HSB 670 (LSB 6192YC (4) 87)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON ROGERS)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing an educators’ bill of rights and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  279.70  Educators’ bill of rights.
   1.  For purposes of this section, “educator” means any teacher, principal, or other individual, if such teacher, principal, or other individual is required by law to hold a valid license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition for employment in a public school in this state and provides a service to students.
   2.  An educator shall have the right to do all of the following:
   a.  Act in a manner consistent with the educator’s conscience provided the educator does not do any of the following:
   (1)  Attempt to proselytize to students in the school.
   (2)  Disrupt the educational process.
   (3)  Act as a potential threat to student safety.
   b.  Report any errant, offensive, or abusive behavior of or content produced by students to school officials or other appropriate agencies.
   c.  Provide students with a classroom and school in which educators, students, the property of educators and students, and members of the public are safe.
   d.  Defend oneself and students from physical violence or physical harm in accordance with chapter 704.
   e.  Share information regarding a student’s educational experience, health, or safety with the student’s parent or legal guardian unless otherwise prohibited by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. §1232g. 
   f.  Review all materials that a student brings into and utilizes in the educator’s classroom.
   3.  An educator shall have the right to not do any of the following:
   a.  Spend the educator’s personal funds to appropriately equip a classroom.
   b.  Receive an evaluation by a professional who does not have the same subject matter expertise as the educator.
   c.  Receive an evaluation based on the performance of students whom the educator has not taught.
   d.  Relocate to a different school based solely on test scores from state-mandated student assessments.
   e.  Waive the right provided in subsection 2, paragraph “f” for any reason.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides certain rights to educators. The rights are specified in the bill and include rights to engage in certain education-related activities and rights not to engage in certain education-related activities.
   The bill defines “educator” as any teacher, principal, or other individual, if such teacher, principal, or other individual is required by law to hold a valid license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition for employment in a public school in Iowa and provides a service to students.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.