HF 437 (LSB 2326HH (4) 85)

HOUSE FILE 437

BY  ABDUL-SAMAD, STECKMAN, and KAJTAZOVIC

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a world language education pilot project to be administered by the department of education and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.34  World language education pilot project.
   1.  The department shall establish a world language education pilot project to enhance foreign language education in Iowa schools. The department shall administer the pilot project in partnership with the university of northern Iowa and three school districts. One school district shall have an enrollment greater than thirty thousand students, one school district shall have boundaries which are partially or wholly contained in Blackhawk county with an enrollment greater than four thousand but less than six thousand students, and one school district shall have an enrollment less than four thousand students as of October 1, 2013.
   2.  The department shall establish a world language education administrative team to be composed of school administrators from school districts participating in the pilot project. Team members shall conduct fact finding visits to schools in the United States and at least one foreign school that exemplify best practices for world class foreign language education delivery models. Team members shall work with the department and university of northern Iowa to develop standards and benchmarks based on the latest edition of the national standards for foreign language learning, to develop a written and verbal assessment system that measures foreign language competencies, and to support participating school districts in the development of curricula based on the latest edition of the national standards for foreign language learning.
   3.  Each school district participating in the pilot project, in coordination with the department, shall compare on an annual basis its results under the pilot project with state data to determine the outcomes of the pilot project for student learning.
   4.  The world language education administrative team, in coordination with the department and the university of northern Iowa, shall submit its findings and recommendations regarding the pilot project and foreign language education in this state in a report to the general assembly by December 19, 2014.
    Sec. 2.  APPROPRIATION.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2014, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purpose designated:
   For implementation of the world language education pilot project:
.................................................. $    350,000
EXPLANATION
   This bill directs the department to establish a world language education pilot project to enhance foreign language education in Iowa schools. The department shall administer the pilot project in partnership with the university of northern Iowa and three school districts. One school district shall have an enrollment greater than 30,000 students, one school district shall have boundaries which are partially or wholly contained in Blackhawk county with an enrollment greater than 4,000 but less than 6,000 students, and one school district shall have an enrollment less than 4,000 students as of October 1, 2013.
   The bill directs the department to establish a world language education administrative team to be composed of school administrators from school districts participating in the pilot project and provides duties for the team, including fact finding visits; development of new standards and benchmarks, an assessment system, and curricula; and a report on the pilot project and foreign language education in this state for submission to the general assembly by December 19, 2014.
   The bill directs participating school districts to compare on an annual basis results under the pilot project with state data to determine the outcomes of the pilot project.
   The bill appropriates $350,000 to the department of education for fiscal year 2013-2014 for implementation of the world language education pilot project.