House File 401 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY WINCKLER, MASCHER, WENDT,
OLDSON, LENSING, FOEGE,
and WESSEL=KROESCHELL
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to teacher and administrator quality, including
2 the student achievement and teacher quality program, school
3 social workers' participation in the program, a new teacher
4 development academy and new teacher fellows, and a new
5 administrator quality program, and making appropriations.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
7 TLSB 2730HH 81
8 kh/gg/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2005, is amended by adding
1 2 the following new subsection:
1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 53. Develop core knowledge and skill
1 4 criteria, based upon the Iowa standards for school leaders,
1 5 for mentoring and induction, evaluation, and administrator
1 6 career development purposes pursuant to chapter 284A. The
1 7 criteria shall further define the characteristics of quality
1 8 administrators as established by the Iowa standards for school
1 9 leaders established in section 284A.3.
1 10 Sec. 2. Section 272.9A, Code 2005, is amended by adding
1 11 the following new unnumbered paragraph:
1 12 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. The board shall include in its
1 13 administrator licensure renewal requirements, adopted pursuant
1 14 to section 272.2, subsection 1, an option under which
1 15 compliance with individual administrator career development
1 16 plans may constitute successful completion of a professional
1 17 development program.
1 18 Sec. 3. Section 284.1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2005,
1 19 is amended to read as follows:
1 20 A student achievement and teacher quality program is
1 21 established to promote high student achievement. The program
1 22 shall consist of the following four five major elements:
1 23 Sec. 4. Section 284.1, subsection 3, Code 2005, is amended
1 24 to read as follows:
1 25 3. Professional development, including teacher development
1 26 academies, designed to directly support best teaching
1 27 practices.
1 28 Sec. 5. Section 284.1, Code 2005, is amended by adding the
1 29 following new subsection:
1 30 NEW SUBSECTION. 3A. Evaluation of teachers against the
1 31 Iowa teaching standards.
1 32 Sec. 6. Section 284.2, subsection 1, Code 2005, is amended
1 33 to read as follows:
1 34 1. "Beginning teacher" means an individual serving under
1 35 an initial or intern license, issued by the board of
2 1 educational examiners under chapter 272, who is assuming a
2 2 position as a classroom teacher. For purposes of the
2 3 beginning teacher mentoring and induction program created
2 4 pursuant to section 284.5, "beginning teacher" also includes
2 5 preschool teachers who are licensed by the board of
2 6 educational examiners under chapter 272 and are employed by a
2 7 school district or area education agency.
2 8 Sec. 7. Section 284.2, subsection 2, Code 2005, is amended
2 9 by striking the subsection.
2 10 Sec. 8. Section 284.2, subsections 8 and 12, Code 2005,
2 11 are amended to read as follows:
2 12 8. "Mentor" means an individual employed by a school
2 13 district or area education agency as a classroom teacher or a
2 14 retired teacher who holds a valid license issued under chapter
2 15 272. The individual must have a record of four years of
2 16 successful teaching practice, must be employed on a
2 17 nonprobationary basis, and must demonstrate professional
2 18 commitment to both the improvement of teaching and learning
2 19 and the development of beginning teachers.
2 20 12. "Teacher" means an individual holding a practitioner's
2 21 license issued under chapter 272, who is employed in a
2 22 nonadministrative position as a teacher, librarian, media
2 23 specialist, preschool teacher, or counselor by a school
2 24 district or area education agency pursuant to a contract
2 25 issued by a board of directors under section 279.13.
2 26 "Teacher" also means a school social worker licensed under
2 27 chapter 154C if the social worker is employed in a
2 28 nonadministrative position by a school district or area
2 29 education agency pursuant to a contract issued by a board of
2 30 directors under section 279.13. A teacher may be employed in
2 31 both an administrative and a nonadministrative position by a
2 32 board of directors and shall be considered a part=time teacher
2 33 for the portion of time that the teacher is employed in a
2 34 nonadministrative position. "Teacher" includes a licensed
2 35 individual employed on a less than full=time basis by a school
3 1 district through a contract between the school district and an
3 2 institution of higher education with a practitioner
3 3 preparation program in which the licensed teacher is enrolled.
3 4 Sec. 9. Section 284.5, subsections 1 and 3, Code 2005, are
3 5 amended to read as follows:
3 6 1. A beginning teacher mentoring and induction program is
3 7 created to promote excellence in teaching, enhance student
3 8 achievement, build a supportive environment within school
3 9 districts and area education agencies, increase the retention
3 10 of promising beginning teachers, and promote the personal and
3 11 professional well=being of classroom teachers.
3 12 3. Each school district and area education agency shall
3 13 provide a beginning teacher mentoring and induction program
3 14 for all classroom teachers who are beginning teachers, and
3 15 notwithstanding section 284.4, subsection 1, a school district
3 16 and an area education agency shall be eligible to receive
3 17 moneys under section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph "c", for
3 18 purposes of implementing a beginning teacher mentoring and
3 19 induction program in accordance with this section.
3 20 Sec. 10. Section 284.6, Code 2005, is amended by adding
3 21 the following new subsections:
3 22 NEW SUBSECTION. 7. The department shall establish teacher
3 23 development academies for the training of school=based teams
3 24 of teachers. Each academy shall include a multiday summer
3 25 institute and follow=up training and coaching during the
3 26 subsequent school year. Teachers attending an academy shall
3 27 receive stipends up to the equivalent of ten contract days for
3 28 activities offered outside of regular contract hours and
3 29 during the summer. The employer shall pay applicable costs of
3 30 the employer share of contributions to federal social security
3 31 and the Iowa public employees' retirement system or a pension
3 32 system and annuity system established under chapter 294.
3 33 School districts shall be reimbursed for team expenses
3 34 associated with attendance at an academy from moneys
3 35 appropriated to the department for this purpose. Area
4 1 education agency personnel may participate as members of the
4 2 school=based teams, but shall not be eligible for stipends or
4 3 reimbursement of expenses.
4 4 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. Teachers who successfully complete
4 5 teacher development academy training may apply to attend a
4 6 training program to become a teacher fellow candidate. The
4 7 department shall develop a method to identify applicants who
4 8 have completed all elements and expectations of teacher
4 9 development academy training. The department shall also
4 10 develop, with input from key stakeholders, a process for
4 11 selecting teacher fellow candidates and credentialing of
4 12 teacher fellows in accordance with section 284.7, subsection
4 13 1, paragraph "c". The process shall utilize a panel of
4 14 individuals who are recognized for their experience in
4 15 providing quality professional development and represent
4 16 various stakeholder groups within the educational community.
4 17 Sec. 11. Section 284.7, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph
4 18 1, Code 2005, is amended to read as follows:
4 19 Effective July 1, 2001, the The following career path
4 20 levels are established and shall be implemented in accordance
4 21 with this chapter:
4 22 Sec. 12. Section 284.7, subsection 1, paragraph a,
4 23 subparagraph (1), subparagraph subdivisions (a) and (b), Code
4 24 2005, are amended to read as follows:
4 25 (a) Has successfully completed an approved practitioner
4 26 preparation program as defined in section 272.1 or holds an
4 27 intern teacher license issued by the board of educational
4 28 examiners under chapter 272.
4 29 (b) Holds an initial or intern teacher license issued by
4 30 the board of educational examiners.
4 31 Sec. 13. Section 284.7, subsection 1, Code 2005, is
4 32 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
4 33 NEW PARAGRAPH. c. TEACHER FELLOW.
4 34 (1) A teacher fellow is a teacher who meets the following
4 35 requirements:
5 1 (a) Holds a valid license issued by the board of
5 2 educational examiners for the area in which the teacher is
5 3 teaching.
5 4 (b) Participates in teacher career development as set
5 5 forth in this chapter.
5 6 (c) Demonstrates continuous improvement in teaching.
5 7 (d) Has successfully obtained a credential from a teacher
5 8 development academy or equivalent training as determined by
5 9 the department by rule.
5 10 (e) Has successfully completed at least four years of
5 11 consecutive classroom instruction.
5 12 (f) Has successfully demonstrated competency on the Iowa
5 13 teaching standards through a performance review.
5 14 (2) The participating district shall provide an annual
5 15 salary adjustment of five thousand dollars per year for the
5 16 five=year term of the teacher fellow credential. In order to
5 17 maintain the teacher fellow credential, the teacher fellow
5 18 shall annually serve as a trainer and shall participate in
5 19 annual follow=up activities consistent with the training
5 20 provided pursuant to section 284.6, subsection 7. A teacher
5 21 may renew the teacher fellow credential through a renewal
5 22 process determined by rule by the department.
5 23 Sec. 14. Section 284.7, subsection 2, Code 2005, is
5 24 amended by striking the subsection.
5 25 Sec. 15. Section 284.7, subsection 3, Code 2005, is
5 26 amended to read as follows:
5 27 3. A teacher shall be promoted one level at a time and a.
5 28 A teacher promoted to the next career level shall remain at
5 29 that level for at least one year two years before requesting
5 30 promotion to the next career teacher fellow level.
5 31 Sec. 16. Section 284.8, subsection 3, Code 2005, is
5 32 amended to read as follows:
5 33 3. If a teacher is denied advancement to the career II or
5 34 advanced teacher fellow level based upon a performance review,
5 35 the teacher may appeal the decision to an adjudicator under
6 1 the process established under section 279.17. However, the
6 2 decision of the adjudicator is final.
6 3 Sec. 17. Section 284.10, subsection 5, Code 2005, is
6 4 amended to read as follows:
6 5 5. By July 1, 2005 2006, the director shall develop and
6 6 implement an evaluator training certification renewal program
6 7 for administrators and other practitioners who need to renew a
6 8 certificate issued pursuant to this section.
6 9 Sec. 18. Section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code
6 10 2005, is amended by striking the paragraph.
6 11 Sec. 19. Section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraphs b
6 12 through d, Code 2005, are amended to read as follows:
6 13 b. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004 2005, and
6 14 ending June 30, 2005 2006, to the department of education, the
6 15 amount of one two million one hundred thousand dollars for the
6 16 issuance of national board certification awards in accordance
6 17 with section 256.44. From the moneys allocated to the
6 18 department pursuant to this paragraph, not more than two
6 19 hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be used to fund a support
6 20 program for national board certification applicants.
6 21 c. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004 2005, and
6 22 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to three four million
6 23 five one hundred thousand dollars for first=year and second=
6 24 year beginning teachers, to the department of education for
6 25 distribution to school districts for purposes of the beginning
6 26 teacher mentoring and induction programs. A school district
6 27 shall receive one thousand three hundred dollars per beginning
6 28 teacher participating in the program. If the funds
6 29 appropriated for the program are insufficient to pay mentors
6 30 and school districts as provided in this paragraph, the
6 31 department shall prorate the amount distributed to school
6 32 districts based upon the amount appropriated. Moneys Except
6 33 as provided in section 284A.8, subsection 1, moneys received
6 34 by a school district pursuant to this paragraph shall be
6 35 expended to provide each mentor with an award of five hundred
7 1 dollars per semester, at a minimum, for participation in the
7 2 school district's beginning teacher mentoring and induction
7 3 program; to implement the plan; and to pay any applicable
7 4 costs of the employer's share of contributions to federal
7 5 social security and the Iowa public employees' retirement
7 6 system or a pension and annuity retirement system established
7 7 under chapter 294, for such amounts paid by the district.
7 8 d. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 2005, and
7 9 ending June 30, 2004 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to
7 10 one million six hundred thousand dollars to the department of
7 11 education for purposes of maintaining the evaluator training
7 12 program and teacher career development programs. A portion of
7 13 the funds Funds allocated to the department for purposes of
7 14 this paragraph may be used by the department for
7 15 administrative purposes. Notwithstanding section 8.33, from
7 16 the moneys allocated under this paragraph for the fiscal year
7 17 beginning July 1, 2003, that remain unobligated or unexpended
7 18 at the end of the fiscal year, three hundred thousand dollars
7 19 shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure to
7 20 maintain the evaluator training program, and up to five
7 21 hundred thousand dollars shall remain available to supplement
7 22 moneys allocated pursuant to paragraph "f" of this subsection.
7 23 Sec. 20. Section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph e, Code
7 24 2005, is amended by striking the paragraph and inserting in
7 25 lieu thereof the following:
7 26 e. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005, and ending
7 27 June 30, 2006, up to one million nine hundred ninety=five
7 28 thousand dollars to the department of education for purposes
7 29 of implementing teacher development academies pursuant to
7 30 section 284.7. A portion of the funds allocated to the
7 31 department for purposes of this paragraph may be used by the
7 32 department for administrative purposes.
7 33 Sec. 21. Section 284.13, subsection 1, Code 2005, is
7 34 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
7 35 NEW PARAGRAPH. ee. For the fiscal year beginning July 1,
8 1 2005, and ending June 30, 2006, up to two million five hundred
8 2 five thousand dollars to the department of education for
8 3 distribution to school districts for purposes paying stipends
8 4 to teachers who are employed by the school district and
8 5 designated as teacher fellows pursuant to section 284.7. A
8 6 portion of the funds allocated to the department for purposes
8 7 of this paragraph may be used by the department for
8 8 administrative purposes.
8 9 Sec. 22. Section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph g, Code
8 10 2005, is amended to read as follows:
8 11 g. From moneys available under paragraph "f", the
8 12 department shall allocate to area education agencies an amount
8 13 per classroom teacher employed by an area education agency
8 14 that is approximately equivalent to the average per teacher
8 15 amount allocated to the districts. The average per teacher
8 16 amount shall be calculated by dividing the total number of
8 17 classroom teachers employed by school districts and the
8 18 classroom teachers employed by area education agencies into
8 19 the total amount of moneys available under paragraph "f".
8 20 Sec. 23. Section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph h, Code
8 21 2005, is amended to read as follows:
8 22 h. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any moneys remaining
8 23 unencumbered or unobligated from the moneys allocated for
8 24 purposes of paragraph "b" or "c" this subsection shall not
8 25 revert but shall remain available in the succeeding fiscal
8 26 year for expenditure for the purposes designated. The
8 27 provisions of section 8.39 shall not apply to the funds
8 28 appropriated pursuant to this subsection.
8 29 Sec. 24. Section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph i, Code
8 30 2005, is amended by striking the paragraph.
8 31 Sec. 25. NEW SECTION. 284A.1 ADMINISTRATOR PERFORMANCE
8 32 AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
8 33 An administrator quality program is established to enhance
8 34 educator quality and advance high student achievement. The
8 35 program shall consist of the following three major elements:
9 1 1. Mentoring and induction programs that provide support
9 2 for administrators in accordance with section 284A.5.
9 3 2. Professional development designed to directly support
9 4 best practices for leadership.
9 5 3. Evaluation of administrators against the Iowa standards
9 6 for school leaders.
9 7 Sec. 26. NEW SECTION. 284A.2 DEFINITIONS.
9 8 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
9 9 requires:
9 10 1. "Administrator" means an individual holding a
9 11 professional administrator license issued under chapter 272,
9 12 who is employed by a school district or area education agency
9 13 pursuant to a contract issued by a board of directors under
9 14 section 279.23. An administrator may be employed in both an
9 15 administrative and a nonadministrative position by a board of
9 16 directors and shall be considered a part=time administrator
9 17 for the portion of time that the individual is employed in an
9 18 administrative position.
9 19 2. "Department" means the department of education.
9 20 3. "Director" means the director of the department of
9 21 education.
9 22 4. "Mentor" means an individual employed by a school
9 23 district or area education agency as a school district
9 24 administrator or a retired administrator who holds a valid
9 25 license issued under chapter 272. The individual must have a
9 26 record of four years of successful administrative practice and
9 27 must demonstrate professional commitment to both the
9 28 improvement of teaching and learning and the development of
9 29 beginning teachers.
9 30 5. "New administrator" means an individual serving under a
9 31 professional administrator license, issued under chapter 272,
9 32 who is assuming a position as a school district administrator
9 33 for the first time.
9 34 6. "Performance review" means a summative evaluation of an
9 35 administrator and used to determine whether the
10 1 administrator's practice meets school district expectations
10 2 and the Iowa standards for school leaders.
10 3 7. "School board" means the board of directors of a school
10 4 district or a collaboration of boards of directors of school
10 5 districts.
10 6 8. "State board" means the state board of education.
10 7 Sec. 27. NEW SECTION. 284A.3 IOWA STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL
10 8 LEADERS.
10 9 1. For purposes of this chapter and for developing
10 10 evaluation criteria under section 279.23A, the Iowa standards
10 11 for school leaders describe a school administrator as an
10 12 educational leader who promotes the success of all students by
10 13 doing the following:
10 14 a. Facilitating the development, articulation,
10 15 implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that
10 16 is shared and supported by the school community.
10 17 b. Advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture
10 18 and instructional program conducive to student learning and
10 19 staff professional development.
10 20 c. Ensuring management of the school organization,
10 21 operations, and resources in order to provide a safe,
10 22 efficient, and effective learning environment.
10 23 d. Collaborating with families and community members,
10 24 responding to diverse community interests and needs, and
10 25 mobilizing community resources.
10 26 e. Acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical
10 27 manner.
10 28 f. Understanding, responding to, and influencing the
10 29 larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural
10 30 context.
10 31 g. Fulfilling professional responsibilities established by
10 32 the school district.
10 33 2. By July 1, 2006, each school board shall conduct, for
10 34 purposes of performance reviews for administrators,
10 35 evaluations that assess administrators, at a minimum, against
11 1 the Iowa standards for school leaders and the criteria for the
11 2 standards developed by the department in accordance with
11 3 section 256.9, subsection 53. A local school board may
11 4 establish additional administrator standards and criteria. A
11 5 local school board and its administrators may negotiate
11 6 evaluation and grievance procedures for the administrators
11 7 that are not in conflict with this chapter.
11 8 Sec. 28. NEW SECTION. 284A.4 PARTICIPATION.
11 9 1. A school district shall do all of the following:
11 10 a. Participate in an administrator mentoring and induction
11 11 program as provided in this chapter.
11 12 b. Adopt individual administrator career development plans
11 13 in accordance with this chapter.
11 14 c. Adopt an administrator evaluation plan that, at a
11 15 minimum, requires an annual performance review of
11 16 administrators in the school district based upon the Iowa
11 17 standards for school leaders and individual administrator
11 18 career development plans.
11 19 2. Effective July 1, 2005, each school district shall
11 20 participate in the administrator quality program.
11 21 Sec. 29. NEW SECTION. 284A.5 NEW ADMINISTRATOR MENTORING
11 22 AND INDUCTION PROGRAM.
11 23 1. A new administrator mentoring and induction program is
11 24 created to promote excellence in school leadership, improve
11 25 classroom instruction, enhance student achievement, build a
11 26 supportive environment within school districts, increase the
11 27 retention of promising school leaders, and promote the
11 28 personal and professional well=being of administrators.
11 29 2. The state board shall adopt rules to administer this
11 30 section.
11 31 3. The department, in collaboration with other educational
11 32 partners, shall provide a new administrator mentoring and
11 33 induction program for all new administrators.
11 34 4. The new administrator mentoring and induction program
11 35 shall, at a minimum, require one year of programming to
12 1 support the Iowa standards for school leaders and new
12 2 administrators' professional and personal needs, describe the
12 3 mentor selection process, describe supports for new
12 4 administrators, describe program organizational and
12 5 collaborative structures, provide a budget, provide for
12 6 sustainability of the program, and provide for program
12 7 evaluation.
12 8 5. A new administrator shall be informed by the school
12 9 district or the area education agency, prior to the new
12 10 administrator's participation in a mentoring and induction
12 11 program, of the criteria upon which the administrator shall be
12 12 evaluated and of the evaluation process utilized by the school
12 13 district or area education agency.
12 14 Sec. 30. NEW SECTION. 284A.6 ADMINISTRATOR CAREER
12 15 DEVELOPMENT.
12 16 1. Each school district shall provide professional growth
12 17 programming for individuals employed in administrative
12 18 positions at the school district by the school district or
12 19 area education agency as deemed appropriate by the board of
12 20 directors of the school district or the area education agency
12 21 employing the administrator. School districts may collaborate
12 22 with other educational stakeholders including other school
12 23 districts, area education agencies, professional
12 24 organizations, higher education institutions, and private
12 25 providers, in the provision of professional development for
12 26 school district administrators. Professional development
12 27 programming for school district administrators may include
12 28 supports that meet the career development needs of individual
12 29 administrators aligned to the Iowa standards for school
12 30 leaders and individual administrator career development plans.
12 31 2. An administrator employed in a school district
12 32 administrative position by a school district or area education
12 33 agency, in cooperation with the administrator's evaluator,
12 34 shall develop an individual administrator career development
12 35 plan. The purpose of the plan is to promote individual and
13 1 group career development. The individual plan shall be based,
13 2 at a minimum, on the needs of the administrator, the Iowa
13 3 standards for school leaders, and the student achievement
13 4 goals of the attendance center and the school district as
13 5 outlined in the comprehensive school improvement plan.
13 6 3. The administrator's evaluator shall annually meet with
13 7 the administrator to review the administrator's progress in
13 8 meeting career development goals in the plan and to review
13 9 collaborative work with other staff on student achievement
13 10 goals and to modify as necessary the administrator's
13 11 individual plan to reflect the individual administrator's and
13 12 the school district's needs and the individual's progress in
13 13 meeting the goals in the plan. The administrator shall
13 14 present to the evaluator evidence of progress. The
13 15 administrator's supervisor and the evaluator shall review,
13 16 modify, accept, or reject modifications made to the
13 17 administrator's individual plan.
13 18 Sec. 31. NEW SECTION. 284A.7 PERFORMANCE REVIEW
13 19 REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATORS.
13 20 A school district shall review an administrator's
13 21 performance annually for purposes of assisting the
13 22 administrator in making continuous improvement, documenting
13 23 continued competence in the Iowa standards for school leaders,
13 24 or to determine whether the administrator's practice meets
13 25 school district expectations. The performance review shall
13 26 include, at a minimum, an assessment of the administrator's
13 27 progress toward meeting the Iowa standards for school leaders
13 28 and the implementation of the administrator's individual
13 29 career development plan, including supporting documentation or
13 30 materials aligned to the Iowa standards for school leaders and
13 31 the administrator's individual career development plan.
13 32 Sec. 32. NEW SECTION. 284A.8 STATE PROGRAM
13 33 APPROPRIATION.
13 34 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
13 35 state to the department of education for the fiscal year
14 1 beginning July 1, 2005, and each succeeding fiscal year, the
14 2 sum of two hundred forty=five thousand dollars for purposes of
14 3 the new administrator mentoring and induction program. From
14 4 the funds appropriated, the department shall allocate to each
14 5 school district one thousand five hundred dollars per new
14 6 administrator participating in the new administrator mentoring
14 7 and induction program. If the funds appropriated for the
14 8 program are insufficient to pay school districts as provided
14 9 in this subsection, the department shall prorate the amount
14 10 distributed to school districts based upon the amount
14 11 appropriated. Moneys received by a school district pursuant
14 12 to this subsection shall be expended to implement the new
14 13 administrator mentoring program.
14 14 2. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any moneys remaining
14 15 unobligated or unexpended from the moneys appropriated under
14 16 subsection 1 shall not revert, but shall remain available in
14 17 the succeeding fiscal year for expenditure for the purposes
14 18 designated. The provisions of section 8.39 shall not apply to
14 19 the funds appropriated pursuant to this section.
14 20 Sec. 33. Section 284.9, Code 2005, is repealed.
14 21 Sec. 34. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance
14 22 with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring
14 23 compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall
14 24 be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid
14 25 received by the school district under section 257.16 and
14 26 moneys appropriated in this Act. This specification of the
14 27 payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all the
14 28 state funding=related requirements of section 25B.2,
14 29 subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be
14 30 necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and
14 31 enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
14 32 EXPLANATION
14 33 This bill makes changes to the student achievement and
14 34 teacher quality program, establishes an administrator quality
14 35 program, sets forth Iowa standards for school leaders, and
15 1 provides for an annual appropriation of $245,000 to the
15 2 department of education for implementation of a new
15 3 administrator mentoring and induction program.
15 4 The bill adds new elements to the student achievement and
15 5 teacher quality program, including teacher development
15 6 programs and evaluation of teachers against the Iowa teaching
15 7 standards. The bill also adds social workers to the
15 8 definition of "teacher" under the program, which means social
15 9 workers will participate in the standards, performance
15 10 reviews, career development planning, career path
15 11 compensation, and the new teacher development programs and
15 12 evaluation requirements.
15 13 TEACHER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMIES AND TEACHER FELLOWS. The
15 14 bill directs the department of education to establish teacher
15 15 development academies, including a multiday summer institute
15 16 and follow=up training and coaching during the school year,
15 17 for school=based teams of teachers. Teachers attending the
15 18 academy shall receive stipends equivalent to up to 10 contract
15 19 days. School districts shall be reimbursed for team expenses.
15 20 Area education agency personnel may participate but shall not
15 21 be eligible for stipends or reimbursement of expenses.
15 22 Teachers who successfully complete academy training may apply
15 23 for a training program to become a teacher fellow.
15 24 School districts participating in the program must pay an
15 25 additional $5,000 annually to a teacher who qualifies for the
15 26 five=year renewable term of the teacher fellow. In order to
15 27 maintain the teacher fellow credential, the teacher fellow
15 28 shall annually serve as a trainer.
15 29 TEACHER ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS AND REFERENCES ELIMINATED. The
15 30 bill strikes references to "classroom teacher", "career II
15 31 teacher", and "advanced teacher" from the chapter establishing
15 32 the student achievement and teacher quality program, and
15 33 repeals the Code section that provides for a review panel for
15 34 career II teachers seeking advancement to the advanced teacher
15 35 level. The bill eliminates expired appropriation language
16 1 that refers to the pilot program for team=based variable pay.
16 2 IOWA TEACHER CAREER PATH. The bill expands the Iowa
16 3 teacher career path to include beginning teachers who hold an
16 4 intern teacher license. The bill also delays until July 1,
16 5 2006, a requirement that the director of the department of
16 6 education develop and implement an evaluator training
16 7 certification renewal program.
16 8 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND TEACHER QUALITY PROGRAM
16 9 APPROPRIATIONS. The bill makes appropriations and allocations
16 10 to the department of education to continue providing funding
16 11 to school districts and area education agencies for salaries
16 12 and career development purposes, to continue funding national
16 13 board certification awards, to fund a support program for
16 14 national board certification applicants, to continue funding
16 15 beginning teacher mentoring and induction programs, to
16 16 continue funding evaluator training, to fund teacher career
16 17 development programs, and to establish teacher development
16 18 academies and pay stipends to teacher fellows.
16 19 ADMINISTRATOR QUALITY PROGRAM. The administrator quality
16 20 program established by the bill is designed to function much
16 21 like the teacher quality, career development, and evaluation
16 22 provisions of the student achievement and teacher quality
16 23 program. The program consists of three components: mentoring
16 24 and induction programs, professional development designed to
16 25 directly support best practices for leadership, and evaluation
16 26 of administrators against the Iowa standards for school
16 27 leaders.
16 28 The bill also sets forth the Iowa standards for school
16 29 leaders and directs the state board of education to develop
16 30 core knowledge and skill criteria, based upon the standards,
16 31 for mentoring and induction, evaluation, and administrator
16 32 career development purposes.
16 33 The bill requires each school board to, by July 1, 2006,
16 34 conduct annual evaluations that assess administrators, at a
16 35 minimum, against the Iowa standards for school leaders and the
17 1 criteria for the standards developed by the department. A
17 2 local school board and its administrators may negotiate
17 3 additional evaluation and grievance procedures. The bill also
17 4 requires school districts to implement an administrator
17 5 mentoring and induction program, adopt individual career
17 6 development plans for administrators, and adopt an
17 7 administrator evaluation plan that requires an annual
17 8 performance review of administrators.
17 9 NEW ADMINISTRATOR MENTORING AND INDUCTION. The department
17 10 of education is directed to provide a new administrator
17 11 mentoring and induction program for all new administrators.
17 12 The program shall, at a minimum, provide for one year of
17 13 programming.
17 14 Each school district must provide for the professional
17 15 growth programming for individuals employed in an
17 16 administrative position at the school district.
17 17 Each school district administrator must develop an
17 18 individual career development plan. The administrator's
17 19 evaluator shall annually meet with the administrator to review
17 20 progress in meeting the goals in the administrator's
17 21 individual plan.
17 22 A school district shall review an administrator's
17 23 performance annually for purposes of assisting the
17 24 administrator in making continuous improvement, documenting
17 25 continued competence in the Iowa standards for school leaders,
17 26 or to determine whether the administrator's practice meets
17 27 school district expectations.
17 28 The bill directs the board of educational examiners to
17 29 include in its administrator licensure renewal requirements an
17 30 option that allows credit for administrators' individual
17 31 career development plans.
17 32 ADMINISTRATOR QUALITY PROGRAM APPROPRIATIONS. The bill
17 33 appropriates $245,000 to the department of education for
17 34 purposes of the new administrator mentoring and induction
17 35 program, and allocates to each school district $1,500 per new
18 1 administrator participating in the program.
18 2 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code
18 3 section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any
18 4 state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school
18 5 district from state school foundation aid received by the
18 6 school district under Code section 257.16 and moneys
18 7 appropriated in the bill. The specification is deemed to
18 8 constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding=
18 9 related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of
18 10 this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of
18 11 political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates
18 12 included in the bill.
18 13 LSB 2730HH 81
18 14 kh:rj/gg/14