House File 165 H-1229 Amend House File 165 as follows: 1 1. By striking everything after the enacting clause and 2 inserting: 3 < Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding 4 the following new subsections: 5 NEW SUBSECTION . 69. a. Develop and distribute to school 6 districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and 7 innovation zone schools a test in multiple-choice format that 8 consists of all of the questions contained in the most recent 9 version of the civics test developed by the United States 10 citizenship and immigration services. 11 b. On or before the January 31 immediately subsequent to 12 each general election which is a presidential election, update 13 the test described in paragraph “a” and distribute the updated 14 test to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter 15 schools, and innovation zone schools. 16 NEW SUBSECTION . 70. a. Study the relationship between high 17 school graduation rates and the number of students who attain a 18 passing score on the civics test described in section 280.9A, 19 subsection lA, and submit a report that contains the results of 20 the study to the general assembly on or before June 30, 2029. 21 b. This subsection is repealed July 1, 2029. 22 Sec. 2. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended 23 by adding the following new paragraph: 24 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0r. Be subject to and comply with the 25 requirements of section 280.9A, subsection lA, related to the 26 administration of a civics test in the same manner as a school 27 district. 28 Sec. 3. Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended 29 by adding the following new paragraph: 30 NEW PARAGRAPH . r. Be subject to and comply with the 31 requirements of section 280.9A, subsection lA, related to the 32 administration of a civics test in the same manner as a school 33 district. 34 Sec. 4. Section 259A.1, Code 2025, is amended to read as 35 -1- HF 165.1522 (1) 91 (amending this HF 165 to CONFORM to SF 369) jda/jh 1/ 3 #1.
follows: 1 259A.1 Assessment of competency. 2 The department of education shall cause to be made available 3 for qualified individuals a high school equivalency diploma. 4 The diploma shall be issued on the basis of demonstrated to 5 qualified individuals who successfully pass the civics test as 6 set forth in section 280.9A, and demonstrate competence in all 7 of the following core areas: reading, language arts, literacy, 8 mathematics, science, and social studies. 9 Sec. 5. Section 280.9A, Code 2025, is amended by adding the 10 following new subsection: 11 NEW SUBSECTION . 1A. a. Commencing with the school year 12 beginning July 1, 2026, the board of directors of each local 13 public school district and the authorities in charge of each 14 accredited nonpublic school shall administer to students 15 enrolled in grades nine through twelve the most recent version 16 of the test distributed to the school district or accredited 17 nonpublic school by the director of the department of education 18 pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 69, in written or 19 electronic format, and shall ensure that each student receives 20 one passing score on the test as a condition of graduation. 21 The board of directors of a local public school district and 22 the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school 23 shall not be required to administer the test to a student who 24 has received a passing score on the test. 25 b. A student must answer at least sixty percent of the 26 questions on the test described in paragraph “a” correctly 27 to attain a passing score. A student who fails to answer at 28 least sixty percent of the questions on such test correctly may 29 retake the test as many times as is necessary. 30 c. The board of directors of a local public school district 31 or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school 32 shall not impose or collect any fee in connection with the 33 administration of the test described in paragraph “a” . 34 d. The board of directors of a local public school district 35 -2- HF 165.1522 (1) 91 (amending this HF 165 to CONFORM to SF 369) jda/jh 2/ 3
and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school 1 may do all of the following: 2 (1) Modify the test described in paragraph “a” for a student 3 who has an individualized education program or a plan under 4 section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794. 5 (2) Develop and administer an alternate test to a student 6 who has a significant intellectual disability. 7 (3) Modify the test described in paragraph “a” for a student 8 who is an English learner as defined in section 280.4. 9 e. On or before June 30 of each year, the board of directors 10 of each local public school district and the authorities in 11 charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall submit the 12 results of the test described in paragraph “a” to the department 13 of education. 14 f. The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant 15 to chapter 17A to administer this subsection. > 16 ______________________________ HENDERSON of Woodbury -3- HF 165.1522 (1) 91 (amending this HF 165 to CONFORM to SF 369) jda/jh 3/ 3