SENATE FILE 2036

BY  ANDERSON and KETTERING

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to rules adopted by the state board of education for the provision and supervision of courses delivered by means of telecommunications.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code Supplement 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  The rules shall provide that when the curriculum is taught by an appropriately licensed teacher at the location at which the telecommunications originates, the curriculum
 
shall be received at a remote site shall be under the supervision of a licensed teacher
 
at any remote site. The licensed teacher at the originating site may provide supervision of students at a remote site or the school district in which the remote site is located may provide for supervision at the remote site if the school district deems it necessary or if requested to do so by the licensed teacher at the originating site. For the purposes of this subsection, “supervision”:
   (1)  “Supervision” means that the curriculum is monitored by a
 
proctor who need not be a licensed teacher and the teacher is
 
but shall be accessible to the students receiving the curriculum by means of telecommunications.
   (2)  “Proctor” means a school librarian, school teacher, school administrator, school guidance counselor, teacher assistant, para-educator, or other individuals approved by the department. 
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.7, subsection 7, paragraph c, Code Supplement 2011, is amended by striking the paragraph.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256.7, subsection 8, Code Supplement 2011, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
   8.
  a.  At the discretion of the board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of a school, after taking into consideration necessity, convenience, and cost-effectiveness, brokered courses developed by outside sources may be approved for use by a school district or school.
   b.  Courses used by a school district or school in accordance with paragraph “a” shall be taught by means of telecommunications by teachers licensed under chapter 272; however, if the director determines special circumstances exist, the director may waive this requirement.
EXPLANATION
   This bill directs that the rules adopted by the state board of education for the use of telecommunications as an instructional tool for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 must provide that when the curriculum is taught by an appropriately licensed teacher at the location at which the telecommunications originates, the curriculum shall be received under supervision at any remote site. “Supervision” is defined to mean that the curriculum is monitored by a proctor who need not be a licensed teacher, but shall be accessible to the students receiving the curriculum by means of telecommunications. “Proctor” is defined to mean a school librarian, school teacher, school administrator, school guidance counselor, teacher assistant, para-educator, or other individual approved by the department. 
   Also, at the discretion of the board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of a school, after taking into consideration necessity, convenience, and cost-effectiveness, brokered courses developed by outside sources may be approved for use by a school district or school. Such courses shall be taught by means of telecommunications by teachers licensed under Code chapter 272; however, if the director of the department of education determines special circumstances exist, the director may waive this requirement.
   The bill eliminates language that provides that telecommunications shall not be used by school districts as the exclusive means to provide any course which is required by the minimum educational standards for accreditation, and a provision that requires the state board to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations for rules on the use of telecommunications as an instructional tool.