House File 2544 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 620)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the state board of education's rules regarding
2 educational technology and telecommunications.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5410HV 81
5 kh/gg/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 7, unnumbered
1 2 paragraph 1, Code Supplement 2005, is amended to read as
1 3 follows:
1 4 Adopt rules under chapter 17A for the use of
1 5 telecommunications educational technology as an instructional
1 6 tool for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade
1 7 twelve and served by local school districts, accredited or
1 8 approved nonpublic schools, area education agencies, community
1 9 colleges, institutions of higher education under the state
1 10 board of regents, and independent colleges and universities in
1 11 elementary and secondary school classes and courses. The
1 12 rules shall include but need not be limited to rules relating
1 13 to programs, educational policy, instructional practices,
1 14 staff development, use of pilot projects, curriculum
1 15 monitoring, and the accessibility of licensed teachers.
1 16 Sec. 2. Section 256.7, subsection 7, unnumbered paragraphs
1 17 2 and 3, Code Supplement 2005, are amended by striking the
1 18 unnumbered paragraphs.
1 19 Sec. 3. Section 256.7, subsection 7, unnumbered paragraphs
1 20 4 and 5, Code Supplement 2005, are amended to read as follows:
1 21 The state board shall establish an advisory committee to
1 22 make recommendations for rules required under this subsection
1 23 on the use of telecommunications educational technology as an
1 24 instructional tool. The committee shall be composed of
1 25 representatives from community colleges, area education
1 26 agencies, accredited or approved nonpublic schools, and local
1 27 school districts from various enrollment categories. The
1 28 representatives shall include board members, school
1 29 administrators, teachers, parents, students, and associations
1 30 interested in education.
1 31 Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall provide
1 32 that the curriculum delivered by educational technology shall
1 33 be delivered by a teacher appropriately licensed by the board
1 34 of educational examiners under chapter 272. A school district
1 35 whose students receive instruction delivered by educational
2 1 technology at a remote site shall provide supervision of
2 2 students at the remote site.
2 3 Educational technology may be used by a school district as
2 4 the exclusive means to provide instruction from kindergarten
2 5 through grade twelve. However, the school district shall
2 6 provide students with the opportunity to take coursework
2 7 through face=to=face instruction for any kindergarten through
2 8 grade eight course offered and, for grades nine through
2 9 twelve, for core courses which are required for graduation.
2 10 For purposes of this subsection, "core course" means a course
2 11 in English, language arts, mathematics, science, social
2 12 studies, physical education, American government, or American
2 13 history course offered in grades nine through twelve which
2 14 applies toward the school district's graduation requirements.
2 15 For purposes of this subsection, "face=to=face instruction"
2 16 means the instructional time in the classroom where the
2 17 student and teacher are physically present in the same
2 18 classroom at the same time. Additional elective credits
2 19 toward the total credits required for graduation may be
2 20 offered solely through educational technology. The board of
2 21 directors of a school district shall make information
2 22 available to students and parents at registration identifying
2 23 the courses offered exclusively through educational
2 24 technology.
2 25 For the purpose purposes of the rules adopted by the state
2 26 board pursuant to this subsection, telecommunications
2 27 "educational technology" means narrowcast communications
2 28 through systems that are directed toward a narrowly defined
2 29 audience and includes interactive live communications any
2 30 course that is delivered primarily through the use of
2 31 electronic media.
2 32 Sec. 4. Section 256.7, subsections 8 and 9, Code
2 33 Supplement 2005, are amended by striking the subsections.
2 34 Sec. 5. Section 256.9, subsection 41, Code Supplement
2 35 2005, is amended to read as follows:
3 1 41. Explore, in conjunction with the state board of
3 2 regents, the need for coordination between school districts,
3 3 area education agencies, regents institutions, and community
3 4 colleges for purposes of delivery of courses, use of
3 5 telecommunications educational technology, transportation, and
3 6 other similar issues. Coordination may include, but is not
3 7 limited to, coordination of calendars, programs, schedules, or
3 8 telecommunications emissions educational technology delivery.
3 9 Sec. 6. Section 256.33, unnumbered paragraphs 1 and 3,
3 10 Code 2005, are amended to read as follows:
3 11 The department shall consort with school districts, area
3 12 education agencies, community colleges, and colleges and
3 13 universities to provide assistance to them in the use of
3 14 educational technology for instruction purposes. The
3 15 department shall consult with the advisory committee on
3 16 telecommunications educational technology, established in
3 17 section 256.7, subsection 7, and other users of educational
3 18 technology on the development and operation of programs under
3 19 this section.
3 20 Priority shall be given to programs integrating
3 21 telecommunications educational technology into the classroom.
3 22 The department may award grants to school corporations and
3 23 higher education institutions to perform the functions listed
3 24 in this section.
3 25 Sec. 7. Section 279.47, Code 2005, is repealed.
3 26 EXPLANATION
3 27 This bill updates language in the Code by replacing a
3 28 requirement that the state board of education adopt rules for
3 29 the use of telecommunications as an instructional tool with a
3 30 requirement that the state board adopt rules for the use of
3 31 educational technology as an instructional tool. The bill
3 32 defines "educational technology" to mean any course that is
3 33 delivered primarily through the use of electronic media.
3 34 The bill permits the use of educational technology by a
3 35 school district as the exclusive means to provide instruction
4 1 from kindergarten through grade 12. However, students in
4 2 kindergarten through grade eight, and students taking core
4 3 courses required for graduation must be provided the
4 4 opportunity to take coursework face=to=face with a teacher.
4 5 The school district must make information available to parents
4 6 and students at registration identifying the courses offered
4 7 exclusively through educational technology.
4 8 The bill retains certain provisions relating to the
4 9 telecommunications requirements, but aligns the language to
4 10 the educational technology requirements, including language
4 11 which requires the state board to establish an advisory
4 12 committee to make recommendations for rules, which requires
4 13 the department to consult with the committee, and which
4 14 provides that the educational technology be used for students
4 15 enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 and served by local
4 16 school districts, accredited or approved nonpublic schools,
4 17 area education agencies, community colleges, institutions of
4 18 higher education under the state board of regents, and
4 19 independent colleges and universities in elementary and
4 20 secondary school classes and courses. The bill makes
4 21 conforming changes in a current Code provision to require the
4 22 director of the department to explore the need for
4 23 coordination in the use of educational technology.
4 24 The bill requires that curriculum delivered electronically
4 25 must be taught by an appropriately licensed teacher, and that
4 26 school districts provide supervision to students whose
4 27 instruction is electronically delivered at a remote site. The
4 28 bill also prohibits the use of educational technology to
4 29 deliver core courses that apply toward graduation.
4 30 The bill eliminates a provision that requires the state
4 31 board to develop evaluation procedures to measure the effects
4 32 of instruction by means of telecommunications, along with a
4 33 reference to the provision that requires school districts to
4 34 participate in the procedures. The bill also eliminates
4 35 language that defines "supervision" for purposes of
5 1 telecommunications.
5 2 LSB 5410HV 81
5 3 kh:rj/gg/14