Senate File 248 - Introduced SENATE FILE 248 BY BOLKCOM A BILL FOR An Act relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion as 1 components of Iowa’s approved practitioner preparation 2 programs, twenty-first century learning skills, Iowa 3 teaching standards, administrator standards and criteria, 4 and teacher licensure renewal requirements. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 2281XS (3) 89 kh/jh

S.F. 248 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph a, 1 subparagraph (3), Code 2021, is amended to read as follows: 2 (3) The rules establishing a core curriculum shall address 3 the core content standards in subsection 28 and the skills and 4 knowledge students need to be successful in the twenty-first 5 century. The core curriculum shall include social studies and 6 twenty-first century learning skills which include but are 7 not limited to civic literacy, health literacy, technology 8 literacy, financial literacy, family life and consumer 9 sciences, and employability skills; and shall address the 10 curricular needs of students in kindergarten through grade 11 twelve in those areas. The state board shall further define 12 the twenty-first century learning skills components by rule. 13 The rules shall require that the universal constructs address 14 equitable instruction and culturally responsive pedagogy. 15 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, subsection 47, Code 2021, is amended 16 to read as follows: 17 47. Develop Iowa standards for school administrators, 18 including knowledge and skill criteria, and develop, based on 19 the Iowa standards for administrators, mentoring and induction, 20 evaluation processes, and professional development plans 21 pursuant to chapter 284A . The standards and criteria shall 22 include restorative justice training and shall prioritize 23 cultural responsiveness training. The criteria shall further 24 define the characteristics of quality administrators as 25 established by the Iowa standards for school administrators. 26 Sec. 3. Section 256.9, Code 2021, is amended by adding the 27 following new subsection: 28 NEW SUBSECTION . 63. Develop and include an equitability 29 assessment and ranking of schools operated by school districts 30 in the Iowa school performance profiles published by the 31 department. 32 Sec. 4. Section 256.16, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended 33 by adding the following new paragraph: 34 NEW PARAGRAPH . n. Include instruction in restorative 35 -1- LSB 2281XS (3) 89 kh/jh 1/ 3

S.F. 248 justice and cultural responsiveness. 1 Sec. 5. Section 272.2, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended 2 by adding the following new paragraph: 3 NEW PARAGRAPH . c. Establish as a renewal requirement 4 for a standard license the completion of two clock hours 5 of training in a course relating to cultural competency. 6 For purposes of this paragraph, “cultural competency” means 7 awareness and understanding of the values, lifestyles, history, 8 and contributions of various identifiable cultural groups in 9 society; recognizing and dealing with dehumanizing biases such 10 as sexism, racism, prejudice, and discrimination and raising 11 awareness of the impact that such biases have on interpersonal 12 relations; recognizing the ways in which dehumanizing biases 13 may be reflected in instructional materials; and acquiring 14 strategies to manage students from different cultures in a 15 classroom setting. 16 Sec. 6. Section 284.3, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2021, 17 is amended to read as follows: 18 a. For purposes of comprehensive evaluations, standards 19 and criteria which measure a beginning teacher’s performance 20 against the Iowa teaching standards specified in subsection 1 , 21 and the criteria for the Iowa teaching standards developed by 22 the department in accordance with section 256.9, to determine 23 whether the teacher’s practice meets the requirements specified 24 for a career teacher. These The standards and criteria shall 25 include restorative justice training and shall prioritize 26 cultural responsiveness training. The standards and criteria 27 shall be set forth in an instrument provided by the department. 28 The comprehensive evaluation and instrument are not subject to 29 negotiations or grievance procedures pursuant to chapter 20 or 30 determinations made by the board of directors under section 31 279.14 . 32 EXPLANATION 33 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 34 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 35 -2- LSB 2281XS (3) 89 kh/jh 2/ 3

S.F. 248 This bill provides for diversity, equity, and inclusion 1 as components of Iowa’s approved practitioner preparation 2 programs, 21st century learning skills, Iowa teaching 3 standards, administrator standards and criteria, and teacher 4 licensure renewal requirements. 5 The bill requires that the state board of education’s rules 6 regarding the universal constructs must address equitable 7 instruction and culturally responsive pedagogy. 8 The bill requires that the standards and criteria for 9 school teachers and administrators, developed by the director 10 of the department of education, include restorative justice 11 training and prioritize cultural responsiveness training. The 12 director is also required to develop and include, in the Iowa 13 school performance profiles published by the department, an 14 equitability assessment and ranking of schools operated by 15 school districts. 16 The bill requires that approved practitioner preparation 17 programs include instruction in restorative justice and 18 cultural responsiveness. 19 The bill directs the board of educational examiners to 20 establish, as a renewal requirement for a standard license, the 21 completion of two clock hours of training in a course relating 22 to cultural competency. The bill defines cultural competency 23 as awareness and understanding of the values, lifestyles, 24 history, and contributions of societal cultural groups; 25 recognizing certain dehumanizing biases and their impact on 26 interpersonal relations and their reflection in instructional 27 materials; and acquiring strategies to manage students from 28 different cultures in a classroom setting. 29 -3- LSB 2281XS (3) 89 kh/jh 3/ 3