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 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 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 For the purpose purposes of the rules adopted by the state
2 16 board pursuant to this subsection, telecommunications
2 17 "educational technology" means narrowcast communications
2 18 through systems that are directed toward a narrowly defined
2 19 audience and includes interactive live communications any
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 30 telecommunications educational 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 33 telecommunications emissions educational 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 6 telecommunications educational 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 11 telecommunications educational 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