S-5222

   Amend House File 2280, as amended, passed, and reprinted by the House, as follows:
   1.  By striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting: 
   Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 3, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Prescribe standards and procedures for the approval of practitioner preparation programs and professional development programs offered in this state by practitioner preparation institutions located within or outside this state and by area education agencies. Procedures provided for approval of programs shall include procedures for enforcement of the prescribed standards and, except as provided in section 256.16, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (b), shall not include a procedure for the waiving of any of the standards prescribed. The board may establish by rule and collect from practitioner preparation institutions located outside this state an amount equivalent to the department’s necessary travel and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the program approval process for the institution located outside this state. Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund of the state.
   Sec. 2.  Section 256.16, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (2), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  (a)  Administer, prior to a student’s completion of the practitioner preparation program and subject to the director’s approval, subject assessments designed by a nationally recognized testing service that measure pedagogy and knowledge of at least one subject area; or, a valid and reliable subject-area-specific, performance-based assessment for preservice teacher candidates, centered on student learning. A student shall not successfully complete the program unless the scores achieved by the student achieves scores on the assessments administered under this subparagraph are at or above the twenty-fifth percentile nationally on the assessments administered pursuant to this subparagraph minimum passing scores set by the department.  To determine the minimum passing scores for purposes of this subparagraph, the department shall use the recommended scores which are determined by the assessment provider through a validated standard setting process.
   (b)  The state board shall adopt rules to provide that the director shall waive the assessment requirements of subparagraph division (a) for one year for a person who has completed the course requirements for an approved practitioner preparation program but attained an assessment score below the minimum scores set by the department for successful completion of the program under subparagraph division (a).
   (c)  The board of educational examiners shall adopt rules under chapter 17A to create an initial one-year license for an applicant who obtains a waiver issued by the director in accordance with subparagraph division (b) and presents the waiver within thirty days of issuance to the board or who attended and successfully completed a practitioner preparation program outside of this state and has met all other application requirements with the exception of the assessment score achievement requirements of subparagraph division (a). Such an applicant must provide an affidavit from the administrator of a school district or an accredited nonpublic school verifying that an offer of a teaching contract has been made and the school district or accredited nonpublic school has made every reasonable and good-faith effort to employ a teacher licensed under chapter 272 for the specified subject and is unable to employ such a teacher.
   Sec. 3.  Section 256.16, subsection 2, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  A person initially applying for a license shall successfully complete a professional education program containing the subject matter specified in this section, before the initial action by the board of educational examiners takes place.  However, this subsection shall not apply to a person who meets the requirements for an initial one-year license in accordance with subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (c).
   Sec. 4.  Section 272.2, subsection 14, paragraph b, subparagraph (5), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   (5)  The applicant fails to meet board standards for application for an initial or renewed license.  However, this subparagraph shall not apply to a person who applies for an initial one-year license and submits to the board a waiver issued by the director of the department in accordance with section 256.16.>
   2.  Title page, by striking lines 1 through 3 and inserting <An Act relating to assessment scores set by the department of education for successful completion of a practitioner preparation program and for initial teacher licensure and providing for related matters.>

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TOD R. BOWMAN