HF 367 (LSB 2604YH (3) 87)

HOUSE FILE 367

BY  MASCHER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to successful progression for early readers and to intensive summer reading programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 31, paragraph a, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Adopt by rule guidelines for school district implementation of section 279.68, including but not limited to basic levels of reading proficiency on approved locally determined or statewide assessments and identification of tools that school districts may use in evaluating and reevaluating any student who may not be or who is determined not to be reading proficiently and is persistently at risk in reading, including but not limited to initial assessments and subsequent assessments, alternative assessments, and portfolio reviews. The state board shall adopt standards that provide a reasonable expectation that a student’s progress toward reading proficiency under section 279.68 is sufficient to master appropriate grade four level reading skills prior to the student’s promotion to grade four.
    Sec. 2.  Section 279.68, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  Beginning May 1, 2018, unless the school district is granted a waiver pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph “e”, if the student is persistently at risk in reading by at the end of grade three, the school district shall notify the student’s parent or guardian in writing that the parent or guardian may enroll the student in an intensive summer reading program offered in accordance with subsection 2, paragraph “e”. If the parent or guardian does not enroll the student in the intensive summer reading program and the student is ineligible for the good cause exemption under subsection 5, the student shall be retained in grade three pursuant to subsection 3. If, even if the student is exempt from participating in an intensive summer reading program for good cause, shown pursuant to subsection 5, or completes the intensive summer reading program but is not reading proficiently upon completion of the program, the student may be promoted to grade four, but the. The school district shall continue to provide the student with intensive reading instruction until the student is reading proficiently as demonstrated by scoring on locally determined or statewide assessments administered under paragraph “a”.
    Sec. 3.  Section 279.68, subsection 1, Code 2017, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  d.  If funds are appropriated by the general assembly specifically for purposes of implementing this paragraph and subsection 2, paragraph “e”, unless the school district is granted a waiver pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph “e”, beginning May 1, 2019, the school district shall notify, in writing, the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade two who is persistently at risk in reading by the end of the school year, as demonstrated by scoring on a locally determined or statewide assessment as provided in section 256.7, subsection 31, that the parent or guardian may enroll the student in an intensive summer reading program offered in accordance with subsection 2, paragraph “e”.
    Sec. 4.  Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph e, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  Offer each summer, beginning in the summer of 2018 for students in grade three and, subject to an appropriation of sufficient funds by the general assembly for such purpose, beginning in the summer of 2019 for students in kindergarten through grade two, unless the school district receives a waiver from this requirement as authorized under this paragraph from the department of education for the summer of 2018, an intensive summer reading program for students who are persistently at risk in reading.  The department may waive the requirement for an intensive summer reading program for grade three students for the summer of 2018 and may waive the requirement for an intensive summer reading program for students in kindergarten through grade two for the summer of 2019. The program shall meet the criteria and follow the guidelines established pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 49, paragraph “c”, subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (g).
    Sec. 5.  Section 279.68, subsection 3, Code 2017, is amended by striking the subsection.
    Sec. 6.  Section 279.68, subsection 5, paragraph a, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   The school district shall exempt students from the retention and intensive summer reading program requirements provisions of subsection 1, paragraph “c”, for good cause. Good cause exemptions shall be limited to the following:
    Sec. 7.  Section 279.68, subsection 5, paragraph a, subparagraph (5), Code 2017, is amended by striking the subparagraph.
    Sec. 8.  Section 279.68, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 2017, is amended by striking the paragraph.
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 provisions that require school districts to retain in the third grade certain students, and adds a provision to require school districts to offer, under certain conditions, an intensive summer reading program for students in kindergarten through grade three whose reading is deficient.
   The bill eliminates a requirement that a school district retain a student in grade three if the student is not reading proficiently and is persistently at risk in reading, the student’s parent or guardian did not enroll the student in an intensive summer reading program, and the student does not qualify for a good cause exemption. A current provision that requires the state board of education to adopt standards regarding a student’s progress toward reading proficiency is modified to eliminate language relating to a student’s promotion to grade four. 
   Under the bill, when the school district notifies a parent or guardian that the parent or guardian may enroll the student in an intensive summer reading program, the notification must be in writing. Students continue to be exempt from participating in an intensive summer reading program for good cause, the qualifications for which are listed in Code section 279.68(5). 
   The bill requires school districts to provide intensive summer reading programs, beginning in the summer of 2019, for students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade two, but only if the general assembly appropriates funds for the programs. The department of education may waive the requirement for an intensive summer reading program for grade three students for 2018 and for kindergarten through grade two students for 2019. For any year in which the general assembly appropriates funds for such programs, if a school district does not obtain a waiver and if a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade two is persistently at risk in reading at the end of the school year, the school district must notify the student’s parent or guardian in writing that the parent or guardian may enroll the student in an intensive summer reading program.