SF 431 (LSB 2387SV (2) 86)

SENATE FILE 431

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1234)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to required core curriculum and twenty-first century learning skills addressed in rules adopted by the state board of education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph a, subparagraph (3), Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   (3)  The rules establishing a core curriculum shall address the core content standards in subsection 28 and the skills and knowledge students need to be successful in the twenty-first century and shall address the curricular needs of students in kindergarten through grade twelve in those areas. The core curriculum shall include social studies and twenty-first century learning skills which shall include but are not limited to the following: 
   (a)  Social studies, civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, financial literacy, and employability skills; and shall address the curricular needs of students in kindergarten through grade twelve in those areas. The state board shall further define the twenty-first century learning skills components by rule.
   (b)  Music, visual art, drama and theater, and other fine and applied arts. The department shall employ a consultant to oversee the development of and compliance with the fine arts core curriculum and to provide guidance for professional development programs, strategies, and materials based on the rules adopted by the state board pursuant to this subparagraph division. This subparagraph division shall not be construed to conflict with the provisions of section 256.11, subsection 3, 4, or 5, with regard to areas that are required to be taught. The selection and administration of assessments of music, visual art, drama and theater, or other fine arts courses shall be determined locally by the school district or accredited nonpublic school providing the educational program in accordance with section 256.11. However, the department may provide model assessments aligned with fine arts content standards established by the state board.
    Sec. 2.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill modifies the required core curriculum and twenty-first century learning skills and knowledge that the state board of education is required to address in rule.
   Currently, the required core curriculum includes English or language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The core curriculum must also include twenty-first century learning skills, including but not limited to civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, financial literacy, and employability skills. The bill requires that the twenty-first century learning skills also include music, visual art, drama and theater, and other fine and applied arts.
   The educational standards established under Code section 256.11 require accredited schools to include in grades 1-8 courses in music and visual art, and in grades 9-12, three units in the fine arts which shall include at least two of the following: dance, music, theater, and visual art. The bill provides that nothing in the new provision expanding the twenty-first century skills to include music, visual art, drama and theater, and other fine and applied arts shall be construed to conflict with the courses required under the educational standards. Further, assessments for such courses shall be locally determined, though the department of education may provide model assessments aligned with fine arts content standards established by the state board of education.
   The bill also requires the department to employ a consultant to oversee the development of and compliance with the fine arts core curriculum and to provide guidance for professional development programs, strategies, and materials based on the rules relating to the fine arts core curriculum and the twenty-first century fine arts learning skills adopted by the state board.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.