Senate Study Bill 3028 - Introduced SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BILL) A BILL FOR An Act relating to terminology changes in education-related 1 Iowa Code references to foreign languages. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5184XD (5) 87 kh/rj

S.F. _____ H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 49.13, subsection 6, paragraph a, 1 subparagraph (3), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows: 2 (3) Receive credit in at least four subjects, each of 3 one period or hour, or the equivalent thereof, at all times. 4 The eligible subjects are language arts, social studies, 5 mathematics, science, health, physical education, fine arts, 6 foreign world language, and career and technical education. 7 Coursework taken as a postsecondary enrollment option for 8 which a school district or accredited nonpublic school grants 9 academic credit toward high school graduation shall be used 10 in determining eligibility. A student shall not be denied 11 eligibility if the student’s school program deviates from the 12 traditional two-semester school year. Each student wishing 13 to participate under this subsection shall be passing all 14 coursework for which credit is given and shall be making 15 adequate progress toward graduation requirements at the end of 16 each grading period. At the end of a grading period that is the 17 final grading period in a school year, a student who receives 18 a failing grade in any course for which credit is awarded is 19 ineligible to participate under this subsection . A student who 20 is eligible at the close of a semester is academically eligible 21 to participate under this subsection until the beginning of 22 the subsequent semester. A student with a disability who 23 has an individualized education program shall not be denied 24 eligibility to participate under this subsection on the basis 25 of scholarship if the student is making adequate progress, 26 as determined by school officials, towards the goals and 27 objectives of the student’s individualized education program. 28 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph f, Code 29 2018, is amended to read as follows: 30 f. Four sequential units of one foreign world language other 31 than which may include American sign language. Provision of 32 instruction in American sign language shall be in addition to 33 and not in lieu of provision of instruction in other foreign 34 languages. The department may waive the third and fourth years 35 -1- LSB 5184XD (5) 87 kh/rj 1/ 3

S.F. _____ H.F. _____ of the foreign world language requirement on an annual basis 1 upon the request of the board of directors of a school district 2 or the authorities in charge of a nonpublic school if the 3 board or authorities are able to prove that a licensed teacher 4 was employed and assigned a schedule that would have allowed 5 students to enroll in a foreign world language class, the 6 foreign world language class was properly scheduled, students 7 were aware that a foreign world language class was scheduled, 8 and no students enrolled in the class. 9 Sec. 3. Section 280.4, subsection 1, Code 2018, is amended 10 to read as follows: 11 1. The medium of instruction in all secular subjects taught 12 in both public and nonpublic schools shall be the English 13 language, except when the use of a foreign world language is 14 deemed appropriate in the teaching of any subject or when the 15 student is limited English proficient. When the student is 16 limited English proficient, both public and nonpublic schools 17 shall provide special instruction, which shall include but 18 need not be limited to either instruction in English as a 19 second language or transitional bilingual instruction until 20 the student is fully English proficient or demonstrates a 21 functional ability to speak, read, write, and understand the 22 English language. As used in this section , “limited English 23 proficient” means a student’s language background is in a 24 language other than English, and the student’s proficiency 25 in English is such that the probability of the student’s 26 academic success in an English-only classroom is below that 27 of an academically successful peer with an English language 28 background. “Fully English proficient” means a student who is 29 able to read, understand, write, and speak the English language 30 and to use English to ask questions, to understand teachers 31 and reading materials, to test ideas, and to challenge what is 32 being asked in the classroom. 33 EXPLANATION 34 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 35 -2- LSB 5184XD (5) 87 kh/rj 2/ 3

S.F. _____ H.F. _____ the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 This bill replaces references to “foreign language” with the 2 term “world language” when used in Code provisions relating to 3 the appointment of high school students as precinct election 4 board members, to the education standards for the accreditation 5 of schools, and to the medium of instruction when a student 6 is limited English proficient. The bill provides that “world 7 language” may include American sign language and strikes 8 language that prohibits school districts and accredited 9 nonpublic schools from using an American sign language course 10 to meet certain education standards for accreditation purposes. 11 -3- LSB 5184XD (5) 87 kh/rj 3/ 3