House Study Bill 649 



                                       SENATE/HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  (PROPOSED GOVERNOR'S BILL)


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act establishing the senior year plus program, providing for
  2    related matters, and making an appropriation.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 5715XL 82
  5 kh/rj/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 85.61, subsection 2, unnumbered
  1  2 paragraph 2, Code Supplement 2007, is amended to read as
  1  3 follows:
  1  4    "Employer" also includes and applies to an eligible
  1  5 postsecondary institution as defined in section 261C.3,
  1  6 subsection 1 261E.2, a school corporation, or an accredited
  1  7 nonpublic school if a student enrolled in the eligible
  1  8 postsecondary institution, school corporation, or accredited
  1  9 nonpublic school is providing unpaid services under a
  1 10 school=to=work program that includes, but is not limited to,
  1 11 the components provided for in section 258.10, subsection 2,
  1 12 paragraphs "a" through "f".  However, if a student
  1 13 participating in a school=to=work program is participating in
  1 14 open enrollment under section 282.18, "employer" means the
  1 15 receiving district.  "Employer" also includes and applies to a
  1 16 community college as defined in section 260C.2, if a student
  1 17 enrolled in the community college is providing unpaid services
  1 18 under a school=to=work program that includes but is not
  1 19 limited to the components provided for in section 258.10,
  1 20 subsection 2, paragraphs "a" through "f", and that is offered
  1 21 by the community college pursuant to a contractual agreement
  1 22 with a school corporation or accredited nonpublic school to
  1 23 provide the program.  If a student participating in a
  1 24 school=to=work program that includes but is not limited to the
  1 25 components provided for in section 258.10, subsection 2,
  1 26 paragraphs "a" through "f", is paid for services provided
  1 27 under the program, "employer" means any entity otherwise
  1 28 defined as an employer under this subsection which pays the
  1 29 student for providing services under the program.
  1 30    Sec. 2.  Section 257.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code
  1 31 Supplement 2007, is amended by adding the following new
  1 32 subparagraph:
  1 33    NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (7)  A student attending an accredited
  1 34 nonpublic school or receiving competent private instruction
  1 35 under chapter 299A, who is participating in a program under
  2  1 chapter 261E, shall be counted as a shared=time student in the
  2  2 school district in which the nonpublic school of attendance is
  2  3 located for state foundation aid purposes.
  2  4    Sec. 3.  Section 257.6, subsection 6, unnumbered paragraph
  2  5 1, Code Supplement 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  2  6    For the school year beginning July 1, 2001 2008, and each
  2  7 succeeding school year, a student shall not be included in a
  2  8 district's enrollment for purposes of this chapter or
  2  9 considered an eligible pupil under chapter 261C section 261E.6
  2 10 if the student meets all of the following:
  2 11    Sec. 4.  Section 257.6, subsection 6, paragraph b, Code
  2 12 Supplement 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  2 13    b.  Continues enrollment in the district to take courses
  2 14 either provided by the district, offered by community colleges
  2 15 under the provisions of section 257.11, or to take courses
  2 16 under the provisions of chapter 261C section 261E.6.
  2 17    Sec. 5.  Section 257.11, subsection 2, Code Supplement
  2 18 2007, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
  2 19    NEW PARAGRAPH.  d.  A school district which hosts a
  2 20 regional academy shall be eligible to assign its resident
  2 21 students attending classes at the academy a weighting of
  2 22 one=tenth of the percentage of the student's school day during
  2 23 which the student attends classes at the regional academy.
  2 24 The maximum amount of additional weighting for which a school
  2 25 district hosting a regional academy shall be eligible is an
  2 26 amount corresponding to thirty additional students.  The
  2 27 minimum amount of additional weighting for which a school
  2 28 district establishing a regional academy shall be eligible is
  2 29 an amount corresponding to fifteen additional students if the
  2 30 academy provides both advanced=level courses and career and
  2 31 technical courses.
  2 32    Sec. 6.  Section 257.11, subsection 3, Code Supplement
  2 33 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  2 34    3.  DISTRICT=TO=COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHARING AND CONCURRENT
  2 35 ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS.
  3  1    a.  In order to provide additional funds for school
  3  2 districts which send their resident pupils to a community
  3  3 college for classes, a supplementary weighting plan for
  3  4 determining enrollment is adopted.
  3  5    b.  If the school budget review committee certifies to the
  3  6 department of management that the class would not otherwise be
  3  7 implemented without the assignment of additional weighting,
  3  8 pupils attending a community college=offered class or
  3  9 attending a class taught by a community college=employed
  3 10 instructor are assigned a weighting of forty=eight hundredths
  3 11 of the percentage of the pupil's school day during which the
  3 12 pupil attends class in the community college or attends a
  3 13 class taught by a community college=employed instructor of
  3 14 seventy hundredths for career and technical courses and
  3 15 forty=six hundredths for liberal arts and sciences courses.
  3 16 The following requirements shall be met for the purposes of
  3 17 assigning an additional weighting for classes offered through
  3 18 a sharing agreement between a school district and community
  3 19 college.  The class must be:
  3 20    (1)  Supplementing, not supplanting, high school courses.
  3 21    (2)  Included in the community college catalog or an
  3 22 amendment or addendum to the catalog.
  3 23    (3)  Open to all registered community college students, not
  3 24 just high school students.
  3 25    (4)  For college credit and the credit must apply toward an
  3 26 associate of arts or associate of science degree, or toward an
  3 27 associate of applied arts or associate of applied science
  3 28 degree, or toward completion of a college diploma program.
  3 29    (5)  Taught by a community college=employed instructor.
  3 30    (6)  Taught utilizing the community college course
  3 31 syllabus.
  3 32    (7)  Of the same quality as a course offered on a community
  3 33 college campus.
  3 34    Sec. 7.  Section 260C.14, subsection 2, Code 2007, is
  3 35 amended to read as follows:
  4  1    2.  Have authority to determine tuition rates for
  4  2 instruction.  Tuition for residents of Iowa shall not exceed
  4  3 the lowest tuition rate per semester, or the equivalent,
  4  4 charged by an institution of higher education under the state
  4  5 board of regents for a full=time resident student.  However,
  4  6 except for students enrolled under chapter 261C section
  4  7 261E.6, if a local school district pays tuition for a resident
  4  8 pupil of high school age, the limitation on tuition for
  4  9 residents of Iowa shall not apply, the amount of tuition shall
  4 10 be determined by the board of directors of the community
  4 11 college with the consent of the local school board, and the
  4 12 pupil shall not be included in the full=time equivalent
  4 13 enrollment of the community college for the purpose of
  4 14 computing general aid to the community college.  Tuition for
  4 15 nonresidents of Iowa shall not be less than the marginal cost
  4 16 of instruction of a student attending the college.  A lower
  4 17 tuition for nonresidents may be permitted under a reciprocal
  4 18 tuition agreement between a merged area and an educational
  4 19 institution in another state, if the agreement is approved by
  4 20 the director.  The board may designate that a portion of the
  4 21 tuition moneys collected from students be used for student aid
  4 22 purposes.
  4 23    Sec. 8.  NEW SECTION.  261E.1  SENIOR YEAR PLUS PROGRAM.
  4 24    1.  A senior year plus program is established to be
  4 25 administered by the department of education to provide Iowa
  4 26 high school students the opportunity to take up to thirty
  4 27 hours of college credit or advanced placement coursework at no
  4 28 expense to the student and parent or legal guardian while the
  4 29 student is still enrolled in high school pursuant to section
  4 30 257.6, with the exception of the expense of providing
  4 31 transportation to and from the postsecondary institution for
  4 32 the student.  The program shall consist of the following
  4 33 elements:
  4 34    a.  Advanced placement classes, including on=site,
  4 35 consortium, and online opportunities and courses delivered via
  5  1 the Iowa communications network.
  5  2    b.  Community college credit courses offered through
  5  3 written agreements between school districts and community
  5  4 colleges.
  5  5    c.  College and university credit courses offered to
  5  6 individual high school students through the postsecondary
  5  7 enrollment options program in accordance with section 261E.6.
  5  8    d.  Courses offered through regional and career academies
  5  9 for college credit.
  5 10    e.  Internet=based courses offered for college credit,
  5 11 including but not limited to courses within the Iowa learning
  5 12 online initiative.
  5 13    2.  The senior year plus programming provided by a school
  5 14 district pursuant to sections 261E.4 and 261E.6 may be
  5 15 available to students on a year=round basis.
  5 16    Sec. 9.  NEW SECTION.  261E.2  DEFINITIONS.
  5 17    As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
  5 18 requires:
  5 19    1.  "Concurrent enrollment" means any course offered to
  5 20 students in grades nine through twelve during the regular
  5 21 school year approved by the board of directors of a school
  5 22 district through a contractual agreement between a community
  5 23 college and the school district that meets the provisions of
  5 24 section 257.11, subsection 3.
  5 25    2.  "Department" means the department of education.
  5 26    3.  "Director" means the director of the department of
  5 27 education.
  5 28    4.  "Eligible postsecondary institution" means an
  5 29 institution of higher learning under the control of the state
  5 30 board of regents, a community college established under
  5 31 chapter 260C, or an accredited private institution as defined
  5 32 in section 261.9.
  5 33    5.  "Institution" means a school district or eligible
  5 34 postsecondary institution delivering the instruction in a
  5 35 given program as authorized by this chapter.
  6  1    6.  "School board" means the board of directors of a school
  6  2 district or a collaboration of boards of directors of school
  6  3 districts.
  6  4    7.  "State board" means the state board of education.
  6  5    8.  "Student" means any individual enrolled in grades nine
  6  6 through twelve in a school district who meets the criteria in
  6  7 section 261E.3, subsection 1.  "Student" includes an
  6  8 individual attending an accredited nonpublic school or the
  6  9 Iowa school for the deaf or the Iowa braille and sight saving
  6 10 school for purposes of sections 261E.4 and 261E.6.
  6 11    Sec. 10.  NEW SECTION.  261E.3  ELIGIBILITY.
  6 12    1.  STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.  In order to ensure student
  6 13 readiness for postsecondary coursework, the student shall meet
  6 14 the following criteria:
  6 15    a.  The student shall meet the enrollment requirements of
  6 16 the eligible postsecondary institution providing the course
  6 17 credit.
  6 18    b.  The student shall meet or exceed the minimum
  6 19 performance measures on any academic assessments that may be
  6 20 required by the eligible postsecondary institution.
  6 21    c.  The student shall have taken the appropriate course
  6 22 prerequisites, if any, prior to enrollment in the eligible
  6 23 postsecondary course, as determined by the eligible
  6 24 postsecondary institution delivering the course.
  6 25    d.  The student shall have attained the approval of the
  6 26 school board or its designee and the eligible postsecondary
  6 27 institution to register for the postsecondary course.
  6 28    e.  The student shall have demonstrated proficiency in
  6 29 reading, mathematics, and science as evidenced by achievement
  6 30 scores on the latest administration of the state assessment
  6 31 for which scores are available and as defined by the
  6 32 department.  If a student is not proficient in one or more of
  6 33 the content areas listed in this paragraph, the school board
  6 34 may establish alternative but equivalent qualifying
  6 35 performance measures including but not limited to additional
  7  1 administrations of the state assessment, portfolios of student
  7  2 work, or end=of=course assessments.  A student enrolled in
  7  3 courses considered to be career or vocational education
  7  4 courses is exempt from this paragraph.
  7  5    f.  The student shall meet the definition of eligible
  7  6 student under section 261E.6, subsection 6, in order to
  7  7 participate in the postsecondary enrollment options program.
  7  8    2.  TEACHER ELIGIBILITY.
  7  9    a.  A teacher employed to provide instruction under this
  7 10 chapter shall meet the following criteria:
  7 11    (1)  The teacher shall be appropriately licensed to teach
  7 12 the subject the institution is employing the teacher to teach.
  7 13    (2)  The teacher shall collaborate with other secondary and
  7 14 postsecondary faculty in the subject area.
  7 15    (3)  The teacher shall provide ongoing communication about
  7 16 course expectations, including a syllabus that describes the
  7 17 content, teaching strategies, performance measures, and
  7 18 resource materials used in the course, and academic progress
  7 19 to the student and in the case of students of minor age, to
  7 20 the parent or legal guardian of the student.
  7 21    (4)  The teacher shall provide curriculum and instruction
  7 22 that is accepted as college=level work as determined by the
  7 23 institution.
  7 24    (5)  The teacher shall use valid and reliable student
  7 25 assessment measures, to the extent available.
  7 26    (6)  The teacher shall have successfully passed a
  7 27 background investigation conducted in accordance with section
  7 28 272.2, subsection 17, prior to providing instruction for any
  7 29 program authorized by this chapter.
  7 30    b.  The teacher is encouraged to participate in secondary
  7 31 and postsecondary professional development activities related
  7 32 to curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, policy implementation,
  7 33 technology, and discipline issues.
  7 34    c.  An individual under suspension or revocation of an
  7 35 educational license or statement of professional recognition
  8  1 issued by the board of educational examiners shall not be
  8  2 allowed to provide instruction for any program authorized by
  8  3 this chapter.
  8  4    3.  INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY.  An institution providing
  8  5 instruction pursuant to this chapter shall meet the following
  8  6 criteria:
  8  7    a.  The institution shall ensure that students and, in the
  8  8 case of minor students, parents or legal guardians, receive
  8  9 appropriate course orientation and information, including but
  8 10 not limited to a summary of applicable policies and
  8 11 procedures, the establishment of a permanent transcript,
  8 12 policies on dropping courses, a student handbook, information
  8 13 describing student responsibilities, and institutional
  8 14 procedures for academic credit transfer.
  8 15    b.  The institution shall ensure that students have access
  8 16 to student support services, including but not limited to
  8 17 tutoring, counseling, advising, library, writing and math
  8 18 labs, and computer labs, and student activities, excluding
  8 19 postsecondary intercollegiate athletics.
  8 20    c.  The institution shall ensure that students are properly
  8 21 enrolled in courses that will carry college credit.
  8 22    d.  The institution shall ensure that teachers and students
  8 23 receive appropriate orientation and information about the
  8 24 institution's expectations.
  8 25    e.  The institution shall ensure that the courses provided
  8 26 achieve the same learning outcomes as similar courses offered
  8 27 in the subject area and are accepted as college=level work.
  8 28    f.  The institution shall review the course on an annual
  8 29 basis for continuous improvement, shall follow up with
  8 30 students in order to use information gained from the students
  8 31 to improve course delivery and content, and shall share data
  8 32 on course progress and outcomes with the collaborative
  8 33 partners involved with the delivery of the programming and
  8 34 with the department, as needed.
  8 35    g.  The institution shall not place restrictions on
  9  1 participation in senior year plus programming beyond that
  9  2 which is specified in statute or administrative rule.
  9  3    Sec. 11.  NEW SECTION.  261E.4  ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
  9  4    1.  A school district shall make available advanced
  9  5 placement courses to its resident students through direct
  9  6 instruction on=site, collaboration with another school
  9  7 district, or by using the online Iowa advanced placement
  9  8 academy.
  9  9    2.  A school district shall provide descriptions of the
  9 10 advanced placement courses available to students using a
  9 11 course registration handbook.
  9 12    3.  A school district shall ensure that advanced placement
  9 13 course instructors are appropriately licensed by the board of
  9 14 educational examiners in accordance with chapter 272 and meet
  9 15 the minimum certification requirements of the national
  9 16 organization that administers the advanced placement program.
  9 17    4.  A school district shall establish prerequisite
  9 18 coursework for each advanced placement course offered and
  9 19 shall describe the prerequisites in the course registration
  9 20 handbook, which shall be provided to every junior high school
  9 21 or middle school student prior to the development of a core
  9 22 curriculum plan pursuant to section 279.61.
  9 23    Sec. 12.  NEW SECTION.  261E.5  ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
  9 24 == ACCESS == EXAMINATION FEE PAYMENT.
  9 25    1.  A student enrolled in a school district or accredited
  9 26 nonpublic school shall be provided access to advanced
  9 27 placement examinations at no charge to the student or the
  9 28 student's parents or guardians in accordance with this
  9 29 section.
  9 30    2.  The board of directors of a school district and the
  9 31 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall
  9 32 ensure that any student enrolled who is interested in taking
  9 33 an advanced placement examination is properly registered for
  9 34 the examination.  An accredited nonpublic school shall provide
  9 35 a list of students registered for advanced placement
 10  1 examinations to the school district in which the accredited
 10  2 nonpublic school is located.  The school district and the
 10  3 accredited nonpublic school shall also ensure that any student
 10  4 enrolled in the school district or school, as applicable, who
 10  5 is interested in taking an advanced placement examination and
 10  6 qualifies for a reduced fee for the examination is properly
 10  7 registered for the fee reduction.  The school district shall
 10  8 provide the college board with a list of all students enrolled
 10  9 in the school district and the accredited nonpublic schools
 10 10 located in the school district who are properly registered for
 10 11 advanced placement examinations administered by the college
 10 12 board.
 10 13    3.  From the funds allocated pursuant to section 261E.13,
 10 14 subsection 1, paragraph "b", the department shall remit
 10 15 amounts to the college board for advanced placement
 10 16 examinations administered by the college board for students
 10 17 enrolled in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools
 10 18 pursuant to subsection 2 and shall distribute an amount per
 10 19 student to a school district submitting a list of students
 10 20 properly registered for the advanced placement examinations
 10 21 pursuant to subsection 2.  The remittance rates to the college
 10 22 board and distribution amounts to the school districts in
 10 23 accordance with this subsection for the fiscal year beginning
 10 24 July 1, 2008, are as follows:  seventy=six dollars for each
 10 25 school district or accredited nonpublic school student who
 10 26 does not qualify for fee reduction; fifty=four dollars for
 10 27 each school district or accredited nonpublic school student
 10 28 who qualifies for fee reduction; and eight dollars to the
 10 29 school district for each school district or accredited
 10 30 nonpublic school student who was listed by the school district
 10 31 and who takes an advanced placement examination in accordance
 10 32 with this section.
 10 33    Sec. 13.  NEW SECTION.  261E.6  POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT
 10 34 OPTIONS PROGRAM.
 10 35    1.  PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.  The postsecondary enrollment
 11  1 options program is established to promote rigorous academic or
 11  2 career and technical pursuits and to provide a wider variety
 11  3 of options to high school students by enabling ninth and tenth
 11  4 grade students who have been identified by the school district
 11  5 as gifted and talented, and eleventh and twelfth grade
 11  6 students, to enroll in eligible courses at an eligible
 11  7 postsecondary institution of higher learning as a part=time
 11  8 student.
 11  9    2.  NOTIFICATION.  The availability and requirements of
 11 10 this program shall be included in each school district's
 11 11 student registration handbook.  Information about the program
 11 12 shall be provided to the student and the student's parent or
 11 13 guardian prior to the development of the student's core
 11 14 curriculum plan under section 279.61.  The school district
 11 15 shall establish a process by which students may indicate
 11 16 interest in and apply for enrollment in the program.
 11 17    3.  AUTHORIZATION.  To participate in this program, an
 11 18 eligible student shall make application to an eligible
 11 19 postsecondary institution to allow the eligible student to
 11 20 enroll for college credit in a nonsectarian course offered at
 11 21 the institution.  A comparable course, as defined in rules
 11 22 adopted by the board of directors of the school district
 11 23 consistent with department administrative rule, must not be
 11 24 offered by the school district or accredited nonpublic school
 11 25 the student attends.  If the postsecondary institution accepts
 11 26 an eligible student for enrollment under this section, the
 11 27 institution shall send written notice to the student, the
 11 28 student's parent or legal guardian in the case of a minor
 11 29 child, and the student's school district or accredited
 11 30 nonpublic school and the school district in the case of a
 11 31 nonpublic school student, or the Iowa school for the deaf or
 11 32 the Iowa braille and sight saving school.  The notice shall
 11 33 list the course, the clock hours the student will be attending
 11 34 the course, and the number of hours of college credit that the
 11 35 eligible student will receive from the eligible postsecondary
 12  1 institution upon successful completion of the course.
 12  2    4.  CREDITS.
 12  3    a.  A school district, the Iowa school for the deaf, the
 12  4 Iowa braille and sight saving school, or accredited nonpublic
 12  5 school shall grant high school credit to an eligible student
 12  6 enrolled in a course under this chapter if the eligible
 12  7 student successfully completes the course as determined by the
 12  8 eligible postsecondary institution.  The board of directors of
 12  9 the school district, the board of regents for the Iowa school
 12 10 for the deaf and the Iowa braille and sight saving school, or
 12 11 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall
 12 12 determine the number of high school credits that shall be
 12 13 granted to an eligible student who successfully completes a
 12 14 course.  Eligible students may take up to seven semester hours
 12 15 of credit during the summer months when school is not in
 12 16 session and receive credit for that attendance, if the student
 12 17 pays the cost of attendance for those summer credit hours.
 12 18    b.  The high school credits granted to an eligible student
 12 19 under this section shall count toward the graduation
 12 20 requirements and subject area requirements of the school
 12 21 district of residence, the Iowa school for the deaf, the Iowa
 12 22 braille and sight saving school, or accredited nonpublic
 12 23 school of the eligible student.  Evidence of successful
 12 24 completion of each course and high school credits and college
 12 25 credits received shall be included in the student's high
 12 26 school transcript.
 12 27    5.  TRANSPORTATION.  The parent or legal guardian of an
 12 28 eligible student who has enrolled in and is attending an
 12 29 eligible postsecondary institution under this chapter shall
 12 30 furnish transportation to and from the postsecondary
 12 31 institution for the student.
 12 32    6.  DEFINITION.  For purposes of this section and section
 12 33 261E.7, unless the context otherwise requires, "eligible
 12 34 student" means a student classified by the board of directors
 12 35 of a school district, by the state board of regents for pupils
 13  1 of the school for the deaf and the Iowa braille and sight
 13  2 saving school, or by the authorities in charge of an
 13  3 accredited nonpublic school as a ninth or tenth grade student
 13  4 who is identified according to the school district's gifted
 13  5 and talented criteria and procedures, pursuant to section
 13  6 257.43, as a gifted and talented child, or an eleventh or
 13  7 twelfth grade student, during the period the student is
 13  8 participating in the postsecondary enrollment options program.
 13  9    Sec. 14.  NEW SECTION.  261E.7  POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT
 13 10 OPTIONS PROGRAM PAYMENTS == CLAIMS == REIMBURSEMENTS.
 13 11    1.  Not later than June 30 of each year, a school district
 13 12 shall pay a tuition reimbursement amount to a postsecondary
 13 13 institution that has enrolled its resident eligible students
 13 14 under this chapter, unless the eligible student is
 13 15 participating in open enrollment under section 282.18, in
 13 16 which case, the tuition reimbursement amount shall be paid by
 13 17 the receiving district.  However, if a child's residency
 13 18 changes during a school year, the tuition shall be paid by the
 13 19 district in which the child was enrolled as of the date
 13 20 specified in section 257.6, subsection 1, or the district in
 13 21 which the child was counted under section 257.6, subsection 1,
 13 22 paragraph "a", subparagraph (6).  For students enrolled at the
 13 23 school for the deaf and the Iowa braille and sight saving
 13 24 school, the state board of regents shall pay a tuition
 13 25 reimbursement amount by June 30 of each year.  The amount of
 13 26 tuition reimbursement for each separate course shall equal the
 13 27 lesser of:
 13 28    a.  The actual and customary costs of tuition, textbooks,
 13 29 materials, and fees directly related to the course taken by
 13 30 the eligible student.
 13 31    b.  Three hundred dollars.
 13 32    2.  A student participating in the postsecondary enrollment
 13 33 options act program is not eligible to enroll on a full=time
 13 34 basis in an eligible postsecondary institution.  A student
 13 35 enrolled on such a full=time basis shall not receive any
 14  1 payments under this section.
 14  2    3.  By September 15 of the school year following the school
 14  3 year in which the postsecondary enrollment options program
 14  4 expenses were paid, the school district shall submit its
 14  5 claims for reimbursements for school district students paid
 14  6 pursuant to subsection 1 to the department of education.
 14  7    4.  By October 15 of the school year following the school
 14  8 year in which the postsecondary enrollment options program
 14  9 expenses were paid, the department shall distribute to each
 14 10 school district, from moneys appropriated to the department
 14 11 for this purpose, an amount of aid to each school district
 14 12 that submitted claims as provided in subsection 3, equal to
 14 13 one hundred fifty dollars for each course successfully
 14 14 completed by a school district student pursuant to this
 14 15 section.  If the amount appropriated for purposes of this
 14 16 section is insufficient to provide aid for reimbursements in
 14 17 full, the department shall prorate the amount of aid provided
 14 18 to school districts in accordance with this section.  Any
 14 19 funds appropriated to the department for the purposes of this
 14 20 subsection, but unused for the current fiscal year
 14 21 distribution, shall be carried forward to the subsequent
 14 22 fiscal year.
 14 23    5.  Any moneys received by a school district for the
 14 24 payment of postsecondary enrollment options program expenses
 14 25 under this section shall not affect district cost limitations
 14 26 of chapter 257.
 14 27    6.  An eligible postsecondary institution that enrolls an
 14 28 eligible student under this section shall not charge that
 14 29 student for tuition, textbooks, materials, or fees directly
 14 30 related to the course in which the student is enrolled except
 14 31 that the student may be required to purchase equipment that
 14 32 becomes the property of the student.  For the purposes of this
 14 33 subsection, equipment shall not include textbooks.  However,
 14 34 if the student fails to complete and receive credit for the
 14 35 course, the student is responsible for all district
 15  1 nonreimbursed costs directly related to the course as provided
 15  2 in subsection 1 and shall reimburse the school district for
 15  3 its costs minus the amount received by the school district
 15  4 under subsection 4 for the claim submitted under subsection 3.
 15  5 If the student is under eighteen years of age, the student's
 15  6 parent or legal guardian shall sign the student registration
 15  7 form indicating that the parent or legal guardian is
 15  8 responsible for all costs directly related to the course which
 15  9 are not reimbursed under subsection 4, if the student fails to
 15 10 complete and receive credit for the course.  If documentation
 15 11 is submitted to the school district that verifies the student
 15 12 was unable to complete the course for reasons including but
 15 13 not limited to the student's physical incapacity, a death in
 15 14 the student's immediate family, or the student's move to
 15 15 another school district, that verification shall constitute a
 15 16 waiver to the requirement that the student or parent or legal
 15 17 guardian pay the costs of the course to the school district.
 15 18    7.  An eligible postsecondary institution shall make pro
 15 19 rata adjustments to tuition reimbursement amounts based upon
 15 20 federal guidelines established pursuant to 20 U.S.C. } 1091b.
 15 21    Sec. 15.  NEW SECTION.  261E.8  DISTRICT=TO=COMMUNITY
 15 22 COLLEGE SHARING OR CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT PROGRAM.
 15 23    1.  A district=to=community college sharing or concurrent
 15 24 enrollment program is established to be administered by the
 15 25 department to promote rigorous academic or career and
 15 26 technical pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options
 15 27 to high school students to enroll part=time in eligible
 15 28 nonsectarian courses at or through community colleges
 15 29 established under chapter 260C.  The program shall be made
 15 30 available to all resident students in grades nine through
 15 31 twelve.  Notice of the availability of the program shall be
 15 32 included in a school district's student registration handbook
 15 33 and the handbook shall identify which courses, if successfully
 15 34 completed, generate college credit under the program.  A
 15 35 student and the student's parent or legal guardian shall also
 16  1 be made aware of this program as a part of the development of
 16  2 the student's core curriculum plan in accordance with section
 16  3 279.61.
 16  4    2.  Students from accredited nonpublic schools and students
 16  5 receiving competent private instruction under chapter 299A may
 16  6 access the program through the school district in which the
 16  7 accredited nonpublic school or private institution is located.
 16  8    3.  A student may make application to a community college
 16  9 and the school district to allow the student to enroll for
 16 10 college credit in a nonsectarian course offered by the
 16 11 community college.  A comparable course, as defined in rules
 16 12 made by the board of directors of the school district, must
 16 13 not be offered by the school district or accredited nonpublic
 16 14 school which the student attends.  If an eligible
 16 15 postsecondary institution accepts a student for enrollment
 16 16 under this section, the institution shall send written notice
 16 17 to the student, the student's parent or legal guardian in the
 16 18 case of a minor child, and the student's school district.  The
 16 19 notice shall list the course, the clock hours the student will
 16 20 be attending the course, and the number of hours of college
 16 21 credit that the student will receive from the community
 16 22 college upon successful completion of the course.
 16 23    4.  A school district shall grant high school credit to a
 16 24 student enrolled in a course under this chapter if the student
 16 25 successfully completes the course as determined by the
 16 26 community college.  The board of directors of the school
 16 27 district shall determine the number of high school credits
 16 28 that shall be granted to a student who successfully completes
 16 29 a course.
 16 30    5.  The parent or legal guardian of a student who has
 16 31 enrolled in and is attending a community college under this
 16 32 section shall furnish transportation to and from the community
 16 33 college for the student.
 16 34    6.  District=to=community college sharing agreements or
 16 35 concurrent enrollment programs that meet the requirements of
 17  1 section 257.11, subsection 3, are eligible for funding under
 17  2 that provision.
 17  3    7.  Community colleges shall comply with the data
 17  4 collection requirements of 2006 Iowa Acts, ch. 1180, section
 17  5 17.
 17  6    Sec. 16.  NEW SECTION.  261E.9  REGIONAL ACADEMIES.
 17  7    1.  A regional academy is a program established by a school
 17  8 district to which multiple school districts send students in
 17  9 grades nine through twelve, and which may include
 17 10 internet=based coursework and courses delivered via the Iowa
 17 11 communications network.  A regional academy shall include in
 17 12 its curriculum advanced level courses and may include in its
 17 13 curriculum career and technical courses.
 17 14    2.  A regional academy course shall not qualify as a
 17 15 concurrent enrollment course.
 17 16    3.  School districts participating in regional academies
 17 17 are eligible for supplementary weighting as provided in
 17 18 section 257.11, subsection 2.
 17 19    4.  Information regarding regional academies shall be
 17 20 provided to a student and the student's parent or guardian
 17 21 prior to the development of the student's core curriculum plan
 17 22 under section 279.61.
 17 23    Sec. 17.  NEW SECTION.  261E.10  CAREER ACADEMIES.
 17 24    1.  As used in this section, "career academy" means the
 17 25 same as defined in section 260C.18A, subsection 2, paragraph
 17 26 "c".
 17 27    2.  A career academy course may qualify as a concurrent
 17 28 enrollment course if it meets the requirements of section
 17 29 261E.8.
 17 30    3.  If a career academy enters into a contractual agreement
 17 31 between a school district and a community college, the school
 17 32 district shall be eligible for supplementary weighting under
 17 33 section 257.11, subsection 2, and the community college shall
 17 34 be eligible for funds allocated pursuant to section 260G.6.
 17 35    4.  Information regarding career academies shall be
 18  1 provided to a student and the student's parent or guardian
 18  2 prior to the development of the student's core curriculum plan
 18  3 under section 279.61.
 18  4    Sec. 18.  NEW SECTION.  261E.11  INTERNET=BASED AND IOWA
 18  5 COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK COURSEWORK.
 18  6    1.  The Iowa communications network may be used to deliver
 18  7 coursework for the programming provided under this chapter.  A
 18  8 school district that provides courses delivered via the Iowa
 18  9 communications network shall receive supplemental funding as
 18 10 provided in section 257.11, subsection 7.
 18 11    2.  The programming in this chapter may be delivered via
 18 12 internet=based technologies including but not limited to the
 18 13 Iowa learning online program.  An internet=based course may
 18 14 qualify for additional supplemental weighting if it meets the
 18 15 requirements of section 261E.8 or section 261E.10.
 18 16    3.  To qualify as a senior year plus course, an
 18 17 internet=based course or course offered through the Iowa
 18 18 communications network must comply with the appropriate
 18 19 provisions of this chapter.
 18 20    Sec. 19.  NEW SECTION.  261E.12  INTERNET=BASED
 18 21 CLEARINGHOUSE.
 18 22    The department shall develop and make available to
 18 23 secondary and postsecondary students, parents or legal
 18 24 guardians, school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and
 18 25 eligible postsecondary institutions an internet=based
 18 26 clearinghouse of information that allows students to identify
 18 27 participation options within the senior year plus program and
 18 28 transferability between educational systems.  The
 18 29 internet=based resource shall provide links to other similar
 18 30 resources available through various Iowa postsecondary
 18 31 institution systems.  The internet=based resource shall also
 18 32 identify course transferability and articulation between the
 18 33 secondary and postsecondary systems in Iowa and between the
 18 34 various Iowa postsecondary systems.
 18 35    Sec. 20.  NEW SECTION.  261E.13  STATE PROGRAM ALLOCATION.
 19  1    1.  For each fiscal year in which moneys are appropriated
 19  2 by the general assembly for purposes of the senior year plus
 19  3 program, the moneys shall be allocated as follows in the
 19  4 following priority order:
 19  5    a.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and
 19  6 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to one million one
 19  7 hundred thousand dollars to the department to implement the
 19  8 postsecondary enrollment options program pursuant to sections
 19  9 261E.6 and 261E.7.  If the funds appropriated for the program
 19 10 are insufficient to fully reimburse claims to school
 19 11 districts, the department shall prorate the amount distributed
 19 12 to school districts based upon the amount appropriated.
 19 13    b.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and
 19 14 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to one million dollars
 19 15 to the department to implement the advanced placement program
 19 16 and provide advanced placement course examination fee
 19 17 remittance pursuant to sections 261E.4 and 261E.5.  If the
 19 18 funds appropriated for purposes of section 261E.5 are
 19 19 insufficient to distribute the amounts set out in section
 19 20 261E.5, subsection 3, to school districts, the department
 19 21 shall prorate the amount distributed to school districts based
 19 22 on the amount appropriated.
 19 23    c.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and
 19 24 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to five hundred thousand
 19 25 dollars to the department to implement the internet=based
 19 26 clearinghouse pursuant to section 261E.11.
 19 27    d.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and
 19 28 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to five hundred thousand
 19 29 dollars to the department for the development of a data
 19 30 management system, including the development of a transcript
 19 31 repository, for senior year plus programming provided under
 19 32 this chapter.  The data management system shall include
 19 33 information generated by the provisions of section 279.61,
 19 34 data on courses taken by Iowa's students, and the
 19 35 transferability of course credit.
 20  1    e.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and
 20  2 succeeding fiscal years, an amount up to four hundred thousand
 20  3 dollars to the department for the development of additional
 20  4 internet=based educational courses that comply with the
 20  5 provisions of this chapter.
 20  6    2.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, any moneys remaining
 20  7 unencumbered or unobligated from the moneys allocated under
 20  8 this section shall not revert but shall remain available in
 20  9 the succeeding fiscal year for expenditure for the purposes
 20 10 designated.  The department shall annually inform the general
 20 11 assembly of the amount of moneys allocated, but unspent.  The
 20 12 provisions of section 8.39 shall not apply to the funds
 20 13 allocated pursuant to this section.
 20 14    3.  Moneys received by a school district under sections
 20 15 261E.4 through 261E.7 are miscellaneous income for purposes of
 20 16 chapter 257 or are considered encumbered.  A school district
 20 17 shall maintain a separate account within its financial records
 20 18 for payments received and expenditures made pursuant to this
 20 19 section.
 20 20    Sec. 21.  Section 279.61, Code Supplement 2007, is amended
 20 21 to read as follows:
 20 22    279.61  STUDENT PLAN FOR PROGRESS TOWARD UNIVERSITY
 20 23 ADMISSIONS == REPORT.
 20 24    1.  For the school year beginning July 1, 2007 2008, and
 20 25 each succeeding school year, the board of directors of each
 20 26 school district shall cooperate with each student enrolled in
 20 27 grade eight to develop for the student a core curriculum plan
 20 28 to guide the student toward the goal of successfully
 20 29 completing, at a minimum, the voluntary model core curriculum
 20 30 developed by the state board of education pursuant to section
 20 31 256.7, subsection 26, by the time the student graduates from
 20 32 high school.  The plan shall include career options and shall
 20 33 identify the coursework needed in grades nine through twelve
 20 34 to support the student's postsecondary education and career
 20 35 options.  Additionally, the plan shall include a timeline for
 21  1 the student to successfully complete, prior to graduation, all
 21  2 components of the state designated career information and
 21  3 decision making system administered by the department in
 21  4 accordance with section 118 of the federal Carl D. Perkins
 21  5 Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, Pub.
 21  6 L. No. 109=270.  The student's parent or legal guardian shall
 21  7 sign the core curriculum plan developed with the student and
 21  8 the signed plan shall be included in the student's cumulative
 21  9 records.
 21 10    2.  For the school year beginning July 1, 2007 2008, and
 21 11 each succeeding school year, the board of directors of each
 21 12 school district shall report annually to each student enrolled
 21 13 in grades nine through twelve in the school district, and, if
 21 14 the student is under the age of eighteen, to each student's
 21 15 parent or legal guardian, the student's progress toward
 21 16 meeting the goal of successfully completing the high school
 21 17 graduation requirements and the model core curriculum adopted
 21 18 by the state board of education pursuant to section 256.7,
 21 19 subsection 26.
 21 20    Sec. 22.  Section 282.18, subsection 7, Code 2007, is
 21 21 amended to read as follows:
 21 22    7.  A pupil participating in open enrollment shall be
 21 23 counted, for state school foundation aid purposes, in the
 21 24 pupil's district of residence.  A pupil's residence, for
 21 25 purposes of this section, means a residence under section
 21 26 282.1.  The board of directors of the district of residence
 21 27 shall pay to the receiving district the state cost per pupil
 21 28 for the previous school year, plus any moneys received for the
 21 29 pupil as a result of the non=English speaking weighting under
 21 30 section 280.4, subsection 3, for the previous school year
 21 31 multiplied by the state cost per pupil for the previous year.
 21 32 If the pupil participating in open enrollment is also an
 21 33 eligible pupil under chapter 261C section 261E.6, the
 21 34 receiving district shall pay the tuition reimbursement amount
 21 35 to an eligible postsecondary institution as provided in
 22  1 section 261C.6 261E.7.
 22  2    Sec. 23.  Chapter 261C, Code and Code Supplement 2007, is
 22  3 repealed.
 22  4    Sec. 24.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION == SENIOR YEAR PLUS
 22  5 PROGRAM STUDY.  The department of education, in collaboration
 22  6 with representatives of regents universities, accredited
 22  7 private institutions, community colleges, and school
 22  8 districts, shall conduct a study of the measures necessary for
 22  9 the successful implementation of the senior year plus program
 22 10 in accordance with the provisions of this Act.  The study
 22 11 shall include a review of provisions of the Code or
 22 12 administrative rules for purposes of implementing the core
 22 13 curriculum adopted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 26.
 22 14 The study shall also address barriers to the transfer of
 22 15 credit between secondary schools and the postsecondary system
 22 16 and its institutions.  The department shall submit its
 22 17 findings and recommendations, including recommendations for
 22 18 statutory and administrative rule changes necessary, to the
 22 19 general assembly by November 14, 2008.
 22 20    Sec. 25.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION == SENIOR YEAR PLUS
 22 21 PROGRAM APPROPRIATION.  There is appropriated from the general
 22 22 fund of the state to the department of education for the
 22 23 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009,
 22 24 the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to
 22 25 be used for the purposes designated:
 22 26    For purposes of implementing the senior year plus program,
 22 27 if enacted by this Act:
 22 28 .................................................. $  3,500,000
 22 29                           EXPLANATION
 22 30    This bill establishes a senior year plus program to be
 22 31 administered by the department of education to provide Iowa
 22 32 high school students the opportunity to take up to 30 hours of
 22 33 college credit or advanced placement coursework at no expense
 22 34 to the student and parent or legal guardian while the student
 22 35 is still enrolled in high school, with the exception of the
 23  1 costs of transporting the student to and from a postsecondary
 23  2 institution.  The bill appropriates $3.5 million for FY
 23  3 2008=2009 to the department for the program.  The program
 23  4 consists of advanced placement classes, community college
 23  5 credit courses offered through written agreements between
 23  6 school districts and community colleges, a postsecondary
 23  7 enrollment options program, courses offered through regional
 23  8 and career academies for college credit, and internet=based
 23  9 courses offered for college credit.  The bill requires that
 23 10 students be made aware of the opportunities offered by the
 23 11 program as part of the curriculum development plan school
 23 12 districts develop with eighth grade students.  The bill
 23 13 provides for the following:
 23 14    SUPPLEMENTARY WEIGHTING.  The bill allows a school district
 23 15 which hosts a regional academy be eligible to assign its
 23 16 resident students attending classes at the academy a weighting
 23 17 of one=tenth of the percentage of the student's school day
 23 18 during which the student attends classes at the regional
 23 19 academy, up to a maximum amount of additional weighting
 23 20 corresponding to 30 additional students and a minimum amount
 23 21 of additional weighting corresponding to 15 additional
 23 22 students if the academy provides both advanced level courses
 23 23 and career and technical courses.
 23 24    The bill also changes the assigned additional weighting of
 23 25 forty=eight hundredths for pupils attending a
 23 26 community=college=offered class or attending a class taught by
 23 27 a community=college=employed instructor by assigning a
 23 28 weighting of seventy hundredths for career and technical
 23 29 courses and forty=six hundredths for liberal arts and sciences
 23 30 courses.  In addition, under the bill, a student attending an
 23 31 accredited nonpublic school or receiving competent private
 23 32 instruction under Code chapter 299A and who is participating
 23 33 in senior year plus programming shall be counted as a
 23 34 shared=time student in the school district in which the
 23 35 nonpublic school of attendance is located for state foundation
 24  1 aid purposes.
 24  2    STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.  The student shall meet the enrollment
 24  3 requirements of the eligible postsecondary institution
 24  4 providing the course credit; shall meet or exceed the minimum
 24  5 performance on any academic assessments that may be required
 24  6 by the eligible postsecondary institution; shall have taken
 24  7 any appropriate course prerequisites; shall have attained the
 24  8 approval of the school board and the eligible postsecondary
 24  9 institution to register for the postsecondary course; and
 24 10 shall have demonstrated proficiency in reading, mathematics,
 24 11 and science and, if a student is not proficient in one or more
 24 12 of the content areas, the school board may establish
 24 13 alternative but equivalent qualifying performance measures.  A
 24 14 student enrolled in career or vocational courses is exempt
 24 15 from the proficiency requirement.
 24 16    In addition, if the student wishes to participate in the
 24 17 postsecondary enrollment options program, the student must be
 24 18 a ninth or 10th grade student who is identified as a gifted
 24 19 and talented child, or an 11th or 12th grade student.
 24 20    TEACHER ELIGIBILITY.  A teacher employed to provide
 24 21 instruction under the program must be appropriately licensed
 24 22 to teach the subject the teacher is employed to teach;
 24 23 collaborate with other secondary and postsecondary faculty in
 24 24 the subject area; provide ongoing communication about course
 24 25 expectations and academic progress to the student and in the
 24 26 case of a minor student, the parent or legal guardian of the
 24 27 student; provide curriculum and instruction that is accepted
 24 28 as college=level work; use valid and reliable student
 24 29 assessment measures; and have successfully passed a background
 24 30 investigation.
 24 31    INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY.  An institution providing
 24 32 instruction shall ensure that students and, in the case of
 24 33 minor students, parents or legal guardians receive appropriate
 24 34 course orientation and information, including information
 24 35 describing student responsibilities and institutional
 25  1 procedures for academic credit transfer; ensure that students
 25  2 have access to student support services, including but not
 25  3 limited to tutoring, counseling, advising, library, writing
 25  4 and math labs, and computer labs, and student activities,
 25  5 excluding postsecondary intercollegiate athletics; ensure that
 25  6 students are properly enrolled in courses that will directly
 25  7 earn college credit; ensure that teachers and students receive
 25  8 appropriate orientation and information about the
 25  9 institution's expectations; ensure that the courses provided
 25 10 achieve the same learning outcomes as similar courses offered
 25 11 in the subject area and are accepted as college=level work;
 25 12 review the course on an annual basis for continuous
 25 13 improvement; and share data on course progress and outcomes
 25 14 with the collaborative partners involved with the delivery of
 25 15 the programming and with the department.
 25 16    The institution shall not place restrictions on
 25 17 participation in senior year plus programming beyond that
 25 18 which is specified in statute or administrative rule.
 25 19    ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM.  Students enrolled in a school
 25 20 district or accredited nonpublic school shall be provided
 25 21 access to advance placement examinations at no charge to the
 25 22 student or the student's parents or guardians.  School
 25 23 districts and accredited nonpublic schools must ensure that
 25 24 students interested in taking an advanced placement exam are
 25 25 properly registered for the exam.  An accredited nonpublic
 25 26 school must provide a list of students registered for advanced
 25 27 placement examinations to the school district in which the
 25 28 accredited nonpublic school is located.  The school district
 25 29 and the accredited nonpublic school shall also ensure that any
 25 30 student who qualifies for a reduced fee for the examination is
 25 31 properly registered for the fee reduction.  The school
 25 32 district shall provide the college board with a list of all
 25 33 students enrolled in the school district and the accredited
 25 34 nonpublic schools located in the school district who are
 25 35 properly registered for advanced placement examinations
 26  1 administered by the college board.
 26  2    The department is directed to remit amounts to the college
 26  3 board for advanced placement exams administered by the college
 26  4 board for students on the lists submitted by the school
 26  5 districts.  For the 2008=2009 fiscal year, the remittance and
 26  6 distribution amounts to the college board and the school
 26  7 districts are as follows:  $76 for each student who does not
 26  8 qualify for fee reduction; $54 for each student who qualifies
 26  9 for fee reduction; and $8 to a school district for each school
 26 10 district or accredited nonpublic school student who was listed
 26 11 by the school district and who takes an advanced placement
 26 12 examination.
 26 13    POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS PROGRAM.  The bill repeals
 26 14 the postsecondary enrollment options Act and substantially
 26 15 moves the language of the Act to the Code chapter establishing
 26 16 the senior year plus program.  Under the bill, the definition
 26 17 of an "eligible student" is not changed.  The bill requires
 26 18 that the availability and requirements of the program be
 26 19 included in each school district's student registration
 26 20 handbook and provided to each student and parent or guardian
 26 21 prior to development of the student's core curriculum plan.
 26 22 School districts must also establish a process by which
 26 23 students may indicate interest in and apply for enrollment in
 26 24 the program.
 26 25    POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS PROGRAM PAYMENTS.  As
 26 26 under the postsecondary enrollment options Act, a school
 26 27 district is responsible for paying a tuition reimbursement
 26 28 amount to a postsecondary institution that has enrolled its
 26 29 resident eligible students under this Code chapter, unless the
 26 30 eligible student is participating in open enrollment under
 26 31 Code section 282.18, in which case, the tuition reimbursement
 26 32 amount shall be paid by the receiving district.  The bill
 26 33 increases the amount of tuition reimbursement for each
 26 34 separate course from a maximum of $250 to $300, but provides
 26 35 an amount of state aid to the district equal to $150 for each
 27  1 course successfully completed.  If the student fails to
 27  2 complete and receive credit for the course, the student is
 27  3 responsible for all district nonreimbursed costs and shall
 27  4 reimburse the school district for its costs minus the amount
 27  5 of state aid received by the school district for the course.
 27  6    DISTRICT=TO=COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHARING OR CONCURRENT
 27  7 ENROLLMENT PROGRAM.  Current law provides supplementary
 27  8 weighting for district=to=community college sharing.  The bill
 27  9 establishes a district=to=community college sharing or
 27 10 concurrent enrollment program to be administered by the
 27 11 department of education to promote rigorous academic or career
 27 12 and technical pursuits and to provide a wider variety of
 27 13 options to high school students to enroll part=time in
 27 14 eligible nonsectarian courses at or through community
 27 15 colleges.  The program shall be made available to all Iowa
 27 16 students in grades nine through 12, and notice of the
 27 17 availability of this program shall be included in each school
 27 18 district's student registration handbook and in the student's
 27 19 core curriculum plan.  Students from accredited nonpublic
 27 20 schools and students receiving competent private instruction
 27 21 may access the program through the school district in which
 27 22 the accredited nonpublic school or private instruction is
 27 23 located.
 27 24    A student may apply to a community college and the school
 27 25 district to allow the student to enroll for college credit in
 27 26 a nonsectarian course offered by the community college.  A
 27 27 comparable course must not be offered by the school the
 27 28 student attends.  A school district shall grant high school
 27 29 credit to a student enrolled in a course under this Code
 27 30 chapter if the student successfully completes the course as
 27 31 determined by the community college.
 27 32    The parent or legal guardian of a student who is attending
 27 33 the community college under the program shall furnish
 27 34 transportation to and from the community college for the
 27 35 student.
 28  1    REGIONAL AND CAREER ACADEMIES.  Current law provides
 28  2 supplementary weighting for regional and career academies.
 28  3 The bill provides that a regional academy is a program
 28  4 established by a school district to which multiple schools
 28  5 send students in grades nine through 12, and which may include
 28  6 internet=based coursework and courses delivered via the Iowa
 28  7 communications network.  A regional academy must include in
 28  8 its curriculum advanced level courses and may include career
 28  9 and technical courses.  A regional academy course does not
 28 10 qualify as a concurrent enrollment course.
 28 11    The Code currently defines "career academy" to mean a
 28 12 program of study that combines a minimum of two years of
 28 13 secondary education with an associate degree, or the
 28 14 equivalent, career preparatory program in a nonduplicative,
 28 15 sequential course of study that is standards=based, integrates
 28 16 academic and technical instruction, utilizes work=based and
 28 17 worksite learning where appropriate and available, utilizes an
 28 18 individual career planning process with parent involvement,
 28 19 and leads to an associate degree or postsecondary diploma or
 28 20 certificate in a career field that prepares an individual for
 28 21 entry and advancement in a high=skill and reward career field
 28 22 and further education.  A career academy course may qualify as
 28 23 a concurrent enrollment course if it meets the requirements of
 28 24 the bill.
 28 25    Information regarding regional and career academies shall
 28 26 be provided to a student and parent or guardian prior to
 28 27 development of the student's core curriculum plan.
 28 28    INTERNET=BASED AND IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK COURSEWORK.
 28 29 The Iowa communications network may be used to deliver
 28 30 coursework for the senior year plus programming, and school
 28 31 districts that do so may receive supplemental funding.
 28 32 Internet=based technologies may also be used and may qualify
 28 33 for additional supplemental weighting if the internet=based
 28 34 technology is used by a career academy, under a
 28 35 district=to=community college sharing agreement, or concurrent
 29  1 enrollment program.
 29  2    INTERNET=BASED CLEARINGHOUSE.  The department of education
 29  3 is directed to develop and make available to secondary and
 29  4 postsecondary students, parents or legal guardians, school
 29  5 districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and eligible
 29  6 postsecondary institutions an internet=based clearinghouse of
 29  7 information that allows students to identify participation
 29  8 options within the senior year plus program and
 29  9 transferability between educational systems.
 29 10    STATE PROGRAM APPROPRIATION AND ALLOCATIONS.  The bill
 29 11 appropriates $3.5 million for FY 2008=2009 to the department
 29 12 of education to implement the program.  Of that amount, $1.1
 29 13 million is allocated for the postsecondary enrollment options
 29 14 program and reimbursements; $1 million is allocated for the
 29 15 advanced placement program and reimbursements; $500,000 is
 29 16 allocated for the internet=based clearinghouse; $500,000 is
 29 17 allocated for the development of a data management system for
 29 18 senior year plus programming that includes information
 29 19 generated by the core curriculum plans, data on courses taken
 29 20 by Iowa's students, and the transferability of course credit;
 29 21 and $400,000 is allocated for the development of additional
 29 22 internet=based educational courses.
 29 23    If funds appropriated for advanced placement examination
 29 24 fees or postsecondary enrollment options are insufficient, the
 29 25 department is directed to prorate moneys distributed to school
 29 26 districts based on the amount appropriated.
 29 27    STUDENT CORE CURRICULUM PLAN.  The bill provides that the
 29 28 core curriculum plan developed by a school district with each
 29 29 eighth grade student shall include a timeline for each student
 29 30 to successfully complete all components of the state
 29 31 designated career information and decision making system
 29 32 administered by the department of education under the federal
 29 33 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act
 29 34 of 2006.  The bill also provides that a school board's
 29 35 reporting requirements under that Code provision require the
 30  1 school board to report annually to each student enrolled in
 30  2 grades nine through 12 the student's progress toward meeting
 30  3 the goal of successfully completing the department's model
 30  4 core curriculum.
 30  5    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION == SENIOR YEAR PLUS PROGRAM STUDY.
 30  6 The bill directs the department of education, in collaboration
 30  7 with other educational institutions, to conduct a study of the
 30  8 measures necessary for the successful implementation of the
 30  9 senior year plus program and to submit its findings and
 30 10 recommendations to the general assembly by November 14, 2008.
 30 11    YEAR=ROUND REQUIREMENT.  The bill requires school districts
 30 12 to provide advanced placement, postsecondary enrollment, and
 30 13 internet=based and Iowa communications network coursework
 30 14 year=round.
 30 15    REPEAL.  The bill repeals the postsecondary enrollment
 30 16 options Act, Code chapter 261C, and makes corresponding
 30 17 changes to references to the Code chapter throughout the Code.
 30 18 LSB 5715XL 82
 30 19 kh/rj/5.1