House File 2108
HOUSE FILE
BY HUTTER
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act to eliminate the school start date and providing for
2 related matters.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5922HH 80
5 kh/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 279.10, subsection 1, Code 2003, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 1. The school year shall begin annually on the first day
1 4 of July and each regularly established elementary and
1 5 secondary school shall begin no sooner than a day during the
1 6 calendar week in which the first day of September falls but no
1 7 later than the first Monday in December. However, if the
1 8 first day of September falls on a Sunday, school may begin on
1 9 a day during the calendar week which immediately precedes the
1 10 first day of September. School 1 and end on June 30 of the
1 11 following year. The school calendar shall continue for
1 12 consist of at least one hundred eighty days, except as
1 13 provided in subsection 3, and may be maintained during the
1 14 entire calendar school year. However, if the board of
1 15 directors of a district extends the school calendar because
1 16 inclement weather caused the district to temporarily close
1 17 school during the regular school calendar, the district may
1 18 excuse a graduating senior who has met district or school
1 19 requirements for graduation from attendance during the
1 20 extended school calendar. A school corporation may begin
1 21 employment of personnel for in=service training and
1 22 development purposes before the date to begin elementary and
1 23 secondary school.
1 24 Sec. 2. Section 279.10, subsection 4, Code 2003, is
1 25 amended by striking the subsection.
1 26 Sec. 3. Section 299.4, Code 2003, is amended to read as
1 27 follows:
1 28 299.4 REPORTS AS TO PRIVATE INSTRUCTION.
1 29 The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child who is
1 30 of compulsory attendance age, who places the child under
1 31 competent private instruction under either section 299A.2 or
1 32 299A.3, not in an accredited school or a home school
1 33 assistance program operated by a public or accredited
1 34 nonpublic school, shall furnish to the public school district,
1 35 by September 15 annually, a report in duplicate on forms
2 1 provided by the public school district, to the district by the
2 2 earliest starting date specified in section 279.10, subsection
2 3 1. The secretary shall retain and file one copy and forward
2 4 the other copy to the district's area education agency. The
2 5 report shall state the name and age of the child, the period
2 6 of time during which the child has been or will be under
2 7 competent private instruction for the year, an outline of the
2 8 course of study, texts used, and the name and address of the
2 9 instructor. The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a
2 10 child, who is placing the child under competent private
2 11 instruction for the first time, shall also provide the
2 12 district with evidence that the child has had the
2 13 immunizations required under section 139A.8. The term
2 14 "outline of course of study" shall include subjects covered,
2 15 lesson plans, and time spent on the areas of study.
2 16 Sec. 4. Section 257.17, Code 2003, is repealed.
2 17 EXPLANATION
2 18 This bill eliminates language specifying the earliest date
2 19 a school can begin its calendar and provides that the school
2 20 year shall begin annually on July 1 and end on June 30 of the
2 21 following year. The bill also states that the school calendar
2 22 shall consist of at least 180 days unless the school district
2 23 requests approval from the department of education for a pilot
2 24 program for an innovative school year. The bill strikes a
2 25 related provision that permits the director of the department
2 26 to waive the requirement for the school start date upon the
2 27 request of a school. The bill also provides that a report
2 28 filed for a child placed under competent private instruction,
2 29 which current Code states must be filed by the earliest school
2 30 start date, must be filed by September 15 annually. The bill
2 31 repeals a provision that reduces state aid payments to a
2 32 school if the school commences classes prior to the earliest
2 33 starting date.
2 34 LSB 5922HH 80
2 35 kh/sh/8