factual information concerning its programs at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the state board. The institution may also reapply at its discretion to provide evidence of the actions taken toward suggested improvement. Any application submitted under this rule shall be submitted by the authorized official.
	Item 2. Amend rule 281—80.7(272) as follows:
281—80.7(272) Reevaluation of paraeducator preparation programs. Each paraeducator preparation program shall be reviewed and reevaluated at least once every five seven years, at a shorter interval specified pursuant to rule 281—80.5(272), or at any time deemed necessary by the director. Recommendations as to whether to grant continued approval shall be governed by rule 281—80.5(272).
[Filed 2/9/23, effective 4/12/23]
[Published 3/8/23]
Editor’s Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 3/8/23.