HF 2070 (LSB 5460YH (7) 83)

HOUSE FILE 2070

BY  MAY

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring the development and administration of a statewide comprehensive exit examination as a condition of high school graduation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, Code Supplement 2009, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  30.  Adopt rules by July 1, 2011, to require school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to administer, beginning not later than the 2015-2016 school year, a statewide comprehensive exit examination, developed by the director pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 59, to students as a condition of graduation. The rules shall provide for alternative pathways to graduation and for a timeline for the administration of the exit examinations by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and shall direct school districts and schools to allow a student to take the exit examination if the student or the student’s parent or guardian submits a written request to the school district or school.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.9, Code Supplement 2009, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  59.a.  Develop a statewide comprehensive exit examination aligned with the core curriculum and the core content standards adopted pursuant to section 256.7, subsections 26 and 28, alternative pathways to graduation, and alternative assessment measures for students with special needs, including but not limited to students with disabilities, English language learners, and general education students who can otherwise demonstrate mastery of high school level curriculum and knowledge using an alternative assessment measure.
   b.(1)  In developing a statewide comprehensive examination, alternative pathways to graduation, and alternative assessment measures, the director shall convene a task force to identify best practices for the adoption of a statewide comprehensive exit examination and determine the levels of support necessary to prepare teachers and students for the assessments and examination. The task force shall review the statewide comprehensive exit examination requirements of other states and the advantages and disadvantages other states have realized in developing, implementing, and administering statewide comprehensive exit examinations, alternative graduation pathways, and alternative assessments, including but not limited to the costs of preparing teachers and students for the examinations. The task force shall also identify the purposes and goals other states have established in regard to the comprehensive exit examinations. The task force shall be comprised of kindergarten through grade sixteen education stakeholders. The task force shall submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the state board of education, the governor, and the general assembly on or before January 17, 2011. 
   (2)  This paragraph “b” is repealed on July 1, 2011.
    Sec. 3.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
EXPLANATION
   This bill directs the state board of education to adopt rules by July 1, 2011, to require school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to administer a statewide comprehensive exit examination to students as a condition of graduation. The rules shall provide for alternative pathways to graduation and for a timeline for the administration of the exit examinations by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, and shall direct school districts and schools to permit students to take the exit examination if the student, a parent, or guardian submits a written request.
   The director of the department of education is required to develop, in consultation with a task force comprised of kindergarten through grade 16 education stakeholders, a statewide comprehensive exit examination aligned with the Iowa core curriculum and the state’s core content standards, alternative pathways to graduation, and alternative assessment measures. The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the state board, the governor, and the general assembly on or before January 17, 2011.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.