House File 2496 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2496 BY STECKMAN , KURTH , CAHILL , BAETH , WILBURN , JAMES , FORBES , CROKEN , BAGNIEWSKI , SRINIVAS , WILSON , SCHEETZ , AMOS JR. , MADISON , BUCK , WESSEL-KROESCHELL , SCHOLTEN , BROWN-POWERS , KRESSIG , JACOBY , and GJERDE A BILL FOR An Act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of 1 nonpublic schools. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh

H.F. 2496 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 31, paragraph a, Code 1 2024, is amended to read as follows: 2 a. Adopt by rule guidelines for school district and 3 accredited nonpublic school implementation of section 4 279.68 , including but not limited to basic levels of reading 5 proficiency on approved locally determined or statewide 6 assessments and identification of tools that school districts 7 and accredited nonpublic schools may use in evaluating and 8 reevaluating any student who may not be or who is determined 9 not to be reading proficiently and is persistently at risk in 10 reading, including but not limited to initial assessments and 11 subsequent assessments, alternative assessments, and portfolio 12 reviews. The state board shall adopt standards that provide 13 a reasonable expectation that a student’s progress toward 14 reading proficiency under section 279.68 is sufficient to 15 master appropriate grade four level reading skills prior to the 16 student’s promotion to grade four. 17 Sec. 2. Section 256.9, subsection 69, Code 2024, is amended 18 to read as follows: 19 69. Develop and distribute to school districts , accredited 20 nonpublic schools, and charter schools model policies that, if 21 adopted by a school district , accredited nonpublic school, or 22 charter school, would satisfy the school district’s , accredited 23 nonpublic school’s, or charter school’s responsibilities under 24 section 279.65A relating to the discipline of a student for 25 making a threat of violence or causing an incident of violence 26 that results in injury or property damage or assault. 27 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, subsection 4, Code 2024, is amended 28 to read as follows: 29 4. The following shall be taught in grades seven and 30 eight: English-language arts; social studies; mathematics; 31 science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human 32 growth and development; career exploration and development; 33 physical education; music; and visual art. Computer science 34 instruction incorporating the standards established under 35 -1- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 1/ 38

H.F. 2496 section 256.7, subsection 26 , paragraph “a” , subparagraph (4), 1 shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with 2 the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration 3 and development shall be designed so that students are 4 appropriately prepared to create an individual career 5 and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61 , incorporate 6 foundational career and technical education concepts aligned 7 with the six career and technical education service areas as 8 defined in subsection 5 , paragraph “h” , incorporate relevant 9 twenty-first century skills to facilitate career readiness, 10 and introduce students to career opportunities within the 11 local community and across this state. The health curriculum 12 shall include age-appropriate and research-based information 13 regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases. 14 The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt 15 curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades 16 seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to 17 the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic 18 schools. 19 Sec. 4. Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph h, 20 subparagraph (4), Code 2024, is amended by striking the 21 subparagraph. 22 Sec. 5. Section 256B.2, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 23 2024, is amended to read as follows: 24 a. It is the policy of this state to require school 25 districts , accredited nonpublic schools, and state-operated 26 educational programs to provide or make provision, as an 27 integral part of public education, for a free and appropriate 28 public education sufficient to meet the needs of all children 29 requiring special education. This chapter is not to be 30 construed as encouraging separate facilities or segregated 31 programs designed to meet the needs of children requiring 32 special education when the children can benefit from all or 33 part of the education program as offered by the local school 34 district or accredited nonpublic school . Children requiring 35 -2- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 2/ 38

H.F. 2496 special education shall, consistent with the least restrictive 1 environment requirements under the federal Individuals with 2 Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq., attend 3 regular classes and shall be educated with children who do not 4 require special education. 5 Sec. 6. Section 256B.3, subsection 8, Code 2024, is amended 6 to read as follows: 7 8. To cooperate with school districts , accredited nonpublic 8 schools, or area education agency boards in arranging for 9 any child requiring special education to attend school in a 10 district other than the one in which the child resides , or 11 in a different accredited nonpublic school, when there is 12 no available special school, class, or instruction in the 13 districts in which the child resides or in the accredited 14 nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled . 15 Sec. 7. Section 256B.4, Code 2024, is amended to read as 16 follows: 17 256B.4 Powers of board of directors and authorities in charge 18 of accredited nonpublic schools . 19 1. The board of directors of a school district or area 20 education agency, or the authorities in charge of an accredited 21 nonpublic school, with the approval of the director of the 22 department of education, may provide special education programs 23 and services as defined in this chapter . If services are 24 provided by the area education agency, the board of directors 25 of the area education agency with the cooperation of the local 26 school districts within its jurisdiction may: 27 a. Establish and operate special education programs and 28 classes for the education of children requiring special 29 education. 30 b. Acquire, maintain, and construct facilities in which to 31 provide education, corrective services, and supportive services 32 for children requiring special education. 33 c. Make arrangements with participating school districts 34 and accredited nonpublic schools for the provision of special 35 -3- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 3/ 38

H.F. 2496 education, corrective, and supportive services to the children 1 requiring special education residing in the school districts. 2 d. Employ special education teachers and personnel required 3 to furnish corrective or supportive services to children 4 requiring special education services. 5 e. Provide transportation for children requiring special 6 education services that are in need of transportation in 7 connection with any programs, classes, or services. 8 f. Receive, administer, and expend funds appropriated for 9 its use. 10 g. Receive, administer, and expend the proceeds of any issue 11 of school bonds or other bonds intended wholly or partly for 12 its benefit. 13 h. Apply for, accept, and utilize grants, gifts, or other 14 assistance. 15 i. Participate in, and make its employees eligible to 16 participate in, any retirement system, group insurance system, 17 or other program of employee benefits, on the same terms as 18 govern school districts or accredited nonpublic schools and 19 their employees. 20 j. Do such other things as are necessary and incidental to 21 the execution of any of its powers. 22 2. The board of directors of the local district , the 23 authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, or 24 the area education agency shall employ qualified teachers 25 certified by the authority provided by law as teachers for 26 children requiring such special education. The maximum number 27 of pupils per teacher shall be determined by the board of 28 directors of the local district , the authorities in charge of 29 the accredited nonpublic school, or the area education agency 30 board in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state 31 board of education. 32 3. The board of directors of the local district , the 33 authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, or 34 the area education agency may establish and operate one or more 35 -4- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 4/ 38

H.F. 2496 special education centers to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, 1 corrective, and other services, on a more comprehensive, 2 expert, economical, and efficient basis than can be reasonably 3 provided by a single school district or accredited nonpublic 4 school . The services, if offered by the area education agency 5 board, may be provided in the regular schools using personnel 6 and equipment of the area education agency or, if it is 7 impractical or inefficient to provide them on the premises of a 8 regular school, the area education agency may provide services 9 in its own facilities. To the maximum extent feasible, 10 centers shall be established at and in conjunction with, or 11 in close proximity to, one or more elementary and secondary 12 schools. Local districts , accredited nonpublic schools, or the 13 area education agencies may accept diagnostic and evaluation 14 studies conducted by other individuals, hospitals, or centers, 15 if determined to be competent. Children requiring special 16 education services may be identified in any way that the 17 department of education determines to be reliable. Centers 18 established pursuant to this section may contain classrooms 19 and other educational facilities and equipment to supplement 20 instruction and other services to children with disabilities 21 in the regular schools, and to provide separate instruction to 22 children whose degree or type of educational disability makes 23 it impractical or inappropriate for them to participate in 24 classes with normal children. 25 Sec. 8. Section 256B.6, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended 26 to read as follows: 27 1. When the school district , accredited nonpublic school, 28 or area education agency has provided special education 29 services and programs as provided in this chapter for any child 30 requiring special education, either by admission to a special 31 class or by supportive services, it shall be the duty of the 32 parent or guardian to enroll the child for instruction in such 33 special classes or supportive services as may be established, 34 except in the event a doctor’s certificate is filed with the 35 -5- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 5/ 38

H.F. 2496 secretary of the school district or accredited nonpublic 1 school showing that it is inadvisable for medical reasons 2 for the child requiring special education to receive the 3 special education provided; all the provisions and conditions 4 of chapter 299 shall be applicable to this section , and any 5 violations shall be punishable as provided in chapter 299 . 6 Sec. 9. Section 256B.6, subsection 2, unnumbered paragraph 7 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows: 8 A child, or the parent or guardian of the child, or the 9 school district in which the child resides, or the accredited 10 nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled, may obtain a 11 review of an action or omission of local authorities pursuant 12 to the procedures established by the state board of education 13 on the ground that the child has been or is about to be: 14 Sec. 10. Section 279.9, Code 2024, is amended to read as 15 follows: 16 279.9 Use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or controlled 17 substances. 18 1. The rules adopted under section 279.8 shall include 19 rules prohibiting the use of tobacco and the use or possession 20 of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer or any controlled substance 21 as defined in section 124.101, subsection 5 , by any student of 22 the schools. The board may suspend or expel a student for a 23 violation of a rule described under this section subsection . 24 2. Each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt rules 25 prohibiting the use of tobacco and the use or possession of 26 alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer or any controlled substance as 27 defined in section 124.101, subsection 5, by any student of the 28 accredited nonpublic school. The authorities in charge of an 29 accredited nonpublic school may suspend or expel a student for 30 a violation of a rule described in this subsection. 31 Sec. 11. Section 279.9B, Code 2024, is amended to read as 32 follows: 33 279.9B Reports to juvenile authorities. 34 1. The rules adopted under section 279.8 shall require, once 35 -6- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 6/ 38

H.F. 2496 school officials have been notified by a juvenile court officer 1 that a student attending the school is under supervision or has 2 been placed on probation, that school officials shall notify 3 the juvenile court of each unexcused absence or suspension or 4 expulsion of the student. 5 2. Each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt rules 6 requiring that, once school officials have been notified by a 7 juvenile court officer that a student attending the accredited 8 nonpublic school is under supervision or has been placed on 9 probation, school officials are required to notify the juvenile 10 court of each unexcused absence or suspension or expulsion of 11 the student. 12 Sec. 12. Section 279.14B, Code 2024, is amended to read as 13 follows: 14 279.14B Retaliation prohibition. 15 The board of directors of a school district and the 16 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school 17 shall not take any disciplinary action against an employee or 18 contractor of the school district for disclosing information 19 to any public official or law enforcement agency, including 20 a disclosure to the ombudsman pursuant to section 2C.9, 21 subsection 3 , if the employee or contractor reasonably 22 believes the information evidences a violation of law or 23 rule, mismanagement, a gross abuse of funds, an abuse of 24 authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public 25 health or safety. For purposes of this section , “disciplinary 26 action” includes termination of employment or the contractual 27 relationship, suspension from employment, demotion, financial 28 penalties, failing to take action regarding an employee’s 29 or contractor’s promotion or proposed promotion, failing 30 to provide an advantage in employment or the contractual 31 relationship, and written or verbal reprimands. 32 Sec. 13. Section 279.19B, subsection 1, paragraph a, 33 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as 34 follows: 35 -7- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 7/ 38

H.F. 2496 The board of directors of a school district or the 1 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school 2 may employ for head coach of any interscholastic athletic 3 activities or for assistant coach of any interscholastic 4 athletic activity, an individual who possesses a coaching 5 authorization issued by the board of educational examiners 6 or possesses a teaching license with a coaching endorsement 7 issued pursuant to chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3 . 8 However, a board of directors of a school district or the 9 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall 10 consider applicants with qualifications described below, in the 11 following order of priority: 12 Sec. 14. Section 279.21, Code 2024, is amended to read as 13 follows: 14 279.21 Principals. 15 1. The authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic 16 school may employ principals, and the board of directors of a 17 school district may employ principals, under the provisions 18 of section 279.23 . A principal employed by the board of 19 directors of a school district or the authorities in charge 20 of an accredited nonpublic school shall hold a current valid 21 principal’s certificate. Notwithstanding the provisions of 22 section 279.23 , after serving at least nine months, a principal 23 may be employed for a term of not to exceed two years. 24 2. a. The principal, under the supervision of the 25 superintendent of the school district and pursuant to rules 26 and policies of the board of directors of the school district, 27 or under the supervision of the authorities in charge of 28 an accredited nonpublic school, as applicable, shall be 29 responsible for administration and operation of the attendance 30 center to which the principal is assigned. 31 b. The principal shall, pursuant to the policies adopted 32 by the board of directors of the school district or the 33 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school , be 34 responsible for the planning, management, operation, and 35 -8- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 8/ 38

H.F. 2496 evaluation of the educational program offered at the attendance 1 center to which the principal is assigned and shall submit 2 recommendations to the superintendent or the authorities 3 in charge of an accredited nonpublic school regarding the 4 appointment, assignment, promotion, transfer, and dismissal of 5 all personnel assigned to the attendance center. The principal 6 shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the 7 superintendent or the authorities in charge of an accredited 8 nonpublic school . 9 c. For purposes of this section and sections 279.23 , 10 279.23A , 279.24 , and 279.25 , the term “principal” includes 11 school principals, associate principals, and assistant 12 principals. 13 Sec. 15. Section 279.40, Code 2024, is amended to read as 14 follows: 15 279.40 Sick leave. 16 1. a. Public school employees and employees of accredited 17 nonpublic schools are granted leave of absence for medically 18 related disability with full pay in the following minimum 19 amounts: 20 (1) The first year of employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 days. 21 (2) The second year of employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 days. 22 (3) The third year of employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 days. 23 (4) The fourth year of employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 days. 24 (5) The fifth year of employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 days. 25 (6) The sixth and subsequent years of employment . . 15 days. 26 b. The above amounts shall apply only to consecutive 27 years of employment in the same school district or accredited 28 nonpublic school and unused portions shall be cumulative to at 29 least a total of ninety days. The school board or authorities 30 in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall, in each 31 instance, require such reasonable evidence as it may desire 32 confirming the necessity for such leave of absence. 33 2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting 34 the right of a school board or the authorities in charge of an 35 -9- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 9/ 38

H.F. 2496 accredited nonpublic school to grant more time than the days 1 herein specified. 2 3. Cumulation of sick leave under this section shall not be 3 affected or terminated due to the organization or dissolution 4 of a community school district or districts which include all 5 or the portion of the district which employed the particular 6 public school employee for the school year previous to the 7 organization or dissolution, if the employee is employed by one 8 of the community school districts for the first school year 9 following its organization or dissolution. 10 4. Any amounts due an employee under this section shall be 11 reduced by benefits payable under sections 85.33 and 85.34, 12 subsection 1 , if applicable . 13 Sec. 16. Section 279.50, subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 14 7, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows: 15 1. Subject to section 279.80 , each school board and 16 accredited nonpublic school shall provide instruction in 17 kindergarten which gives attention to experiences relating to 18 life skills and human growth and development as required in 19 section 256.11 . School districts and accredited nonpublic 20 schools shall use research provided in section 256.9, 21 subsection 46 , paragraph “b” , to evaluate and upgrade their 22 instructional materials and teaching strategies for human 23 growth and development. 24 2. Subject to section 279.80 , each school board and 25 accredited nonpublic school shall provide age-appropriate and 26 research-based instruction in human growth and development 27 including instruction regarding self-esteem, stress management, 28 interpersonal relationships, and domestic abuse in grades one 29 through six. 30 3. Each school board and accredited nonpublic school shall 31 provide age-appropriate and research-based instruction in 32 human growth and development including instruction regarding 33 human sexuality, self-esteem, stress management, interpersonal 34 relationships, domestic abuse, and the prevention and control 35 -10- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 10/ 38

H.F. 2496 of disease, including sexually transmitted diseases as required 1 in section 256.11 , in grades seven through twelve. 2 4. Each school board and accredited nonpublic school 3 shall annually provide to a parent or guardian of any pupil 4 enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic 5 school , information about the human growth and development 6 curriculum used in the pupil’s grade level and the procedure 7 for inspecting the instructional materials prior to their use 8 in the classroom. 9 5. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school 10 shall, upon request by any agency or organization, provide 11 information about the human growth and development curriculum 12 used in each grade level and the procedure for inspecting and 13 updating the instructional materials. 14 6. A pupil shall not be required to take instruction in 15 human growth and development if the pupil’s parent or guardian 16 files with the appropriate principal a written request that 17 the pupil be excused from the instruction. Notification that 18 the written request may be made shall be included in the 19 information provided by the school district or accredited 20 nonpublic school . 21 7. Each school board , accredited nonpublic school, or 22 community college which offers general adult education classes 23 or courses shall periodically offer an instructional program 24 in parenting skills and in human growth and development 25 for parents, guardians, prospective biological and adoptive 26 parents, and foster parents. 27 Sec. 17. Section 279.65A, Code 2024, is amended to read as 28 follows: 29 279.65A Discipline of students who make threats of violence 30 or cause incidents of violence. 31 The board of directors of each school district and the 32 authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school 33 shall adopt, in collaboration with teachers and administrative 34 staff employed by the school district or accredited nonpublic 35 -11- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 11/ 38

H.F. 2496 school , policies for different grade levels that describe how a 1 school district or accredited nonpublic school may discipline a 2 student for making a threat of violence or causing an incident 3 of violence that results in injury or property damage or 4 assault. All of the following shall apply to the policies: 5 1. The policies must incorporate strategies that are 6 designed to correct the student’s behavior. 7 2. The policies must provide for parent or guardian 8 conferences, counseling sessions, or mental health counseling 9 sessions, when appropriate. The policies must provide that the 10 school district or accredited nonpublic school must receive 11 the prior written consent of the student’s parent or guardian 12 before requiring the student to participate in a counseling 13 session or a mental health counseling session. 14 3. The policies must be consistent with the provisions of 15 chapter 256B , the administrative rules adopted by the state 16 board for purposes of chapter 256B , the federal Individuals 17 with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq., and 18 the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and codified 19 in 29 U.S.C. §701 et seq. 20 4. The policies must provide for escalating levels of 21 discipline each time the student makes a threat of violence 22 or causes an incident of violence that results in injury or 23 property damage or assault. 24 5. The policies must allow for the school district or 25 accredited nonpublic school to select the level of discipline 26 that the school district or accredited nonpublic school 27 determines corresponds to the severity of the threat of 28 violence or incident of violence. 29 6. The policies must allow the school district or accredited 30 nonpublic school to suspend the student, permanently remove the 31 student from a particular class, expel the student, or place 32 the student in an alternative learning environment, including a 33 therapeutic classroom, when appropriate. 34 7. The policies must require an individualized education 35 -12- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 12/ 38

H.F. 2496 program meeting if the student who made the threat of violence 1 or caused the incident of violence that resulted in injury or 2 property damage or assault has an individualized education 3 program. 4 8. The policies must be published on the school district’s 5 or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site and in 6 applicable student handbooks. 7 Sec. 18. Section 279.68, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 8 2024, is amended to read as follows: 9 a. A Each school district and accredited nonpublic school 10 shall assess all students enrolled in kindergarten through 11 grade three at the beginning of each school year for their 12 level of reading or reading readiness on locally determined 13 or statewide assessments, as provided in section 256.7, 14 subsection 31 . If a student is not reading proficiently and 15 is persistently at risk in reading, based upon the assessments 16 administered in accordance with this paragraph, the school 17 district or accredited nonpublic school shall provide intensive 18 reading instruction to the student. The student’s reading 19 proficiency shall be periodically reassessed by locally 20 determined or statewide assessments including periodic 21 universal screening and annual standard-based assessments. The 22 student shall continue to be provided with intensive reading 23 instruction, at grade levels beyond grade three if necessary, 24 until the student is reading at grade level, as determined by 25 the student’s consistently proficient performance on valid 26 and reliable measures of reading ability. For purposes of 27 this section , “persistently at risk” means the student has not 28 met the grade-level benchmark on two consecutive screening 29 assessments administered under this paragraph. 30 Sec. 19. Section 279.68, subsection 1, paragraph b, 31 subparagraph (2), Code 2024, is amended to read as follows: 32 (2) A description of the proposed supplemental 33 instructional services and supports that the school district or 34 accredited nonpublic school will provide to the student that 35 -13- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 13/ 38

H.F. 2496 are designed to remediate the identified areas in which the 1 student is persistently at risk in reading. 2 Sec. 20. Section 279.68, subsection 2, unnumbered paragraph 3 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows: 4 If funds are appropriated by the general assembly for 5 purposes of implementing this subsection , a school district or 6 accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following: 7 Sec. 21. Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph a, 8 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as 9 follows: 10 Provide students who are persistently at risk in reading 11 with intensive instructional services and supports, free of 12 charge, to remediate the identified areas in which students 13 are not proficient in reading, including a minimum of ninety 14 minutes daily of scientific, research-based reading instruction 15 and other strategies prescribed by the school district or 16 accredited nonpublic school which may include but are not 17 limited to the following: 18 Sec. 22. Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph e, Code 19 2024, is amended to read as follows: 20 e. Report to the department of education the specific 21 intensive reading interventions and supports implemented by 22 the school district or accredited nonpublic school pursuant 23 to this section . The department shall annually prescribe the 24 components of required or requested reports. 25 Sec. 23. Section 279.68, subsection 3, Code 2024, is amended 26 to read as follows: 27 3. Ensuring continuous improvement in reading proficiency. 28 a. To ensure all children are reading proficiently by 29 the end of third grade, each school district and accredited 30 nonpublic school shall address reading proficiency, drawing 31 upon information about students from assessments and 32 reassessments conducted pursuant to subsection 1 and the 33 prevalence of areas in which students are persistently at 34 risk in reading identified by classroom, elementary school, 35 -14- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 14/ 38

H.F. 2496 and other student characteristics. Each school district 1 and accredited nonpublic school shall review chronic early 2 elementary absenteeism for its impact on literacy development. 3 If more than fifteen percent of an attendance center’s students 4 are not reading proficiently and are persistently at risk 5 in reading by the end of third grade, the school district 6 or accredited nonpublic school shall develop and implement 7 strategies to reduce that percentage, including school and 8 community strategies to raise the percentage of students who 9 are reading at grade level. 10 b. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school , 11 subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly, 12 shall provide professional development services to enhance 13 the skills of elementary teachers in responding to children’s 14 unique reading issues and needs and to increase the use of 15 evidence-based strategies. 16 Sec. 24. Section 279.70, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2024, are 17 amended to read as follows: 18 2. By July 1, 2019, the The board of directors of a school 19 district and the authorities in charge of an accredited 20 nonpublic school shall require annual, evidence-based 21 training at least one hour in length on suicide prevention 22 and postvention for all school personnel who hold a license, 23 certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued 24 by the board of educational examiners and who have regular 25 contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. 26 The content of the training shall be based on nationally 27 recognized best practices. 28 3. By July 1, 2019, the The board of directors of a school 29 district and the authorities in charge of an accredited 30 nonpublic school shall require annual, evidence-based, 31 evidence-supported training on the identification of adverse 32 childhood experiences and strategies to mitigate toxic 33 stress response for all school personnel who hold a license, 34 certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued 35 -15- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 15/ 38

H.F. 2496 by the board of educational examiners and who have regular 1 contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. 2 The content of the training shall be based on nationally 3 recognized best practices. 4 Sec. 25. Section 279.70A, Code 2024, is amended to read as 5 follows: 6 279.70A Student identification cards —— suicide prevention 7 information. 8 A public school school district or accredited nonpublic 9 school that issues identification cards to students in grades 10 seven through twelve shall include on either side of the 11 identification card the crisis hotline telephone and text 12 numbers and the internet address for your life Iowa or the your 13 life Iowa successor program. A public school school district 14 or accredited nonpublic school that issues identification cards 15 to students in grades five and six may include on either side 16 of the identification card the crisis hotline telephone and 17 text numbers and the internet address for your life Iowa or the 18 your life Iowa successor program. 19 Sec. 26. Section 279.71, subsection 1, paragraphs a, d, and 20 f, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows: 21 a. “Attendance center” means a school district or accredited 22 nonpublic school building that contains classrooms used for 23 instructional purposes for elementary, middle, or secondary 24 school students. 25 d. “Kindergarten through grade twelve school purposes” means 26 purposes that are directed by or that customarily take place at 27 the direction of a kindergarten through grade twelve attendance 28 center, school district, accredited nonpublic school, or a 29 practitioner employed by a school district or accredited 30 nonpublic school , in the administration of school activities, 31 including but not limited to instruction in the classroom or 32 at home, administrative activities, and collaboration between 33 students, school district , accredited nonpublic school, or 34 attendance center personnel, or parents, or are otherwise 35 -16- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 16/ 38

H.F. 2496 for the use and benefit of the school district , accredited 1 nonpublic school, or attendance center. 2 f. “School district” “School” means a all of the following: 3 (1) A public school district described in chapter 274 . 4 (2) A nonpublic school that is accredited under section 5 256.11. 6 Sec. 27. Section 279.71, subsection 1, paragraph b, 7 subparagraph (2), Code 2024, is amended to read as follows: 8 (2) Created by or provided to an operator by an employee 9 or agent of a school district , accredited nonpublic school, or 10 attendance center for kindergarten through grade twelve school 11 purposes. 12 Sec. 28. Section 279.71, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 13 2024, is amended to read as follows: 14 b. Delete as soon as reasonably practicable, a student’s 15 covered information if the school district or attendance center 16 requests deletion of covered information under the control of 17 the school district or attendance center, unless a student or 18 parent or guardian consents to the maintenance of the covered 19 information. 20 Sec. 29. Section 279.72, Code 2024, is amended to read as 21 follows: 22 279.72 Training on dyslexia. 23 By July 1, 2024, the board of directors of a school 24 district shall require all persons employed by the school 25 district who hold a teaching license with an endorsement 26 for prekindergarten, prekindergarten or elementary special 27 education, or prekindergarten through grade three levels issued 28 under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3 , all practitioners 29 and paraprofessionals assigned as Title I teachers and Title 30 I paraprofessionals under the federal Every Student Succeeds 31 Act, Pub. L. No. 114-95, and all practitioners endorsed 32 to teach English as a second language to complete the Iowa 33 reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such persons 34 employed by the a school district or accredited nonpublic 35 -17- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 17/ 38

H.F. 2496 school after July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within one 1 year of the employee’s initial date of hire. 2 Sec. 30. Section 279.73, Code 2024, is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 279.73 Intellectual freedom —— protection —— complaints. 5 1. The board of directors of each school district and the 6 authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall 7 protect the intellectual freedom of the school district’s or 8 the accredited nonpublic school’s students and practitioners 9 and shall establish and publicize policies that protect 10 students and faculty from discrimination based on speech. 11 A person shall not retaliate against a person who files a 12 complaint for a violation of this section . If the person 13 who files a complaint for a violation of this section is an 14 employee of the school district, the provisions of section 15 70A.29 shall apply. 16 2. If the board of directors of the school district , the 17 authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, or 18 a court finds that an employee of the school district or 19 accredited nonpublic school who holds a license, certificate, 20 statement of recognition, or authorization issued by the 21 board of educational examiners under chapter 256, subchapter 22 VII, part 3, discriminated against a student or employee 23 in violation of this section , the employee found to be in 24 violation under this section shall be subject to a hearing 25 conducted by the board of educational examiners pursuant 26 to section 256.146, subsection 13 , which may result in 27 disciplinary action and the employee’s employment may be 28 terminated. 29 Sec. 31. Section 279.74, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2024, are 30 amended to read as follows: 31 2. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school 32 may continue training that fosters a workplace and learning 33 environment that is respectful of all employees and students. 34 However, the superintendent of each school district and the 35 -18- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 18/ 38

H.F. 2496 authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school 1 shall ensure that any curriculum or mandatory staff or student 2 training provided by an employee of the school district or 3 accredited nonpublic school, or by a contractor hired by the 4 school district or accredited nonpublic school, does not teach, 5 advocate, encourage, promote, or act upon specific stereotyping 6 and scapegoating toward others on the basis of demographic 7 group membership or identity. This subsection shall not 8 be construed as preventing an employee or contractor who 9 teaches any curriculum or who provides mandatory training from 10 responding to questions regarding specific defined concepts 11 raised by participants in the training. 12 3. School district and accredited nonpublic school 13 diversity and inclusion efforts shall discourage students 14 of the school district or accredited nonpublic school from 15 discriminating against another by political ideology or any 16 characteristic protected under the federal Civil Rights Act of 17 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, as amended, and applicable state law. 18 Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall 19 prohibit its employees from discriminating against students or 20 employees by political ideology or any characteristic protected 21 under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, 22 as amended, and applicable state law. 23 Sec. 32. Section 279.76, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2024, are 24 amended to read as follows: 25 1. a. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school 26 is prohibited from administering or conducting an invasive 27 physical examination of a student, a student health screening 28 that is not required by state or federal law, or a formal 29 examination or survey of a student that is designed to assess 30 the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health that is 31 not required by state or federal law, without first acquiring 32 the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian. This 33 section applies only to a minor child in the direct care of a 34 parent or guardian, and does not apply to an emancipated minor 35 -19- LSB 6082YH (4) 90 jda/jh 19/ 38