HOUSE FILE 35

BY  CHAMBERS

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting the state board of education from adopting certain federal standards and regulations without specific statutory authorization.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  d.  The state board shall not adopt federal standards or regulations relating to the core curriculum established pursuant to this subsection or to the core content standards adopted pursuant to subsection 28 unless specifically authorized by statute to adopt such federal standards and regulations.
   Sec. 2.  Section 256.7, subsection 28, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   28.  Adopt a set of core content standards applicable to all students in kindergarten through grade twelve in every school district and accredited nonpublic school. For purposes of this subsection,“core content standards” includes reading, mathematics, and science. The core content standards shall be identical to the core content standards included in Iowa’s approved 2006 standards and assessment system under Tit. I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq., as amended by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107-110. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall include, at a minimum, the core content standards adopted pursuant to this subsection in any set of locally developed content standards. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools are strongly encouraged to set higher expectations in local standards. As changes in federal law or regulation occur, the state board is authorized to shall not amend the core content standards as appropriate unless specifically authorized by statute.
EXPLANATION
   This bill prohibits the state board of education from adopting federal standards or regulations relating to the core curriculum established by the state board or to the core content standards adopted by the state board without specific statutory authority to adopt the standards or regulations. 
   The bill also prohibits the state board from amending the core content standards unless specifically authorized by statute.