House File 2045 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2045 BY KAUFMANN A BILL FOR An Act relating to Montessori programs, including practitioner 1 preparation, licensing, and nontraditional preparation 2 options. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5468YH (4) 85 kh/sc

H.F. 2045 Section 1. Section 237A.12, subsection 1, paragraph e, Code 1 2014, is amended to read as follows: 2 e. Programs for education and in-service training of staff. 3 The rules shall prescribe standards and procedures for the 4 approval of training organizations located within or outside 5 of this state that offer Montessori certification programs 6 that are accredited by a regionally or nationally recognized 7 nonprofit Montessori accrediting agency. 8 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsection 16, paragraph a, Code 9 2014, is amended to read as follows: 10 a. Notwithstanding subsections 1 through 12, a nonpublic 11 school may be accredited by an approved independent accrediting 12 agency instead of by the state board as provided in this 13 subsection . The state board shall maintain a list of approved 14 independent accrediting agencies comprised of at least six 15 seven regional or national nonprofit, nongovernmental agencies 16 recognized as reliable authorities concerning the quality of 17 education offered by a school and shall publish the list of 18 independent accrediting agencies on the department’s internet 19 site. The list shall include accrediting agencies that, as of 20 January 1, 2013, accredited a nonpublic school in this state 21 that was concurrently accredited under this section ; and any an 22 agency that has a formalized partnership agreement with another 23 agency on the list and has member schools in this state as of 24 January 1, 2013. The list shall also include a Montessori 25 accrediting agency. 26 Sec. 3. Section 272.2, subsection 13, Code 2014, is amended 27 to read as follows: 28 13. Adopt rules to provide for nontraditional preparation 29 options for licensing persons who hold a bachelor’s degree from 30 an accredited college or university, who do not meet other 31 requirements for licensure. The rules shall include an option 32 for nontraditional preparation to qualify for a Montessori 33 endorsement. 34 Sec. 4. Section 272.2, Code 2014, is amended by adding the 35 -1- LSB 5468YH (4) 85 kh/sc 1/ 2

H.F. 2045 following new subsection: 1 NEW SUBSECTION . 19. Adopt criteria for Montessori 2 education program practitioner endorsements. 3 EXPLANATION 4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 5 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 6 This bill relates to Montessori education programs, 7 practitioner preparation for teaching using the Montessori 8 approach, licensing of Montessori programs and practitioners, 9 and nontraditional Montessori practitioner preparation options. 10 The Code directs the department of human services to adopt 11 rules setting minimum standards to provide quality child care 12 in child care centers and registered child development homes 13 relating to programs for education and in-service training of 14 staff. The bill adds that the department must adopt rules 15 prescribing standards and procedures for the approval of 16 training organizations that offer Montessori certification 17 programs that are accredited by a regionally or nationally 18 recognized nonprofit Montessori accrediting agency. 19 The bill increases, from six to seven, the number of 20 approved independent accrediting agencies that may accredit 21 nonpublic schools in lieu of accreditation by the state 22 board of education. The bill provides that one of the seven 23 approved independent accrediting agencies must be a Montessori 24 accrediting agency. 25 The Code requires the board of educational examiners to 26 adopt criteria for Montessori education program practitioner 27 endorsements. The Code requires the board to adopt rules to 28 provide for nontraditional preparation options for licensing 29 persons who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited 30 college or university who do not meet other requirements for 31 licensure. Under the bill, those rules must include an option 32 for nontraditional preparation to qualify for a Montessori 33 endorsement. 34 -2- LSB 5468YH (4) 85 kh/sc 2/ 2