House File 650 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY FORD
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for the establishment of a task force to study
2 ninth grade academies and making an appropriation.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2612HH 83
5 kh/nh/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION == TASK FORCE ON NINTH
1 2 GRADE ACADEMIES, PROGRAMS, AND CURRICULUM.
1 3 1. The department of education shall convene a task force
1 4 to study the effects of ninth grade academies on student
1 5 achievement, student behavior, truancy, attendance, classroom
1 6 management, and students' social and academic transition to
1 7 high schools. The study shall include but not be limited to
1 8 identification of the essential components of successful ninth
1 9 grade academies operating in this state and other states,
1 10 including professional development programs for ninth grade
1 11 teachers, team teaching, tutoring, and implementation of a
1 12 challenging curriculum; and a review of single sex classes,
1 13 classrooms, and programs.
1 14 2. The director of the department of education shall
1 15 appoint members to the task force who shall include education
1 16 practitioners and stakeholders, including but not limited to
1 17 guidance counselors, curriculum specialists, administrators,
1 18 and teachers; parents and guardians; and other stakeholders as
1 19 appropriate. The task force shall select a chairperson from
1 20 its membership. A majority of the members of the task force
1 21 shall constitute a quorum. Members shall serve without
1 22 compensation, but shall receive their actual and necessary
1 23 expenses, including travel expenses.
1 24 3. The task force shall report its findings and
1 25 recommendations, including any recommendations for statutory
1 26 changes, to the state board of education and the general
1 27 assembly by January 15, 2010.
1 28 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION == DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. There
1 29 is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
1 30 department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
1 31 2009, and ending June 30, 2010, the following amount, or so
1 32 much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
1 33 designated:
1 34 For actual and necessary expenses, including travel
1 35 expenses, incurred by members of the task force on ninth grade
2 1 academies, programs, and curriculum established pursuant to
2 2 this Act:
2 3 .................................................. $ 5,000
2 4 EXPLANATION
2 5 This bill directs the department of education to convene a
2 6 task force to study the effects of ninth grade academies on
2 7 student achievement, student behavior, truancy, attendance,
2 8 classroom management, and students' social and academic
2 9 transition to high schools. The study shall include but not
2 10 be limited to identification of the essential components of
2 11 successful ninth grade academies operating in this state and
2 12 other states, including professional development programs for
2 13 ninth grade teachers, team teaching, tutoring, and
2 14 implementation of a challenging curriculum; and a review of
2 15 single sex classes, classrooms, and programs.
2 16 The director of the department is directed to appoint
2 17 members to the task force who shall include education
2 18 practitioners and stakeholders, including but not limited to
2 19 guidance counselors, curriculum specialists, administrators,
2 20 and teachers; parents and guardians; and other stakeholders as
2 21 appropriate. The bill appropriates from the state general
2 22 fund to the department for the 2009=2010 fiscal year $5,000
2 23 for the expenses of the task force members.
2 24 The task force must submit its findings and recommendations
2 25 in a report to the state board of education and the general
2 26 assembly by January 15, 2010.
2 27 LSB 2612HH 83
2 28 kh/nh/14.1