Senate File 247 - Introduced SENATE FILE 247 BY SODDERS , SENG , HATCH , COURTNEY , KIBBIE , and BLACK A BILL FOR An Act relating to the allowable uses for modified allowable 1 growth for programs for returning dropouts and dropout 2 prevention. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1558XS (7) 84 kh/sc

S.F. 247 Section 1. Section 257.41, Code 2011, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 257.41 Funding for programs for returning dropouts and 3 dropout prevention. 4 1. Budget. The budget of an approved program for returning 5 dropouts and dropout prevention for a school district, after 6 subtracting funds received from other sources for that purpose, 7 shall be funded annually on a basis of one-fourth or more 8 from the district cost of the school district and up to 9 three-fourths by an increase in allowable growth as defined in 10 section 257.8 . Annually, the department of management shall 11 establish a modified allowable growth for each such school 12 district equal to the difference between the approved budget 13 for the program for returning dropouts and dropout prevention 14 for that district and the sum of the amount funded from the 15 district cost of the school district plus funds received from 16 other sources. 17 2. Appropriate uses of funding. Appropriate uses of the 18 returning dropout and dropout prevention program funding 19 include but are not limited to the following: 20 a. Salary and benefits for teachers and guidance counselors 21 of students participating in the dropout prevention programs, 22 alternative programs, and alternative schools if the teacher 23 or counselor is dedicated to working with returning dropouts 24 or students who are deemed, at anytime during the school year, 25 to be at risk of dropping out, to provide services beyond 26 those provided by the school district to students who are not 27 identified as at risk of becoming dropouts. However, if the 28 teacher or counselor is a part-time dropout prevention and 29 part-time regular classroom teacher or counselor, only the 30 portion of time that is related to the returning dropout and 31 dropout prevention program may be charged to the program. 32 b. Professional development for all teachers and staff 33 working with at-risk students and programs involving dropout 34 prevention strategies. 35 -1- LSB 1558XS (7) 84 kh/sc 1/ 3

S.F. 247 c. Research-based resources, materials, software, supplies, 1 and purchased services that meet all of the following criteria: 2 (1) Meet the needs of kindergarten through grade twelve 3 students identified as at risk of dropping out and of returning 4 dropouts. 5 (2) Are beyond those provided by the regular school program. 6 (3) Are necessary to provide the services listed in the 7 school district’s dropout prevention plan. 8 (4) Will remain with the kindergarten through grade twelve 9 returning dropout and dropout prevention program. 10 d. Are administrative costs related to the returning dropout 11 and dropout prevention program. 12 EXPLANATION 13 This bill codifies the department of education’s rules that 14 specify the appropriate uses of the returning dropout and 15 dropout prevention program funding for school districts as 16 authorized by the department of education, but modifies the 17 list of appropriate uses by adding that administrative costs 18 related to the returning dropout and dropout prevention program 19 are an appropriate use of the funding. Under the department’s 20 rules, administrative costs other than those related to a 21 separate school located off site, and where the administrator 22 is assigned exclusively to this program, are an inappropriate 23 use of the funding. 24 Appropriate uses of funding as specified by both the 25 department’s administrative rules and the bill include salary 26 and benefits for teachers and guidance counselors when those 27 persons are dedicated to working with returning dropouts or 28 students who are deemed, at anytime during the school year, 29 to be at risk of dropping out, to provide services beyond 30 those provided by the school district to students generally; 31 professional development for all teachers and staff working 32 with at-risk students and programs involving dropout prevention 33 strategies; and research-based resources, materials, software, 34 supplies, and purchased services that meet criteria specified 35 -2- LSB 1558XS (7) 84 kh/sc 2/ 3

S.F. 247 in the bill. 1 -3- LSB 1558XS (7) 84 kh/sc 3/ 3