House File 2074 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY TYMESON
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to adding a minimum core curriculum requirement
2 to the state's educational standards for grades nine through
3 twelve.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 5131YH 82
6 kh/rj/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsection 5, unnumbered
1 2 paragraph 1, Code Supplement 2007, is amended to read as
1 3 follows:
1 4 In grades nine through twelve, a minimum core curriculum of
1 5 four units of English, and three units of mathematics,
1 6 including algebra and higher mathematics; three units of
1 7 social studies; and three units of science, including biology,
1 8 chemistry, and physics. A unit of credit consists of a course
1 9 or equivalent related components or partial units taught
1 10 throughout the academic year. The minimum program to be
1 11 offered and taught for grades nine through twelve is:
1 12 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code
1 13 Supplement 2007, is amended to read as follows:
1 14 a. Five units of science including physics and chemistry;
1 15 the units of physics and chemistry may be taught in alternate
1 16 years.
1 17 Sec. 3. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance
1 18 with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring
1 19 compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall
1 20 be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid
1 21 received by the school district under section 257.16. This
1 22 specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed
1 23 to meet all of the state funding=related requirements of
1 24 section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding
1 25 shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by
1 26 and enforcement of this Act against all affected school
1 27 districts.
1 28 EXPLANATION
1 29 This bill amends the state's educational standards to
1 30 require school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to
1 31 offer a minimum core curriculum of four years of English, and
1 32 three years each of mathematics, including algebra and higher
1 33 mathematics; social studies; and science, including biology,
1 34 chemistry, and physics. This minimum core curriculum is
1 35 recommended by the American College Testing, Inc.
2 1 The bill also eliminates authorization for school districts
2 2 and accredited nonpublic schools to offer physics and
2 3 chemistry in alternate years.
2 4 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code
2 5 section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any
2 6 state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school
2 7 district from state school foundation aid received by the
2 8 school district under Code section 257.16. The specification
2 9 is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state
2 10 mandate funding=related requirements of Code section 25B.2.
2 11 The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate
2 12 the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any
2 13 state mandates included in the bill.
2 14 LSB 5131YH 82
2 15 kh/rj/5