SF 2243 (LSB 5869XS (3) 89)

SENATE FILE 2243

BY  GIDDENS and DOTZLER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to an experiential learning competitive grant program in the department of education, making an appropriation, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  258.7  Experiential learning competitive grant program.
   1.  The department, in collaboration with the department of workforce development, shall establish an experiential learning competitive grant program for approved school districts to fund a multi-year proposal to hire a school-based experiential learning program coordinator to establish and support new and existing business and community work-based partners to expand in-depth sustainable, student-focused, and professional work-based learning opportunities.
   2.  The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A for administration of the program, including but not limited to rules relating to grant application materials, eligibility requirements, and award criteria. The award criteria shall include but not be limited to all of the following:
   a.  The school-based experiential learning program coordinator must work with the regional intermediary coordinator.
   b.  A plan focused on relationship building, student support, and involvement of the local community, including at least five committed business partners, and the local community college.
   c.  Establishment of core values, host sites off school grounds in a professional environment, summer programming, appointment of an advisory board, and instructor training on profession-based learning.
   3.  Priority in the initial year of the program shall be to grant applications submitted by established experiential learning programs and to school districts newly establishing an experiential learning program. An established program must have a proven record of continued business partnership, continued new opportunities, and positive student outcomes. Next priority shall be given to grant applications that propose multi-year development and sustainability plans for an experiential learning program.
   4.  A grant awarded under the program may provide funding for up to five years.
   5.  Up to two percent of the moneys appropriated to the department by the general assembly for purposes of the program may be used by the department to administer, in collaboration with the department of workforce development, the program. The department and the department of workforce development shall encourage regional collaborations and coordination between experiential learning program coordinators and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network established under section 256.40.
    Sec. 2.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For purposes of the experiential learning competitive grant program pursuant to section 258.7, if enacted, including the establishment, start-up, programming, and costs of implementing and maintaining the program for multiple years:
   ...................................................................... $  1,000,000

   Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys received by the department pursuant to this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes specified in this section for the following fiscal year.
    Sec. 3.  EMERGENCY RULES.  The state board of education may adopt emergency rules under section 17A.4, subsection 3, and section 17A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, to implement the provisions of this Act and the rules shall be effective immediately upon filing unless a later date is specified in the rules. Any rules adopted in accordance with this section shall also be published as a notice of intended action as provided in section 17A.4.
    Sec. 4.  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 for the establishment by the department of education of an experiential learning competitive grant program for approved school districts to fund a multi-year proposal to hire a school-based experiential learning program coordinator to establish and support new and existing business and community work-based partners to expand in-depth sustainable, student-focused, and professional work-based learning opportunities; and appropriates $1 million from the general fund of the state to the department for FY 2021-2022 for purposes of the program.
   The state board shall adopt rules for administration of the program, and may do so by using emergency rulemaking, including but not limited to rules relating to grant application materials, eligibility requirements, and award criteria. The award criteria shall include that the coordinator must work with the regional intermediary coordinator; a plan to focus on relationship building, student support, and involvement of the local community, including at least five committed business partners, and the local community college; and establishment of core values, host sites off school grounds in a professional environment, summer programming, appointment of an advisory board, and instructor training on profession-based learning.
   Priority in the initial year of the program shall be given to applications submitted by established experiential learning programs with proven records of continued business partnership and to school districts newly establishing a program. Next priority for grant funding is to award a grant based on grant applications that propose multi-year development and sustainability plans for an experiential learning program.
   A grant awarded under the program may provide funding for up to five years.
   Up to 2 percent of the moneys appropriated to the department of education by the general assembly for purposes of the program may be used by the department to administer the program. The department of education and the department of workforce development shall encourage regional collaborations and coordination between experiential learning program coordinators and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network.
   Moneys remaining unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year do not revert but remain available for the following year for expenditure for the specified purposes.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.