SF 2064 (LSB 5329XS (3) 83)

SENATE FILE 2064

BY  DANDEKAR

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the development and adoption of a student acceleration policy for advanced learners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 257.42, Code 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   257.42  Gifted and talented children —— programs —— policy.
   1.  a.  Boards of school districts, individually or jointly with the boards of other school districts, shall annually submit program plans for gifted and talented children programs and budget costs to the department of education and to the applicable gifted and talented children advisory council, if an advisory council has been established, as provided in this chapter.
   b.  The board of directors of each school district shall adopt a student acceleration policy for advanced learners that at a minimum includes the key components specified in subsection 3, paragraph “d”.
   2.  The parent or guardian of a pupil may request that a gifted and talented children program be established for pupils who qualify as gifted and talented children under section 257.44, including demonstrated achievement or potential ability in a single subject area.
   3.  The department shall employ do the following:
   a.  Employ a consultant for gifted and talented children programs.

   The department of education shall adopt

   b.  Adopt rules under chapter 17A relating to the administration of this section and sections 257.42 257.43

 through 257.49. The rules shall prescribe the format of program plans submitted under section 257.43 and shall require that programs fulfill specified objectives. The department shall encourage
   c.  Encourage and assist school districts to provide programs for gifted and talented children.
   d.  Develop and provide to school districts a model student acceleration policy for advanced learners that includes but is not limited to the following key components:
   (1)  Early admission to school.
   (2)  Whole-grade acceleration.
   (3)  Continuous progress and self-paced instruction.
   (4)  Telescoping curriculum.
   (5)  Combined classes.
   (6)  Early entrance into middle school, high school, or college.
   (7)  Early graduation.
   4.  The department may request that the staff of the auditor of state conduct an independent program audit to verify that the gifted and talented programs established pursuant to this section and sections 257.43 through 257.49 conform to a district’s program plans.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the department of education to develop and provide to school districts a model student acceleration policy for advanced learners, the components of which include early admission to school, whole-grade acceleration, continuous progress and self-paced instruction, telescoping curriculum, combined classes, early entrance into middle school, high school, or college, and early graduation. The bill also requires school districts to adopt a student acceleration policy for advanced learners that, at a minimum, includes all of those key components.