House File 2099 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY KURTENBACH Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to virtual public schools. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5533YH 81 4 kh/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 256G.1 VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1 2 ACT. 1 3 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 1 4 "Virtual Public Schools Act". 1 5 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 256G.2 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. 1 6 1. The general assembly finds and declares the following: 1 7 a. Meeting the educational needs of children in the 1 8 state's schools is of the greatest importance to the future 1 9 welfare of the state of Iowa. 1 10 b. Closing the achievement gap between high=performing and 1 11 low=performing students, including the gap between minority 1 12 and nonminority students and between economically 1 13 disadvantaged and advantaged students, is a significant and 1 14 present challenge. 1 15 c. Providing a broader range of educational options to 1 16 parents and utilizing existing resources, along with 1 17 technology, may help students in Iowa improve their academic 1 18 achievement. 1 19 d. Many of our school districts currently lack the 1 20 capacity to provide other public school choices for students 1 21 whose schools are low performing. 1 22 2. The general assembly further finds and declares the 1 23 following: 1 24 a. That virtual schools established pursuant to this 1 25 chapter will provide Iowa families with an alternative choice 1 26 to access additional educational resources in an effort to 1 27 improve academic achievement. 1 28 b. That virtual schools established pursuant to this 1 29 chapter should be recognized as public schools and provided 1 30 equitable treatment and resources as any other public school 1 31 in this state. 1 32 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 256G.3 DEFINITIONS. 1 33 For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise 1 34 requires: 1 35 1. "Sponsor" means the board of directors of a school 2 1 district, the board of directors of a charter school, or the 2 2 state board of education that has a fiduciary responsibility 2 3 for the operation of the virtual school. 2 4 2. "Virtual school" means a public school that uses 2 5 technology in order to deliver a significant portion of 2 6 instruction to its students using the internet in a virtual or 2 7 remote setting. A virtual school shall be considered an 2 8 attendance center of a public school district or public 2 9 charter school for purposes of reporting and funding, but 2 10 shall be exempt from the requirements of chapters 283A and 2 11 285. 2 12 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 256G.4 ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE 2 13 REQUIREMENTS. 2 14 1. SPONSOR. A virtual school shall be evaluated annually 2 15 by its sponsor based on the following criteria: 2 16 a. The extent to which the school increases student 2 17 achievement based on the student achievement goals established 2 18 by the school district pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 2 19 21. 2 20 b. The accountability and viability of the virtual school, 2 21 as demonstrated by its academic, fiscal, and operational 2 22 performance. 2 23 2. STUDENT AND FAMILY SERVICES. 2 24 a. A virtual school shall do all of the following: 2 25 (1) Provide each student with access to a sequential 2 26 curriculum that meets or exceeds the school district's 2 27 academic standards and that has an interactive program with 2 28 significant on=line components. 2 29 (2) Assess each student regularly in language arts, 2 30 mathematics, science, and social studies. 2 31 (3) Provide instructional materials. 2 32 (4) Ensure access to necessary technology, such as a 2 33 computer and printer. 2 34 (5) Ensure access to an internet connection used for 2 35 schoolwork. 3 1 b. A virtual school shall not provide allotments of moneys 3 2 to students or families to purchase instructional programs or 3 3 materials. However, a virtual school may from reimburse 3 4 students or families for costs associated with their internet 3 5 connection for use in the virtual school program. 3 6 3. TEACHERS. A teacher, as defined in section 272.1, 3 7 employed by a sponsor shall hold a valid license with an 3 8 endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners under 3 9 chapter 272 for the type of service for which the teacher or 3 10 administrator is employed. 3 11 4. OFFICE WITHIN STATE. A virtual school shall maintain 3 12 an administrative office within this state, which shall be 3 13 considered its principal place of business. 3 14 5. OPEN ENROLLMENT. A student who is a resident, as 3 15 defined in section 282.6, of any school district in this state 3 16 may enroll in a virtual school established pursuant to this 3 17 chapter. 3 18 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 256G.5 EFFECT OF CHAPTER. 3 19 Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preclude the 3 20 use of computer=based and internet=based instruction for 3 21 students in a remote setting. 3 22 EXPLANATION 3 23 This bill establishes the virtual public schools Act, which 3 24 permits a school district board, charter school board, or the 3 25 department of education to sponsor a public virtual school. 3 26 The bill includes legislative findings and declarations, which 3 27 include the statement that virtual schools should be 3 28 recognized as public schools and provided equitable treatment 3 29 and resources as any other public school in the state. Any 3 30 student who is a resident of the state as defined in Code 3 31 section 282.6 may enroll in a virtual school. 3 32 The bill defines a "virtual school" as a public school that 3 33 uses technology in order to deliver a significant portion of 3 34 instruction to its students using the internet in a virtual or 3 35 remote setting. A virtual school shall be considered an 4 1 attendance center of a public school district or public 4 2 charter school for purposes of reporting and funding, but 4 3 shall be exempt from the requirements of the state's school 4 4 transportation and school meal requirements. 4 5 The bill requires the sponsor of a virtual school to 4 6 evaluate the virtual school's student achievement data against 4 7 the school district's student achievement goals and to 4 8 evaluate the accountability and viability of the school. 4 9 A virtual school must provide each student with access to a 4 10 sequential curriculum that meets or exceeds the school 4 11 district's academic standards and has an interactive program 4 12 with significant online components; assess each student 4 13 regularly in language arts, mathematics, science, and social 4 14 studies; provide instructional materials; ensure access to 4 15 necessary technology, such as a computer and printer; and 4 16 ensure access to an internet connection used for schoolwork. 4 17 A virtual school is prohibited from providing allotments to 4 18 students or families to purchase instructional programs or 4 19 materials, but may reimburse families for costs associated 4 20 with their internet connection. 4 21 A teacher providing instruction at a virtual school must be 4 22 licensed and hold the appropriate endorsements issued by the 4 23 board of educational examiners. 4 24 A virtual school must maintain an administrative office 4 25 within the state. 4 26 LSB 5533YH 81 4 27 kh:rj/sh/8