House File 439 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY MAY Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act directing the state board of regents to convene a task 2 force to develop and coordinate a five=year strategic plan to 3 address alignment of the kindergarten through postsecondary 4 education systems. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1927YH 82 7 kh/je/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. FIVE=YEAR STRATEGIC EDUCATION PLAN. 1 2 1. The state board of regents, in consultation with the 1 3 department of education and the Iowa association of community 1 4 college presidents, shall convene a task force to develop and 1 5 coordinate a five=year strategic plan to systematically 1 6 address educational alignment in programs and policies from 1 7 kindergarten through postsecondary education to provide 1 8 greater coherence and a stronger sense of connectedness 1 9 between the K=12, community college, and university systems. 1 10 The task force shall consist of teachers, administrators, 1 11 school board members, and representatives of the area 1 12 education agencies, the department of education, the board of 1 13 educational examiners, community colleges, practitioner 1 14 preparation programs, and the state university system. 1 15 2. The task force shall at a minimum do the following: 1 16 a. Identify barriers to collaboration between educational 1 17 professionals at all levels, and identify methods for 1 18 strengthening relationships between families and schools, 1 19 closing achievement gaps at every level, clarifying 1 20 expectations for what students across all income and ethnic 1 21 groups need to know and be able to do in preparation for the 1 22 next higher level of learning, creating a wider range of 1 23 learning experiences and opportunities for students in the 1 24 final two years of high school, facilitating student movement 1 25 between levels, and sharing academic performance data across 1 26 levels. 1 27 b. Address preparation and professional development 1 28 efforts that result in excellent teachers and leaders for all 1 29 students, particularly in the areas of literacy, mathematics, 1 30 and science to prepare students for superior achievement in 1 31 postsecondary education and workforce training beyond high 1 32 school. 1 33 c. Review measures to maximize efficiencies and 1 34 affordability to increase postsecondary enrollment and 1 35 completion rates. 2 1 3. The task force shall select a chairperson from among 2 2 its members. The state board of regents shall provide staff 2 3 support. The state board of regents shall convene the initial 2 4 meeting no later than July 30, 2007. Subsequent meetings 2 5 shall be held at least quarterly and at the request of the 2 6 chairperson. The task force shall submit the five=year 2 7 strategic plan to the governor and the general assembly by 2 8 January 15, 2009. 2 9 EXPLANATION 2 10 This bill directs the state board of regents, in 2 11 consultation with the department of education and the Iowa 2 12 association of community college presidents, to convene a task 2 13 force to develop and coordinate a five=year strategic plan to 2 14 systematically address educational alignment in programs and 2 15 policies from kindergarten through postsecondary education to 2 16 provide greater coherence and a stronger sense of 2 17 connectedness between the K=12, community college, and 2 18 university systems. The state board of regents must provide 2 19 staff support and convene the initial meeting no later than 2 20 July 30, 2007. Subsequent meetings shall be held at least 2 21 quarterly and at the request of the chairperson. The task 2 22 force shall submit the five=year strategic plan to the 2 23 governor and the general assembly by January 15, 2009. 2 24 LSB 1927YH 82 2 25 kh:nh/je/5