HSB 555 (LSB 5219XD (3) 85)

SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BILL)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to professional development services for elementary teachers to improve students’ literacy skills.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 279.68, subsection 4, Code 2014, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  c.  The department of education shall collaborate with the area education agencies and the Iowa reading research center established pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 53, to develop and offer to school districts, at no cost, professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in the use of evidence-based strategies to improve the literacy skills of all students. From any moneys appropriated to the department of education for purposes of paragraph “b”, the department may use a reasonable amount to cover the administrative costs of developing and deploying these professional development services.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the department of education to collaborate with the area education agencies and the Iowa reading research center, which the director of the department was required to establish in legislation enacted in 2012, to develop and offer to school districts, at no cost, professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in the use of evidence-based strategies to improve the literacy skills of all students. The bill permits the department to use, from any moneys appropriated to the department and allocated to school districts to provide professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers to respond to children’s reading needs, a reasonable amount to cover the administrative costs of developing and deploying the professional development services.