Senate File 27 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY TINSMAN and BOETTGER Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the development of an Iowa studies 2 professional development plan and the establishment of an Iowa 3 studies committee at the university of northern Iowa, and 4 directing the department of education to evaluate and report 5 on the plan. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 1317XS 81 8 kh/cf/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 268.6 IOWA STUDIES == 1 2 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS == CURRICULUM == COMMITTEE. 1 3 1. The general assembly finds that Iowa students should 1 4 have an appreciation for Iowa through the study of Iowa's 1 5 history and government, and Iowa citizens' long and 1 6 distinguished record of civic responsibility. There is a 1 7 fundamental need for Iowa's students to be provided with 1 8 learning opportunities that assist the students in succeeding 1 9 in society and confer upon them the ability to make their own 1 10 valuable contributions to Iowa's history. 1 11 2. The university of northern Iowa, in cooperation with 1 12 the community colleges and area education agencies, shall 1 13 develop an Iowa studies professional development plan that 1 14 shall include professional development materials and training 1 15 measures to provide Iowa's teachers with effective ways to 1 16 infuse Iowa studies into their classrooms. The materials 1 17 developed shall include an active and innovative Iowa studies 1 18 learning curriculum that may be integrated into the social 1 19 studies requirements for Iowa's secondary school students at 1 20 the discretion of each board of directors of a school district 1 21 or the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic 1 22 school. The curriculum shall include lesson plans covering 1 23 Iowa history, civics, Iowa government, and Iowa heritage 1 24 studies. The curriculum developed shall be at least one=half 1 25 of a unit of credit. 1 26 3. a. The dean of the college of education at the 1 27 university of northern Iowa, in cooperation with the community 1 28 colleges and area education agencies, shall establish an Iowa 1 29 studies committee to do the following: 1 30 (1) Work to inform Iowa's accredited schools and area 1 31 education agencies of the Iowa studies professional 1 32 development plan, including how to effectively utilize the 1 33 curriculum developed pursuant to subsection 2. 1 34 (2) Develop partnerships with organizations such as 1 35 nonprofit history or humanities organizations, civic 2 1 organizations, libraries, and the business community to 2 2 support and promote Iowa studies statewide. 2 3 (3) Establish evaluation criteria for the Iowa studies 2 4 professional development plan, including but not limited to 2 5 teacher and student evaluation, student tracking, and 2 6 curriculum and plan effectiveness, which may include a survey 2 7 of student participation in civic activities and involvement 2 8 in the election process. 2 9 (4) Develop a strategy and plan to allow for the 2 10 implementation of the Iowa studies professional development 2 11 plan and curriculum in a limited number of schools and area 2 12 education agencies across the state. Participation by a 2 13 school or area education agency shall be voluntary. However, 2 14 a school or area education agency selected to participate in 2 15 the plan shall agree to participate in the evaluation 2 16 component conducted by the department of education pursuant to 2 17 subsection 4. 2 18 b. The committee membership shall be comprised of the 2 19 following: 2 20 (1) The dean of the college of education of the university 2 21 of northern Iowa or the dean's designee. 2 22 (2) The secretary of state or the secretary's designee. 2 23 (3) The director of the department of education or the 2 24 director's designee. 2 25 (4) The director of the department of cultural affairs or 2 26 the director's designee. 2 27 (5) The state librarian or the state librarian's designee. 2 28 (6) Persons appointed by the dean of the college of 2 29 education of the university of northern Iowa, as follows: 2 30 (a) The administrator of an area education agency or the 2 31 administrator's designee. 2 32 (b) An individual employed as an Iowa social studies 2 33 teacher at an accredited school. 2 34 (c) An individual employed by a community college. 2 35 (d) A member of the Iowa council of social studies. 3 1 4. The department of education, in cooperation with the 3 2 Iowa studies committee, shall do the following: 3 3 a. Conduct an evaluation of the Iowa studies professional 3 4 development plan using the evaluation criteria established by 3 5 the committee. 3 6 b. Submit, until June 30, 2008, an annual status report on 3 7 the utilization of the Iowa studies professional development 3 8 plan in Iowa's accredited schools to the chairpersons and 3 9 ranking members of the senate and house committees on 3 10 education by January 15. The annual report shall include the 3 11 number of schools utilizing the plan. 3 12 c. Submit its findings and recommendations in a final 3 13 report based upon the evaluation data compiled in accordance 3 14 with subsection 3 to the chairpersons and ranking members of 3 15 the senate and house committees on education by January 15, 3 16 2009. 3 17 5. This section is repealed effective July 1, 2009. 3 18 EXPLANATION 3 19 This bill establishes the general assembly's findings with 3 20 regard to the need for Iowa's students to have an appreciation 3 21 for the state through the study of its history, government, 3 22 and long and distinguished record of civic activities and 3 23 contributions. The bill requires the university of northern 3 24 Iowa to develop an Iowa studies professional development plan, 3 25 in cooperation with community colleges and area education 3 26 agencies (AEAs), that includes a professional development 3 27 curriculum and supporting materials and training measures to 3 28 provide Iowa's teachers with effective ways to infuse Iowa 3 29 studies into their secondary school classrooms. 3 30 The bill directs the dean of the college of education at 3 31 the university to establish, in cooperation with community 3 32 colleges and AEAs, an Iowa studies committee to work to inform 3 33 Iowa's accredited schools and area education agencies of the 3 34 Iowa studies professional development plan, develop 3 35 partnerships to support and promote Iowa studies statewide, 4 1 establish evaluation criteria for the Iowa studies 4 2 professional development plan, and develop a strategy and plan 4 3 to allow for the implementation of the professional 4 4 development plan and curriculum in a limited number of schools 4 5 and AEAs across the state. 4 6 The department of education is directed to conduct an 4 7 evaluation of the Iowa studies professional development plan. 4 8 The department must also submit an annual status report on the 4 9 utilization of the Iowa studies professional development plan 4 10 in Iowa's accredited schools and, by January 15, 2009, a final 4 11 report, to the chairpersons and ranking members of the senate 4 12 and house committees on education. 4 13 LSB 1317XS 81 4 14 kh/cf/24.1