HF 598 (LSB 1859HV (2) 88)

HOUSE FILE 598

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 197)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the assignment of pupils who are siblings to classrooms by school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 279.11, Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   279.11  Number of schools —— attendance —— terms —— classroom assignment.
   1.  The board of directors shall determine the number of schools to be taught, divide the corporation into such wards or other divisions for school purposes as may be proper, determine the particular school which each child shall attend, and designate the period each school shall be held beyond the time required by law.
   2.  Prior to assigning siblings who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade five and deemed by the school district to be at the same grade level academically to a classroom, a school district shall require school administrators to consult with, and give deference to, the parents or guardians of the siblings, to determine whether the siblings shall be assigned to the same classroom.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires school districts to require its administrators, prior to assigning siblings to a classroom when the siblings are enrolled in kindergarten through grade five and are academically at the same grade level, to consult with and give deference to the parents or guardians of the siblings, when determining whether the siblings shall be assigned to the same classroom.