House File 2176 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY WENTHE Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the incorporation of character education into 2 the curricula of students in grades one through nine, and 3 providing effective and applicability dates. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5736YH 82 6 ak/nh/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsections 3 and 4, Code 1 2 Supplement 2007, are amended to read as follows: 1 3 3. The following areas shall be taught in grades one 1 4 through six: English=language arts, social studies, 1 5 mathematics, science, health, age=appropriate and 1 6 research=based human growth and development, physical 1 7 education, traffic safety, music,andvisual art, and 1 8 age=appropriate character education, including lessons in 1 9 personal conduct. The health curriculum shall include the 1 10 characteristics of communicable diseases including acquired 1 11 immune deficiency syndrome. The state board as part of 1 12 accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for 1 13 implementing the elementary program. 1 14 4. The following shall be taught in grades seven and 1 15 eight: English=language arts; social studies; mathematics; 1 16 science; health; age=appropriate and research=based human 1 17 growth and development; family, consumer, career, and 1 18 technology education; physical education; music;andvisual 1 19 art; and age=appropriate character education, including 1 20 lessons in personal conduct. The health curriculum shall 1 21 include age=appropriate and research=based information 1 22 regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted 1 23 diseases, including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to 1 24 prevent HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The 1 25 state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt 1 26 curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades 1 27 seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to 1 28 the teaching of family, consumer, career, and technology 1 29 education in nonpublic schools. For purposes of this section, 1 30 "age=appropriate", "HPV", and "research=based" mean the same 1 31 as defined in section 279.50. 1 32 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsection 5, Code Supplement 1 33 2007, is amended by adding the following new paragraph: 1 34 NEW PARAGRAPH. k. One=half unit of character education, 1 35 including lessons in personal conduct, to be taught in the 2 1 first year. 2 2 Sec. 3. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance 2 3 with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring 2 4 compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall 2 5 be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid 2 6 received by the school district under section 257.16. This 2 7 specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed 2 8 to meet all the state funding=related requirements of section 2 9 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be 2 10 necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and 2 11 enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts. 2 12 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE AND APPLICABILITY DATES. This Act, 2 13 being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon 2 14 enactment and applies to school years beginning on or after 2 15 July 1, 2008. 2 16 EXPLANATION 2 17 This bill requires that character education, including 2 18 lessons in personal conduct, be taught to students in grades 2 19 one through nine in public and nonpublic schools in order for 2 20 the schools to be accredited by the department of education. 2 21 The character education must be age=appropriate for students 2 22 in grades one through eight. The bill requires that character 2 23 education become a required one=half credit course in ninth 2 24 grade. 2 25 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 2 26 section 25B.3. The bill requires that the cost of any state 2 27 mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from 2 28 state school foundation aid received by the school district 2 29 under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to 2 30 constitute state compliance with any state mandate 2 31 funding=related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The 2 32 inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the 2 33 requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state 2 34 mandates in the bill. This Act becomes effective upon 2 35 enactment and applies to school years beginning on or after 3 1 July 1, 2008. 3 2 LSB 5736YH 82 3 3 ak/nh/24