Senate File 359 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1016)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the establishment and implementation of a
2 statewide writing assessment for public school students in
3 grades three, six, and ten.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 1261SV 83
6 kh/nh/24
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 2009, is amended by adding
1 2 the following new subsection:
1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 30. Adopt rules establishing a statewide
1 4 writing assessment for students in grade levels three, six,
1 5 and ten. The assessment shall measure the essential writing
1 6 skills identified in the Iowa core curriculum, including but
1 7 not limited to effective writing process; knowledge of
1 8 purpose, audience, and format; writing in a variety of genres;
1 9 using writing as a tool for learning; and writing on demand.
1 10 a. The rules shall require school districts to administer
1 11 the assessment to all students at the grade levels three, six,
1 12 and ten who are also administered the regular statewide
1 13 assessments in reading, mathematics, and science. School
1 14 districts shall begin administering the assessments to
1 15 students in grade ten in the 2012=2013 school year, and
1 16 students in grades three and six in the 2013=2014 school year,
1 17 but may administer the assessments prior to those school years
1 18 if the department makes the assessments available prior to
1 19 those school years.
1 20 b. The department shall collaborate with appropriate
1 21 stakeholders on the development of the statewide writing
1 22 assessment. The department shall create a mechanism for
1 23 collecting and reporting data resulting from the
1 24 administration of the statewide writing assessment and shall
1 25 include the data in the next following annual condition of
1 26 education report.
1 27 Sec. 2. Section 284.6, subsection 8, Code 2009, is amended
1 28 to read as follows:
1 29 8. For each year in which a school district receives funds
1 30 allocated for distribution to school districts for
1 31 professional development pursuant to section 284.13,
1 32 subsection 1, paragraph "d", the school district shall create
1 33 quality professional development opportunities. The goal for
1 34 the use of the funds is to provide one additional contract day
1 35 or the equivalent thereof for professional development and use
2 1 of the funds is limited to providing professional development
2 2 to teachers, including additional salaries for time beyond the
2 3 normal negotiated agreement; pay for substitute teachers,
2 4 professional development materials, speakers, and professional
2 5 development content; professional development for assessing
2 6 the statewide writing assessments administered in accordance
2 7 with section 256.7, subsection 30; and costs associated with
2 8 implementing the individual professional development plans.
2 9 The use of the funds shall be balanced between school
2 10 district, attendance center, and individual professional
2 11 development plans, making every reasonable effort to provide
2 12 equal access to all teachers.
2 13 EXPLANATION
2 14 This bill requires the state board of education to
2 15 establish a statewide writing assessment for students in
2 16 grades three, six, and 10, and requires school districts to
2 17 begin administering the assessments to students in grade 10 in
2 18 the 2012=2013 school year and in grades 3 and 6 in the
2 19 2013=2014 school year. School districts are authorized to use
2 20 state funds allocated to the school districts for professional
2 21 development to provide professional development to statewide
2 22 writing assessment assessors.
2 23 The assessment must be designed to measure the essential
2 24 writing skills identified in the Iowa core curriculum,
2 25 including but not limited to effective writing process;
2 26 knowledge of purpose, audience, and format; writing in a
2 27 variety of genres; using writing as a tool for learning; and
2 28 writing on demand.
2 29 The department of education is directed to collaborate with
2 30 appropriate stakeholders on the development of the assessment,
2 31 create a mechanism for collecting data and reporting the data
2 32 resulting from administration of the assessments, and to
2 33 include the data in the next following annual condition of
2 34 education report published by the department.
2 35 LSB 1261SV 83
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