House Study Bill 620 SENATE/HOUSE FILE BY (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BILL) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, 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 5410DP 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 5telecommunicationseducational 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 oftelecommunicationseducational 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 shall not be used by school 2 4 districts as the exclusive means to provide any core course 2 5 which is required for graduation. A school district shall 2 6 provide every student enrolled with the opportunity to take 2 7 core coursework through direct instruction on=site. A core 2 8 course is defined as a course in English, language arts, 2 9 mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, 2 10 American government, or American history, which applies toward 2 11 the school district's graduation requirements. Additional 2 12 elective credits toward the total credits required for 2 13 graduation may be offered solely through educational 2 14 technology. 2 15 Forthe purposepurposes of the rules adopted by the state 2 16 board pursuant to this subsection,telecommunications2 17 "educational technology" meansnarrowcast communications 2 18 through systems that are directed toward a narrowly defined 2 19 audience and includes interactive live communicationsany 2 20 course that is delivered primarily through the use of 2 21 electronic media. 2 22 Sec. 4. Section 256.7, subsections 8 and 9, Code 2 23 Supplement 2005, are amended by striking the subsections. 2 24 Sec. 5. Section 256.9, subsection 41, Code Supplement 2 25 2005, is amended to read as follows: 2 26 41. Explore, in conjunction with the state board of 2 27 regents, the need for coordination between school districts, 2 28 area education agencies, regents institutions, and community 2 29 colleges for purposes of delivery of courses, use of 2 30telecommunicationseducational technology, transportation, and 2 31 other similar issues. Coordination may include, but is not 2 32 limited to, coordination of calendars, programs, schedules, or 2 33telecommunications emissionseducational technology delivery. 2 34 Sec. 6. Section 256.33, unnumbered paragraphs 1 and 3, 2 35 Code 2005, are amended to read as follows: 3 1 The department shall consort with school districts, area 3 2 education agencies, community colleges, and colleges and 3 3 universities to provide assistance to them in the use of 3 4 educational technology for instruction purposes. The 3 5 department shall consult with the advisory committee on 3 6telecommunicationseducational technology, established in 3 7 section 256.7, subsection 7, and other users of educational 3 8 technology on the development and operation of programs under 3 9 this section. 3 10 Priority shall be given to programs integrating 3 11telecommunicationseducational technology into the classroom. 3 12 The department may award grants to school corporations and 3 13 higher education institutions to perform the functions listed 3 14 in this section. 3 15 EXPLANATION 3 16 This bill updates language in the Code by replacing a 3 17 requirement that the state board of education adopt rules for 3 18 the use of telecommunications as an instructional tool with a 3 19 requirement that the state board adopt rules for the use of 3 20 educational technology as an instructional tool. The bill 3 21 defines "educational technology" to mean any course that is 3 22 delivered primarily through the use of electronic media. 3 23 The bill retains certain provisions relating to the 3 24 telecommunications requirements, but aligns the language to 3 25 the educational technology requirements, including language 3 26 which requires the state board to establish an advisory 3 27 committee to make recommendations for rules, which requires 3 28 the department to consult with the committee, and which 3 29 provides that the educational technology be used for students 3 30 enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 and served by local 3 31 school districts, accredited or approved nonpublic schools, 3 32 area education agencies, community colleges, institutions of 3 33 higher education under the state board of regents, and 3 34 independent colleges and universities in elementary and 3 35 secondary school classes and courses. The bill makes 4 1 conforming changes in a current Code provision to require the 4 2 director of the department to explore the need for 4 3 coordination in the use of educational technology. 4 4 The bill requires that curriculum delivered electronically 4 5 must be taught by an appropriately licensed teacher, and that 4 6 school districts provide supervision to students whose 4 7 instruction is electronically delivered at a remote site. The 4 8 bill also prohibits the use of educational technology to 4 9 deliver core courses that apply toward graduation. 4 10 The bill eliminates a provision that requires the state 4 11 board to develop evaluation procedures to measure the effects 4 12 of instruction by means of telecommunications, as well as 4 13 language that defines "supervision" for purposes of 4 14 telecommunications. 4 15 LSB 5410DP 81 4 16 kh:rj/gg/14