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