H.F. 2070 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code Supplement 2009, is amended 1 by adding the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 30. Adopt rules by July 1, 2011, to 3 require school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to 4 administer, beginning not later than the 2015-2016 school year, 5 a statewide comprehensive exit examination, developed by the 6 director pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 59, to students 7 as a condition of graduation. The rules shall provide for 8 alternative pathways to graduation and for a timeline for the 9 administration of the exit examinations by school districts and 10 accredited nonpublic schools, and shall direct school districts 11 and schools to allow a student to take the exit examination 12 if the student or the student’s parent or guardian submits a 13 written request to the school district or school. 14 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, Code Supplement 2009, is amended by 15 adding the following new subsection: 16 NEW SUBSECTION . 59. a. Develop a statewide comprehensive 17 exit examination aligned with the core curriculum and the 18 core content standards adopted pursuant to section 256.7, 19 subsections 26 and 28, alternative pathways to graduation, 20 and alternative assessment measures for students with special 21 needs, including but not limited to students with disabilities, 22 English language learners, and general education students 23 who can otherwise demonstrate mastery of high school level 24 curriculum and knowledge using an alternative assessment 25 measure. 26 b. (1) In developing a statewide comprehensive examination, 27 alternative pathways to graduation, and alternative assessment 28 measures, the director shall convene a task force to identify 29 best practices for the adoption of a statewide comprehensive 30 exit examination and determine the levels of support necessary 31 to prepare teachers and students for the assessments and 32 examination. The task force shall review the statewide 33 comprehensive exit examination requirements of other states and 34 the advantages and disadvantages other states have realized 35 -1- LSB 5460YH (7) 83 kh/sc 1/ 3

H.F. 2070 in developing, implementing, and administering statewide 1 comprehensive exit examinations, alternative graduation 2 pathways, and alternative assessments, including but not 3 limited to the costs of preparing teachers and students for 4 the examinations. The task force shall also identify the 5 purposes and goals other states have established in regard to 6 the comprehensive exit examinations. The task force shall 7 be comprised of kindergarten through grade sixteen education 8 stakeholders. The task force shall submit its findings and 9 recommendations in a report to the state board of education, 10 the governor, and the general assembly on or before January 17, 11 2011. 12 (2) This paragraph “b” is repealed on July 1, 2011. 13 Sec. 3. STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED. In accordance 14 with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring 15 compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall 16 be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid 17 received by the school district under section 257.16. This 18 specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed 19 to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of 20 section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding 21 shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act 22 by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school 23 districts. 24 EXPLANATION 25 This bill directs the state board of education to adopt rules 26 by July 1, 2011, to require school districts and accredited 27 nonpublic schools to administer a statewide comprehensive exit 28 examination to students as a condition of graduation. The 29 rules shall provide for alternative pathways to graduation and 30 for a timeline for the administration of the exit examinations 31 by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and shall 32 direct school districts and schools to permit students to take 33 the exit examination if the student, a parent, or guardian 34 submits a written request. 35 -2- LSB 5460YH (7) 83 kh/sc 2/ 3

H.F. 2070 The director of the department of education is required 1 to develop, in consultation with a task force comprised 2 of kindergarten through grade 16 education stakeholders, a 3 statewide comprehensive exit examination aligned with the 4 Iowa core curriculum and the state’s core content standards, 5 alternative pathways to graduation, and alternative assessment 6 measures. The task force must submit its findings and 7 recommendations to the state board, the governor, and the 8 general assembly on or before January 17, 2011. 9 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 10 section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of 11 any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school 12 district from state school foundation aid received by the 13 school district under Code section 257.16. The specification 14 is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate 15 funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The 16 inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the 17 requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state 18 mandates included in the bill. 19 -3- LSB 5460YH (7) 83 kh/sc 3/ 3