House File 351 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY BUKTA
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to early school start dates and providing
2 effective and applicability dates.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1885YH 83
5 kh/rj/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 257.17, Code 2009, is amended to read
1 2 as follows:
1 3 257.17 AID REDUCTION FOR EARLY SCHOOL STARTS.
1 4 State aid payments made pursuant to section 257.16 for a
1 5 fiscal year shall be reduced by one one=hundred=eightieth for
1 6 each day of that fiscal year for which the school district
1 7 begins school before the earliest starting date specified in
1 8 section 279.10, subsection 1. However, this section does not
1 9 apply to a school district that has received approval from the
1 10 director of the department of education under section 279.10,
1 11 subsection 4, for a pilot program for an innovative school
1 12 year in accordance with section 279.10, subsection 3, or to
1 13 commence classes for regularly established elementary and
1 14 secondary schools in advance of the starting date established
1 15 in due to an emergency in accordance with section 279.10,
1 16 subsection 1 4.
1 17 Sec. 2. Section 279.10, subsections 1, 2, and 4, Code
1 18 2009, are amended to read as follows:
1 19 1. The school year shall begin on the first day of July
1 20 and each regularly established elementary and secondary school
1 21 shall begin no sooner than a day during the calendar week in
1 22 which the first day of September falls the fourth Monday in
1 23 August but no later than the first Monday in December.
1 24 However, if the first day of September falls on a Sunday,
1 25 school may begin on a day during the calendar week which
1 26 immediately precedes the first day of September unless the
1 27 school district has received approval from the department of
1 28 education for a pilot program for an innovative school year in
1 29 accordance with subsection 3 or for an early start date due to
1 30 an emergency in accordance with subsection 4. School shall
1 31 continue for at least one hundred eighty days, except as
1 32 provided in subsection 3, and may be maintained during the
1 33 entire calendar year. However, if the board of directors of a
1 34 district extends the school calendar because inclement weather
1 35 caused the district to temporarily close school during the
2 1 regular school calendar, the district may excuse a graduating
2 2 senior who has met district or school requirements for
2 3 graduation from attendance during the extended school
2 4 calendar. A school corporation may begin employment of
2 5 personnel for in=service training and development purposes
2 6 before the date to begin elementary and secondary school. The
2 7 earliest starting date specified in this subsection shall not
2 8 apply to a school district which maintains a year around three
2 9 semester school year.
2 10 2. The board of directors shall hold a public hearing on
2 11 any proposal request made pursuant to subsection 3 prior to
2 12 submitting it to the department of education for approval.
2 13 4. The director of the department of education may grant a
2 14 request made by a board of directors of a school district
2 15 stating its desire that an emergency exists which requires the
2 16 school district to commence classes for regularly established
2 17 elementary and secondary schools prior to the earliest
2 18 starting date specified in subsection 1. A The request shall
2 19 be based upon the determination set forth the reasons that a
2 20 starting date on or after prior to the earliest starting date
2 21 specified in subsection 1 would have a significant negative
2 22 educational impact is necessary and shall describe any actions
2 23 the school district intends to take to ensure that student
2 24 achievement is not adversely affected.
2 25 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATES. This Act takes effect July 1,
2 26 2010, and is applicable for school years beginning on or after
2 27 that date.
2 28 EXPLANATION
2 29 This bill changes the earliest school start date to the
2 30 fourth Monday in August and modifies the authority of the
2 31 department of education to grant a request made by a board of
2 32 directors of a school district to commence classes prior to
2 33 the earliest starting date allowed, which currently is no
2 34 sooner than a day during the calendar week in which the first
2 35 day of September falls or, if the first day of September falls
3 1 on a Sunday, a day during the prior week. The bill exempts
3 2 from the earliest starting date requirement school districts
3 3 that maintain a year around three semester school year.
3 4 The bill provides that the department may grant a request
3 5 made by a school board stating that an emergency exists which
3 6 requires the school district to commence classes for regularly
3 7 established elementary and secondary schools prior to the
3 8 fourth Monday in August. The request must set forth the
3 9 reasons the early start date is necessary and must describe
3 10 actions the school district intends to take to ensure that
3 11 student achievement is not adversely affected.
3 12 The bill makes conforming changes to modify a provision
3 13 that provides for a reduction in school foundation aid when
3 14 school districts implement early school starts. The bill also
3 15 includes a technical correction.
3 16 The bill takes effect July 1, 2010, for the school year
3 17 beginning July 1, 2010.
3 18 LSB 1885YH 83
3 19 kh/rj/8.1