House File 804 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 240)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to implementation of core content standards and a
2 model core curriculum.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2807HV 82
5 kh/es/88
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 26, Code 2007, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 26. Set a goal of increasing to eighty percent the number
1 4 of students graduating from all secondary schools in school
1 5 districts in this state who have successfully completed the
1 6 core curriculum recommended by the college testing service
1 7 whose college entrance examination is taken by the majority of
1 8 Iowa's high school students. The state goal shall be
1 9 exclusive of students who have special or alternative means
1 10 for satisfying graduation requirements under individualized
1 11 educational plans developed for the students. The state board
1 12 shall require each school district to annually report,
1 13 beginning with the 2006==2007 school year, the percentage of
1 14 students graduating from high school in the school district
1 15 who complete the core curriculum. The school district shall
1 16 report, in the comprehensive school improvement plan submitted
1 17 in accordance with subsection 21, how the district plans to
1 18 increase the number of students completing the recommended
1 19 core curriculum. Taking into consideration the
1 20 recommendations of the college testing service whose college
1 21 entrance examination is taken by the majority of Iowa's high
1 22 school students, Adopt rules that establish a model core
1 23 curriculum and requiring, beginning with the students in the
1 24 2010==2011 school year graduating class, the requirements for
1 25 high school graduation requirements for all students in school
1 26 districts shall be and accredited nonpublic schools that
1 27 include at a minimum satisfactory completion of four years of
1 28 English and language arts, three years of mathematics, three
1 29 years of science, and three years of social studies. The
1 30 model core curriculum adopted shall address the core content
1 31 standards in subsection 27 and the skills and knowledge
1 32 students need to be successful in the twenty=first century.
1 33 The model core curriculum shall include social studies and
1 34 twenty=first century learning skills which include but are not
1 35 limited to civic literacy, health literacy, technology
2 1 literacy, financial literacy, and employability skills; and
2 2 shall address the curricular needs of students in kindergarten
2 3 through grade twelve in those areas. The state board shall
2 4 continue the inclusive process begun during the initial
2 5 development of a model core curriculum for grades nine through
2 6 twelve including stakeholder involvement and alignment of the
2 7 model core curriculum to other recognized sets of national and
2 8 international standards. The state board shall also recommend
2 9 quality assessments to school districts and accredited
2 10 nonpublic schools to measure the model core curriculum.
2 11 Sec. 2. Section 256.7, Code 2007, is amended by adding the
2 12 following new subsection:
2 13 NEW SUBSECTION. 27. Adopt a set of core content standards
2 14 applicable to all students in kindergarten through grade
2 15 twelve in every school district and accredited nonpublic
2 16 school. For purposes of this subsection, "core content
2 17 standards" includes reading, mathematics, and science. The
2 18 core content standards shall be identical to the core content
2 19 standards included in Iowa's approved 2006 standards and
2 20 assessment system under Title I of the federal Elementary and
2 21 Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. } 6301 et seq., as
2 22 amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. No.
2 23 107=110. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools
2 24 shall include, at a minimum, the core content standards
2 25 adopted pursuant to this subsection in any set of locally
2 26 developed content standards. School districts and accredited
2 27 nonpublic schools shall include the model core curriculum or
2 28 set higher expectations in local standards. As changes in
2 29 federal law or regulation occur, the state board is authorized
2 30 to amend the core content standards as appropriate.
2 31 Sec. 3. Section 279.61, subsection 1, Code 2007, is
2 32 amended to read as follows:
2 33 1. For the school year beginning July 1, 2006 2007, and
2 34 each succeeding school year, the board of directors of each
2 35 school district shall cooperate with each student enrolled in
3 1 grade eight to develop for the student a core curriculum plan
3 2 to guide the student toward the goal of successfully
3 3 completing, at a minimum, the model core curriculum developed
3 4 by the state board of education pursuant to section 256.7,
3 5 subsection 26, by the time the student graduates from high
3 6 school. The plan shall include career options and shall
3 7 identify the coursework needed in grades nine through twelve
3 8 to support the student's postsecondary education and career
3 9 options. If the pupil is under eighteen years of age, the
3 10 pupil's The student's parent or guardian shall sign the core
3 11 curriculum plan developed with the student and the signed plan
3 12 shall be included in the student's cumulative records.
3 13 Sec. 4. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MODEL CORE CURRICULUM
3 14 REPORT. The department of education shall evaluate the
3 15 readiness of school districts to adopt and support the model
3 16 core curriculum established pursuant to section 256.7,
3 17 subsection 26; assess the professional development necessary
3 18 in order for school districts to support teachers in improved
3 19 instruction; identify the barriers to full adoption of the
3 20 model core curriculum by school districts statewide; and
3 21 develop the technical assistance required to assist all school
3 22 districts to implement the model core curriculum. The
3 23 department shall submit a report summarizing its activities,
3 24 findings, and recommendations, including recommendations for
3 25 action by the general assembly to assist school districts in
3 26 delivering the model core curriculum to students, in a report
3 27 to the general assembly by January 14, 2008.
3 28 EXPLANATION
3 29 This bill directs the state board of education to adopt
3 30 rules that establish a model core curriculum and core content
3 31 standards.
3 32 The state board of education is directed to continue the
3 33 inclusive process begun during the initial development of a
3 34 model core curriculum for grades nine through 12, including
3 35 stakeholder involvement and alignment with other recognized
4 1 sets of national and international standards. The state board
4 2 must also recommend quality assessments to school districts
4 3 and accredited nonpublic schools. The core content standards
4 4 will be applicable to all students in kindergarten through
4 5 grade 12 in every school district and accredited nonpublic
4 6 school, and include standards for reading, mathematics, and
4 7 science. The standards will be identical to those included in
4 8 Iowa's approved 2006 standards and assessment system under
4 9 Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act
4 10 of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
4 11 The model core curriculum must address the core content
4 12 standards and the skills and knowledge students need to be
4 13 successful. The model core curriculum must include social
4 14 studies and 21st century learning skills including but not
4 15 limited to civic, health, technology, and financial literacy,
4 16 and employability skills. The curriculum must address the
4 17 curricular needs of students in kindergarten through grade 12.
4 18 School districts and accredited nonpublic schools must
4 19 include, at a minimum, the core content standards in any set
4 20 of locally developed content standards, and to include the
4 21 model core curriculum or set higher expectations in local
4 22 standards.
4 23 The bill also requires that the core curriculum plan
4 24 developed by a student in grade eight and signed by the
4 25 student's parent or guardian be included in the student's
4 26 cumulative records.
4 27 The department is directed to evaluate school district
4 28 readiness to adopt and support the model core curriculum,
4 29 assess necessary professional development, identify barriers
4 30 to adoption, and technical assistance to school districts.
4 31 LSB 2807HV 82
4 32 kh:nh/es/88