HF 2496 (LSB 6082YH (4) 90)

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 nonpublic schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 31, paragraph a, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Adopt by rule guidelines for school district and accredited nonpublic school implementation of section 279.68, including but not limited to basic levels of reading proficiency on approved locally determined or statewide assessments and identification of tools that school districts and accredited nonpublic schools may use in evaluating and reevaluating any student who may not be or who is determined not to be reading proficiently and is persistently at risk in reading, including but not limited to initial assessments and subsequent assessments, alternative assessments, and portfolio reviews. The state board shall adopt standards that provide a reasonable expectation that a student’s progress toward reading proficiency under section 279.68 is sufficient to master appropriate grade four level reading skills prior to the student’s promotion to grade four.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.9, subsection 69, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   69.  Develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools model policies that, if adopted by a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or charter school, would satisfy the school district’s, accredited nonpublic school’s, or charter school’s responsibilities under section 279.65A relating to the discipline of a student for making a threat of violence or causing an incident of violence that results in injury or property damage or assault.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256.11, subsection 4, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  The following shall be taught in grades seven and eight:  English-language arts; social studies; mathematics; science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; career exploration and development; physical education; music; and visual art. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration and development shall be designed so that students are appropriately prepared to create an individual career and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate foundational career and technical education concepts aligned with the six career and technical education service areas as defined in  subsection 5, paragraph “h”, incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills to facilitate career readiness, and introduce students to career opportunities within the local community and across this state. The health curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based information regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic schools.
    Sec. 4.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph h, subparagraph (4), Code 2024, is amended by striking the subparagraph.
    Sec. 5.  Section 256B.2, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  It is the policy of this state to require school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and state-operated educational programs to provide or make provision, as an integral part of public education, for a free and appropriate public education sufficient to meet the needs of all children requiring special education. This chapter is not to be construed as encouraging separate facilities or segregated programs designed to meet the needs of children requiring special education when the children can benefit from all or part of the education program as offered by the local school district or accredited nonpublic school. Children requiring special education shall, consistent with the least restrictive environment requirements under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq., attend regular classes and shall be educated with children who do not require special education.
    Sec. 6.  Section 256B.3, subsection 8, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   8.  To cooperate with school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, or area education agency boards in arranging for any child requiring special education to attend school in a district other than the one in which the child resides, or in a different accredited nonpublic school, when there is no available special school, class, or instruction in the districts in which the child resides or in the accredited nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled.
    Sec. 7.  Section 256B.4, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   256B.4  Powers of board of directors and authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools.
   1.  The board of directors of a school district or area education agency, or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, with the approval of the director of the department of education, may provide special education programs and services as defined in this chapter. If services are provided by the area education agency, the board of directors of the area education agency with the cooperation of the local school districts within its jurisdiction may:
   a.  Establish and operate special education programs and classes for the education of children requiring special education.
   b.  Acquire, maintain, and construct facilities in which to provide education, corrective services, and supportive services for children requiring special education.
   c.  Make arrangements with participating school districts and accredited nonpublic schools for the provision of special education, corrective, and supportive services to the children requiring special education residing in the school districts.
   d.  Employ special education teachers and personnel required to furnish corrective or supportive services to children requiring special education services.
   e.  Provide transportation for children requiring special education services that are in need of transportation in connection with any programs, classes, or services.
   f.  Receive, administer, and expend funds appropriated for its use.
   g.  Receive, administer, and expend the proceeds of any issue of school bonds or other bonds intended wholly or partly for its benefit.
   h.  Apply for, accept, and utilize grants, gifts, or other assistance.
   i.  Participate in, and make its employees eligible to participate in, any retirement system, group insurance system, or other program of employee benefits, on the same terms as govern school districts or accredited nonpublic schools and their employees.
   j.  Do such other things as are necessary and incidental to the execution of any of its powers.
   2.  The board of directors of the local district, the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, or the area education agency shall employ qualified teachers certified by the authority provided by law as teachers for children requiring such special education. The maximum number of pupils per teacher shall be determined by the board of directors of the local district, the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, or the area education agency board in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state board of education.
   3.  The board of directors of the local district, the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, or the area education agency may establish and operate one or more special education centers to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, corrective, and other services, on a more comprehensive, expert, economical, and efficient basis than can be reasonably provided by a single school district or accredited nonpublic school. The services, if offered by the area education agency board, may be provided in the regular schools using personnel and equipment of the area education agency or, if it is impractical or inefficient to provide them on the premises of a regular school, the area education agency may provide services in its own facilities. To the maximum extent feasible, centers shall be established at and in conjunction with, or in close proximity to, one or more elementary and secondary schools. Local districts, accredited nonpublic schools, or the area education agencies may accept diagnostic and evaluation studies conducted by other individuals, hospitals, or centers, if determined to be competent. Children requiring special education services may be identified in any way that the department of education determines to be reliable. Centers established pursuant to this section may contain classrooms and other educational facilities and equipment to supplement instruction and other services to children with disabilities in the regular schools, and to provide separate instruction to children whose degree or type of educational disability makes it impractical or inappropriate for them to participate in classes with normal children.
    Sec. 8.  Section 256B.6, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  When the school district, accredited nonpublic school, or area education agency has provided special education services and programs as provided in this chapter for any child requiring special education, either by admission to a special class or by supportive services, it shall be the duty of the parent or guardian to enroll the child for instruction in such special classes or supportive services as may be established, except in the event a doctor’s certificate is filed with the secretary of the school district or accredited nonpublic school showing that it is inadvisable for medical reasons for the child requiring special education to receive the special education provided; all the provisions and conditions of chapter 299 shall be applicable to this section, and any violations shall be punishable as provided in chapter 299.
    Sec. 9.  Section 256B.6, subsection 2, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   A child, or the parent or guardian of the child, or the school district in which the child resides, or the accredited nonpublic school in which the child is enrolled, may obtain a review of an action or omission of local authorities pursuant to the procedures established by the state board of education on the ground that the child has been or is about to be:
    Sec. 10.  Section 279.9, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.9  Use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or controlled substances.
   1.  The rules adopted under section 279.8 shall include rules prohibiting the use of tobacco and the use or possession of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer or any controlled substance as defined in section 124.101, subsection 5, by any student of the schools. The board may suspend or expel a student for a violation of a rule described under this section subsection.
   2.  Each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt rules prohibiting the use of tobacco and the use or possession of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer or any controlled substance as defined in section 124.101, subsection 5, by any student of the accredited nonpublic school. The authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school may suspend or expel a student for a violation of a rule described in this subsection.
    Sec. 11.  Section 279.9B, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.9B  Reports to juvenile authorities.
   1.  The rules adopted under section 279.8 shall require, once school officials have been notified by a juvenile court officer that a student attending the school is under supervision or has been placed on probation, that school officials shall notify the juvenile court of each unexcused absence or suspension or expulsion of the student.
   2.  Each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt rules requiring that, once school officials have been notified by a juvenile court officer that a student attending the accredited nonpublic school is under supervision or has been placed on probation, school officials are required to notify the juvenile court of each unexcused absence or suspension or expulsion of the student.
    Sec. 12.  Section 279.14B, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.14B  Retaliation prohibition.
   The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall not take any disciplinary action against an employee or contractor of the school district for disclosing information to any public official or law enforcement agency, including a disclosure to the ombudsman pursuant to section 2C.9, subsection 3, if the employee or contractor reasonably believes the information evidences a violation of law or rule, mismanagement, a gross abuse of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. For purposes of this section, “disciplinary action” includes termination of employment or the contractual relationship, suspension from employment, demotion, financial penalties, failing to take action regarding an employee’s or contractor’s promotion or proposed promotion, failing to provide an advantage in employment or the contractual relationship, and written or verbal reprimands.
    Sec. 13.  Section 279.19B, subsection 1, paragraph a, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   The board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school may employ for head coach of any interscholastic athletic activities or for assistant coach of any interscholastic athletic activity, an individual who possesses a coaching authorization issued by the board of educational examiners or possesses a teaching license with a coaching endorsement issued pursuant to chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3. However, a board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall consider applicants with qualifications described below, in the following order of priority:
    Sec. 14.  Section 279.21, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.21  Principals.
   1.  The authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school may employ principals, and the board of directors of a school district may employ principals, under the provisions of section 279.23. A principal employed by the board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall hold a current valid principal’s certificate. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 279.23, after serving at least nine months, a principal may be employed for a term of not to exceed two years.
   2.  a.  The principal, under the supervision of the superintendent of the school district and pursuant to rules and policies of the board of directors of the school district, or under the supervision of the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, as applicable, shall be responsible for administration and operation of the attendance center to which the principal is assigned.
   b.  The principal shall, pursuant to the policies adopted by the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, be responsible for the planning, management, operation, and evaluation of the educational program offered at the attendance center to which the principal is assigned and shall submit recommendations to the superintendent or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school regarding the appointment, assignment, promotion, transfer, and dismissal of all personnel assigned to the attendance center. The principal shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school.
   c.  For purposes of this section and sections 279.23, 279.23A, 279.24, and 279.25, the term “principal” includes school principals, associate principals, and assistant principals.
    Sec. 15.  Section 279.40, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.40  Sick leave.
   1.  a.  Public school employees and employees of accredited nonpublic schools are granted leave of absence for medically related disability with full pay in the following minimum amounts:
   (1)  The first year of employment10 days.
   (2)  The second year of employment11 days.
   (3)  The third year of employment12 days.
   (4)  The fourth year of employment13 days.
   (5)  The fifth year of employment14 days.
   (6)  The sixth and subsequent years of employment15 days.
   b.  The above amounts shall apply only to consecutive years of employment in the same school district or accredited nonpublic school and unused portions shall be cumulative to at least a total of ninety days. The school board or authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall, in each instance, require such reasonable evidence as it may desire confirming the necessity for such leave of absence.
   2.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the right of a school board or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school to grant more time than the days herein specified.
   3.  Cumulation of sick leave under this section shall not be affected or terminated due to the organization or dissolution of a community school district or districts which include all or the portion of the district which employed the particular public school employee for the school year previous to the organization or dissolution, if the employee is employed by one of the community school districts for the first school year following its organization or dissolution.
   4.  Any amounts due an employee under this section shall be reduced by benefits payable under sections 85.33 and 85.34, subsection 1, if applicable.
    Sec. 16.  Section 279.50, subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  Subject to section 279.80, each school board and accredited nonpublic school shall provide instruction in kindergarten which gives attention to experiences relating to life skills and human growth and development as required in section 256.11. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall use research provided in section 256.9, subsection 46, paragraph “b”, to evaluate and upgrade their instructional materials and teaching strategies for human growth and development.
   2.  Subject to section 279.80, each school board and accredited nonpublic school shall provide age-appropriate and research-based instruction in human growth and development including instruction regarding self-esteem, stress management, interpersonal relationships, and domestic abuse in grades one through six.
   3.  Each school board and accredited nonpublic school shall provide age-appropriate and research-based instruction in human growth and development including instruction regarding human sexuality, self-esteem, stress management, interpersonal relationships, domestic abuse, and the prevention and control of disease, including sexually transmitted diseases as required in section 256.11, in grades seven through twelve.
   4.  Each school board and accredited nonpublic school shall annually provide to a parent or guardian of any pupil enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school, information about the human growth and development curriculum used in the pupil’s grade level and the procedure for inspecting the instructional materials prior to their use in the classroom.
   5.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall, upon request by any agency or organization, provide information about the human growth and development curriculum used in each grade level and the procedure for inspecting and updating the instructional materials.
   6.  A pupil shall not be required to take instruction in human growth and development if the pupil’s parent or guardian files with the appropriate principal a written request that the pupil be excused from the instruction. Notification that the written request may be made shall be included in the information provided by the school district or accredited nonpublic school.
   7.  Each school board, accredited nonpublic school, or community college which offers general adult education classes or courses shall periodically offer an instructional program in parenting skills and in human growth and development for parents, guardians, prospective biological and adoptive parents, and foster parents.
    Sec. 17.  Section 279.65A, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.65A  Discipline of students who make threats of violence or cause incidents of violence.
   The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt, in collaboration with teachers and administrative staff employed by the school district or accredited nonpublic school, policies for different grade levels that describe how a school district or accredited nonpublic school may discipline a student for making a threat of violence or causing an incident of violence that results in injury or property damage or assault. All of the following shall apply to the policies:
   1.  The policies must incorporate strategies that are designed to correct the student’s behavior.
   2.  The policies must provide for parent or guardian conferences, counseling sessions, or mental health counseling sessions, when appropriate. The policies must provide that the school district or accredited nonpublic school must receive the prior written consent of the student’s parent or guardian before requiring the student to participate in a counseling session or a mental health counseling session. 
   3.  The policies must be consistent with the provisions of chapter 256B, the administrative rules adopted by the state board for purposes of chapter 256B, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq., and the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and codified in 29 U.S.C. §701 et seq.
   4.  The policies must provide for escalating levels of discipline each time the student makes a threat of violence or causes an incident of violence that results in injury or property damage or assault.
   5.  The policies must allow for the school district or accredited nonpublic school to select the level of discipline that the school district or accredited nonpublic school determines corresponds to the severity of the threat of violence or incident of violence.
   6.  The policies must allow the school district or accredited nonpublic school to suspend the student, permanently remove the student from a particular class, expel the student, or place the student in an alternative learning environment, including a therapeutic classroom, when appropriate.
   7.  The policies must require an individualized education program meeting if the student who made the threat of violence or caused the incident of violence that resulted in injury or property damage or assault has an individualized education program.
   8.  The policies must be published on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site and in applicable student handbooks.
    Sec. 18.  Section 279.68, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  A Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall assess all students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three at the beginning of each school year for their level of reading or reading readiness on locally determined or statewide assessments, as provided in section 256.7, subsection 31. If a student is not reading proficiently and is persistently at risk in reading, based upon the assessments administered in accordance with this paragraph, the school district or accredited nonpublic school shall provide intensive reading instruction to the student. The student’s reading proficiency shall be periodically reassessed by locally determined or statewide assessments including periodic universal screening and annual standard-based assessments. The student shall continue to be provided with intensive reading instruction, at grade levels beyond grade three if necessary, until the student is reading at grade level, as determined by the student’s consistently proficient performance on valid and reliable measures of reading ability. For purposes of this section, “persistently at risk” means the student has not met the grade-level benchmark on two consecutive screening assessments administered under this paragraph.
    Sec. 19.  Section 279.68, subsection 1, paragraph b, subparagraph (2), Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  A description of the proposed supplemental instructional services and supports that the school district or accredited nonpublic school will provide to the student that are designed to remediate the identified areas in which the student is persistently at risk in reading.
    Sec. 20.  Section 279.68, subsection 2, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   If funds are appropriated by the general assembly for purposes of implementing this subsection, a school district or accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following:
    Sec. 21.  Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph a, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   Provide students who are persistently at risk in reading with intensive instructional services and supports, free of charge, to remediate the identified areas in which students are not proficient in reading, including a minimum of ninety minutes daily of scientific, research-based reading instruction and other strategies prescribed by the school district or accredited nonpublic school which may include but are not limited to the following:
    Sec. 22.  Section 279.68, subsection 2, paragraph e, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  Report to the department of education the specific intensive reading interventions and supports implemented by the school district or accredited nonpublic school pursuant to this section. The department shall annually prescribe the components of required or requested reports.
    Sec. 23.  Section 279.68, subsection 3, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Ensuring continuous improvement in reading proficiency.
   a.  To ensure all children are reading proficiently by the end of third grade, each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall address reading proficiency, drawing upon information about students from assessments and reassessments conducted pursuant to subsection 1 and the prevalence of areas in which students are persistently at risk in reading identified by classroom, elementary school, and other student characteristics. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall review chronic early elementary absenteeism for its impact on literacy development. If more than fifteen percent of an attendance center’s students are not reading proficiently and are persistently at risk in reading by the end of third grade, the school district or accredited nonpublic school shall develop and implement strategies to reduce that percentage, including school and community strategies to raise the percentage of students who are reading at grade level.
   b.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school, subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly, shall provide professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in responding to children’s unique reading issues and needs and to increase the use of evidence-based strategies.
    Sec. 24.  Section 279.70, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  By July 1, 2019, the The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall require annual, evidence-based training at least one hour in length on suicide prevention and postvention for all school personnel who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
   3.  By July 1, 2019, the The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall require annual, evidence-based, evidence-supported training on the identification of adverse childhood experiences and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response for all school personnel who hold a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
    Sec. 25.  Section 279.70A, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.70A  Student identification cards —— suicide prevention information.
   A public school school district or accredited nonpublic school that issues identification cards to students in grades seven through twelve shall include on either side of the identification card the crisis hotline telephone and text numbers and the internet address for your life Iowa or the your life Iowa successor program. A public school school district or accredited nonpublic school that issues identification cards to students in grades five and six may include on either side of the identification card the crisis hotline telephone and text numbers and the internet address for your life Iowa or the your life Iowa successor program.
    Sec. 26.  Section 279.71, subsection 1, paragraphs a, d, and f, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   a.  “Attendance center” means a school district or accredited nonpublic school building that contains classrooms used for instructional purposes for elementary, middle, or secondary school students.
   d.  “Kindergarten through grade twelve school purposes” means purposes that are directed by or that customarily take place at the direction of a kindergarten through grade twelve attendance center, school district, accredited nonpublic school, or a practitioner employed by a school district or accredited nonpublic school, in the administration of school activities, including but not limited to instruction in the classroom or at home, administrative activities, and collaboration between students, school district, accredited nonpublic school, or attendance center personnel, or parents, or are otherwise for the use and benefit of the school district , accredited nonpublic school, or attendance center.
   f.  “School district” “School” means a all of the following: 
   (1)  A public school district described in chapter 274.
   (2)  A nonpublic school that is accredited under section 256.11.
    Sec. 27.  Section 279.71, subsection 1, paragraph b, subparagraph (2), Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  Created by or provided to an operator by an employee or agent of a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or attendance center for kindergarten through grade twelve school purposes.
    Sec. 28.  Section 279.71, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  Delete as soon as reasonably practicable, a student’s covered information if the school district or attendance center requests deletion of covered information under the control of the school district or attendance center, unless a student or parent or guardian consents to the maintenance of the covered information.
    Sec. 29.  Section 279.72, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.72  Training on dyslexia.
   By July 1, 2024, the board of directors of a school district shall require all persons employed by the school district who hold a teaching license with an endorsement for prekindergarten, prekindergarten or elementary special education, or prekindergarten through grade three levels issued under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, all practitioners and paraprofessionals assigned as Title I teachers and Title I paraprofessionals under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Pub. L. No. 114-95, and all practitioners endorsed to teach English as a second language to complete the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module. Such persons employed by the a school district or accredited nonpublic school after July 1, 2024, shall complete the module within one year of the employee’s initial date of hire.
    Sec. 30.  Section 279.73, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.73  Intellectual freedom —— protection —— complaints.
   1.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall protect the intellectual freedom of the school district’s or the accredited nonpublic school’s students and practitioners and shall establish and publicize policies that protect students and faculty from discrimination based on speech. A person shall not retaliate against a person who files a complaint for a violation of this section. If the person who files a complaint for a violation of this section is an employee of the school district, the provisions of section 70A.29 shall apply.
   2.  If the board of directors of the school district, the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, or a court finds that an employee of the school district or accredited nonpublic school who holds a license, certificate, statement of recognition, or authorization issued by the board of educational examiners under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, discriminated against a student or employee in violation of this section, the employee found to be in violation under this section shall be subject to a hearing conducted by the board of educational examiners pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 13, which may result in disciplinary action and the employee’s employment may be terminated.
    Sec. 31.  Section 279.74, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school may continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees and students. However, the superintendent of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall ensure that any curriculum or mandatory staff or student training provided by an employee of the school district or accredited nonpublic school, or by a contractor hired by the school district or accredited nonpublic school, does not teach, advocate, encourage, promote, or act upon specific stereotyping and scapegoating toward others on the basis of demographic group membership or identity. This subsection shall not be construed as preventing an employee or contractor who teaches any curriculum or who provides mandatory training from responding to questions regarding specific defined concepts raised by participants in the training.
   3.  School district and accredited nonpublic school diversity and inclusion efforts shall discourage students of the school district or accredited nonpublic school from discriminating against another by political ideology or any characteristic protected under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, as amended, and applicable state law. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall prohibit its employees from discriminating against students or employees by political ideology or any characteristic protected under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, as amended, and applicable state law.
    Sec. 32.  Section 279.76, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  a.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school is prohibited from administering or conducting an invasive physical examination of a student, a student health screening that is not required by state or federal law, or a formal examination or survey of a student that is designed to assess the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health that is not required by state or federal law, without first acquiring the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian. This section applies only to a minor child in the direct care of a parent or guardian, and does not apply to an emancipated minor or a minor who is not residing with the parent or guardian.
   b.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall give written notice to a student’s parent or guardian of an examination or survey of the student required by state or federal law that is designed to assess the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health not less than seven days prior to the examination or survey. The notice shall include a copy of the examination or survey or a link to an internet site where the parent or guardian may access the examination or survey.
   c.  This subsection shall not apply to a hearing or vision examination.
   2.  This section shall not be construed to prohibit a school district or accredited nonpublic school from conducting health screenings or invasive physical examinations in emergent care situations or from cooperating in a child abuse assessment commenced in accordance with section 232.71B.
    Sec. 33.  Section 279.77, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   279.77  Transparency —— publication of school district and accredited nonpublic school information.
   1.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall publish all of the following information related to the current school year on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site:
   a.  A detailed explanation of the procedures or policies in effect for the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school to request the removal of a book, article, outline, handout, video, or other educational material that is available to students in the classroom or in a library operated by the school district or accredited nonpublic school. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall prominently display the detailed explanation on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site.
   b.  A detailed explanation of the procedures or policies in effect to request the review of decisions made by the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, including the petition process established pursuant to section 279.8B.
   2.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt a policy describing the procedures for the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school, or a resident of the school district, to review the instructional materials used in classrooms in the school district or accredited nonpublic school. The policy shall include a process for a student’s parent or guardian to request that the student not be provided with certain instructional materials. The policy shall be prominently displayed on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site and the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school shall, at least annually, provide a written or electronic copy of the policy to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school. For purposes of this section, “instructional materials” means either printed or electronic textbooks and related core materials that are written and published primarily for use in elementary school and secondary school instruction and are required by a state educational agency or local educational agency for use by students in the student’s classes by the teacher of record. “Instructional materials” does not include lesson plans.
   3.  Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall make available on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site a comprehensive list of all books available to students in libraries operated by the school district or accredited nonpublic school. However, for school years beginning prior to July 1, 2025, if the school district or accredited nonpublic school does not use an electronic catalog, the school district or accredited nonpublic school may request a waiver from this requirement from the department of education.
   4.  The identity of a parent or guardian who requests the removal of a book, article, outline, handout, video, or other educational material that is available to students in the classroom or in a library operated by the school district or accredited nonpublic school pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph “a”, shall be confidential and shall not be a public record subject to disclosure under chapter 22.
   5.  This section shall not be construed to require a school district or accredited nonpublic school to do any of the following:
   a.  Reproduce educational materials that were not created by a person employed by the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school.
   b.  Distribute any educational materials in a manner that would infringe on the intellectual property rights of any person.
    Sec. 34.  Section 279.78, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  A school district or accredited nonpublic school shall not knowingly give false or misleading information to the parent or guardian of a student regarding the student’s gender identity or intention to transition to a gender that is different than the sex listed on a student’s official birth certificate or certificate issued upon adoption if the certificate was issued at or near the time of the student’s birth.
   3.  If a student enrolled in a school district or accredited nonpublic school requests an accommodation that is intended to affirm the student’s gender identity from a licensed practitioner employed by the school district or accredited nonpublic school, including a request that the licensed practitioner address the student using a name or pronoun that is different than the name or pronoun assigned to the student in the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s registration forms or records, the licensed practitioner shall report the student’s request to an administrator employed by the school district or accredited nonpublic school, and the administrator shall report the student’s request to the student’s parent or guardian.
   4.  If, after investigation, the department of education determines that a school district or an accredited nonpublic school, or an employee of a school district or an accredited nonpublic school, has violated this section, the school district, accredited nonpublic school, or employee of the school district or accredited nonpublic school, as applicable, shall be subject to the following:
   a.  For the first violation of this section, the department of education shall issue a written warning to the board of directors of the school district, the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school, or the employee, as applicable.
   b.  (1)  For a second or subsequent violation of this section, if the department of education finds that a school district or accredited nonpublic school knowingly violated this section, the superintendent of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school shall be subject to a hearing conducted by the board of educational examiners pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 13, which may result in disciplinary action.
   (2)  For a second or subsequent violation of this section, if the department of education finds that an employee of the school district or accredited nonpublic school who holds a license, certificate, authorization, or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners knowingly violated this section, the employee shall be subject to a hearing conducted by the board of educational examiners pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 13, which may result in disciplinary action.
    Sec. 35.  Section 279.79, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school must receive the prior written consent of a student’s parent or guardian before requiring a student to take part in any survey, analysis, activity, or evaluation that reveals information concerning any of the following about the student or the student’s family, whether the information is personally identifiable or not:
    Sec. 36.  Section 279.79, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  An employee of a school district or an accredited nonpublic school, or a contractor engaged by a school district or an accredited nonpublic school, shall not answer any question pertaining to any particular student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school in any survey related to the social or emotional abilities, competencies, or characteristics of the student, unless the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school satisfies all of the following requirements:
   a.  The board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school provides to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school detailed information related to the survey, including the person who created the survey, the person who sponsors the survey, how information generated by the survey is used, and how information generated by the survey is stored.
   b.  The board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school receives the written consent from a student’s parent or guardian authorizing the employee or contractor to answer questions in the survey pertaining to the student.
   3.  Subsection 2 shall not be construed to prohibit an employee of a school district or accredited nonpublic school, or a contractor engaged by a school district or accredited nonpublic school, from answering questions pertaining to any particular student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school as part of the process of developing or implementing an individualized education program for such student. 
    Sec. 37.  Section 279.80, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  A school district or an accredited nonpublic school shall not provide any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.
    Sec. 38.  Section 280.6, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   280.6  Religious books.
   Religious books such as the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran shall not be excluded from any public school, nonpublic school, or institution in the state, nor shall any child be required to read such religious books contrary to the wishes of the child’s parent or guardian.
    Sec. 39.  Section 280.8, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   280.8  Special education.
   The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall make adequate educational provisions for each resident child or enrolled child, as applicable, requiring special education appropriate to the nature and severity of the child’s disability pursuant to rules promulgated by the department under the provisions of chapters 256B and 273.
    Sec. 40.  Section 280.14, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   280.14  School requirements —— administration.
   1.  The board or governing authority of each public school or school district subject to the provisions of this chapter and accredited nonpublic school shall establish and maintain adequate administration, school staffing, personnel assignment policies, teacher qualifications, certification requirements, facilities, equipment, grounds, graduation requirements, instructional requirements, instructional materials, maintenance procedures, and policies on extracurricular activities. In addition, the board or governing authority of each public school or school district and accredited nonpublic school shall provide such principals as it finds necessary to provide effective supervision and administration for each school and its faculty and student body.
   2.  An individual who is employed or contracted as a superintendent by a public school or school district accredited nonpublic school may also serve as an elementary or secondary principal in the same public school or school district accredited nonpublic school.
    Sec. 41.  Section 280.19, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   280.19  At-risk children.
   The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall incorporate, into the kindergarten admissions program, criteria and procedures for identification and integration of at-risk children and their developmental needs. 
    Sec. 42.  Section 280.19A, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  Each school district and nonpublic school shall adopt a plan to provide alternative options education programs to students who are either at risk of dropping out or have dropped out. An alternative options education program may be provided in a nonpublic school, a district, through a sharing agreement with a school in a contiguous district, or through an areawide program available at the community college serving the merged area in which the school district is located. Each area education agency shall provide assistance in establishing a plan to provide alternative education options to students attending a public school or a nonpublic school in a district served by the agency.
   2.  When a plan is developed, the district or nonpublic school shall be responsible for the operation of the program and shall reimburse the area education agency for the actual costs incurred by the area education agency under this section.
    Sec. 43.  Section 280.20, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  It is the intent of the general assembly to encourage the public and nonpublic secondary schools to develop comprehensive programs for career and technical education in agriculture technology to meet the diverse needs of Iowa’s students and to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals in all phases of the agriculture industry. The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school may develop, as part of the curriculum in grades nine through twelve, programs for career and technical education in agriculture technology.
    Sec. 44.  Section 280.20, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  Supervision and accountability of career and technical agriculture teachers employed for extended contracts are the responsibility of the local school board or authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, as applicable.
    Sec. 45.  Section 280.21A, subsection 1, paragraph a, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   A school employee who, in the course of employment, suffers a personal injury causing temporary total disability, or a permanent partial or total disability, resulting from an episode of violence toward that employee, for which workers’ compensation under chapter 85 is payable, shall be entitled to receive workers’ compensation, which the district or nonpublic school shall supplement in order for the employee to receive full salary and benefits for the shortest of the following periods:
    Sec. 46.  Section 280.21A, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  The school district or nonpublic school may require the employee, as a condition of receiving benefits under this section, to provide a signed statement that justifies the use of this leave and, if medical attention is required, a certificate from a licensed physician that states the nature and duration of the leave.
    Sec. 47.  Section 280.22, subsections 1, 4, 6, 7, and 9, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  Except as limited by this section, students of the public schools and accredited nonpublic schools have the right to exercise freedom of speech, including the right of expression in official school publications.
   4.  Each board of directors of a public school and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt rules in the form of a written publications code, which shall include reasonable provisions for the time, place, and manner of conducting such activities within its jurisdiction. The code shall incorporate all of the provisions of this section. The board and the authorities shall make the code available to the students and their parents.
   6.  Any expression made by students in the exercise of free speech, including student expression in official school publications, shall not be deemed to be an expression of school policy, and the public school district or the accredited nonpublic school, and school employees or officials, shall not be liable in any civil or criminal action for any student expression made or published by students, unless the school employees or officials have interfered with or altered the content of the student speech or expression, and then only to the extent of the interference or alteration of the speech or expression.
   7.  A public school or accredited nonpublic school employee or official, acting within the scope of the person’s professional ethics, if any, shall not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, subject to termination or nonrenewal of a teaching contract issued under section 279.13 or an extracurricular contract issued under section 279.19A, or otherwise retaliated against for acting to protect a student for engaging in conduct authorized under this section, or refusing to infringe upon student conduct that is protected by this section, the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, or Article I, section 7, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
   9.  This section does not prohibit a board of directors of a public school or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school from adopting otherwise valid rules relating to oral communications by students upon the premises of each school.
    Sec. 48.  Section 280.32, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall establish a radon plan and schedule for short-term tests for radon gas to be performed at each attendance center under its control at least once by July 1, 2027, and at least once every five years thereafter. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall publish testing results on the district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site in a timely manner.
   3.  Radon testing pursuant to this section conducted on and after July 1, 2022, shall be conducted by a person certified to conduct such testing pursuant to section 136B.1 or by district or accredited nonpublic school employees that have completed a school radon testing training program approved by the department of education and the department of health and human services. District or accredited nonpublic school employees that have completed training shall not perform testing services in locations other than the employee’s employing district or accredited nonpublic school. The department of health and human services shall maintain and make available to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools a list of such approved school radon testing training programs. Testing shall be based on recognized national standards that outline school radon testing practices.
   4.  a.  If the results of a short-term test at an attendance center are at or above four picocuries per liter, the board of directors of the public school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school shall conduct a second short-term test for radon gas and radon decay products in the spaces with elevated results within sixty days of the first test.
   b.  If the averaged results of the first and second tests at an attendance center pursuant to paragraph “a” are at or above four picocuries per liter, the board of directors of the public school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school shall retain or employ a person credentialed pursuant to section 136B.1 to develop a radon mitigation plan that may include further diagnostic testing, corrective measures, and active mitigation. The board or the authorities shall complete the radon mitigation plan within two years of the first test. A district or accredited nonpublic school is not required to mitigate radon at an attendance center if the district or accredited nonpublic school intends to abandon the building within five years or has a plan to renovate the attendance center within five years and the renovation will include radon mitigation.
    Sec. 49.  Section 282.3, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The board may exclude from school children under the age of six years when in its judgment such children are not sufficiently mature to be benefited by regular instruction, or any child who is found to be physically or mentally unable to attend school under section 299.5, or whose presence in school has been found to be injurious to the health of other pupils, or is efficiently taught for the scholastic year at a state institution. However, the board or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, as applicable, shall provide special education programs and services under chapters 256B, 257, and 273 for all children requiring special education.
    Sec. 50.  Section 282.9, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   282.9  Enrollment of person listed on sex offender registry.
   1.  Notwithstanding sections 256E.7, 256F.4, 275.55A, and 282.18, or any other provision to the contrary, prior to knowingly enrolling an individual who is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A, but who is otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school or an accredited nonpublic school, the board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school shall determine the educational placement of the individual. Upon receipt of notice that a student who is enrolled in the district or accredited nonpublic school is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A, the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school shall determine the educational placement of the student. The tentative agenda for the meeting of the board of directors at which the board will consider such enrollment or educational placement shall specifically state that the board is considering the enrollment or educational placement of an individual who is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A. If the individual is denied enrollment in a school district or an accredited nonpublic school under this section, the school district of residence or the accredited nonpublic school, as applicable, shall provide the individual with educational services in an alternative setting.
   2.  Notwithstanding section 692A.121, or any other provision of law to the contrary, the county sheriff shall provide to the boards of directors of the school districts located within the county and to the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic schools in the county the name of any individual under the age of twenty-one who is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill modifies provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.
   Current law provides that the standards established in Code section 256.11(4) related to career exploration and development in grades seven and eight shall not apply to the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic schools. The bill strikes this provision. Additionally, current law provides that the standards established in Code section 256.11(5)(h) related to career and technical education in grades 9 through 12 shall not apply to the teaching of career and technical education in nonpublic schools. The bill strikes this provision.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to adopt rules prohibiting the use of tobacco and the use or possession of certain types of alcohol or any controlled substance by any student. The bill authorizes the accredited nonpublic school to suspend or expel a student for a violation of such a rule.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to adopt rules requiring that, once school officials have been notified by a juvenile court officer that a student attending the school is under supervision or has been placed on probation, school officials are required to notify the juvenile court of each unexcused absence or suspension or expulsion of the student.
   Current law imposes restrictions on the ability of a school district to take disciplinary actions against an employee or contractor for disclosing certain specified information to any public official or law enforcement agency. The bill imposes these same restrictions on accredited nonpublic schools.
   The bill authorizes accredited nonpublic schools to employ for head coach of any interscholastic athletic activity, or for assistant coach of any interscholastic athletic activity, an individual who possesses a coaching authorization issued by the board of educational examiners or who possesses a teaching license with a coaching endorsement.
   The bill authorizes accredited nonpublic schools to employ principals in the same manner as school districts. The bill also requires a principal employed by an accredited nonpublic school to hold a current valid principal’s certificate.
   Current Code section 279.40 grants minimum amounts of sick leave to public school employees. The bill grants these same minimum amounts of sick leave to employees of accredited nonpublic schools under the same conditions as sick leave granted to public school employees.
   Current Code section 279.50 requires school districts to provide certain specified human growth and development instruction to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, and imposes other requirements related to such instruction. The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to provide the same instruction and follow the same requirements.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies for different grade levels that describe how an accredited nonpublic school may discipline a student for making a threat of violence or causing an incident of violence that results in injury or property damage or assault. The bill establishes requirements related to such policy.
   Current Code section 279.68 imposes responsibilities on school districts related to assessing students to determine levels of reading readiness and providing intensive reading instruction. The bill imposes these same responsibilities on accredited nonpublic schools.
   The bill provides that accredited nonpublic schools are to require licensed personnel who have regular contact with students to undergo training related to suicide prevention and postvention, the training related to identification of adverse childhood experiences, and strategies to mitigate toxic stress.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools that issue identification cards to students in grades 7 through 12 to include on the card the crisis hotline telephone and text numbers and the internet address for your life Iowa or the your life Iowa successor program. The bill also authorizes accredited nonpublic schools that issue identification cards to students in grades five and six to include on the card the crisis hotline telephone and text numbers and the internet address for your life Iowa or the your life Iowa successor program.
   Current Code section 279.71 imposes on school districts certain requirements related to student online personal information protection. The bill imposes these same requirements on accredited nonpublic schools.
   The bill requires certain specified licensed accredited nonpublic school employees who are employed by an accredited nonpublic school after July 1, 2024, to complete the Iowa reading research center dyslexia overview module within one year of the employee’s initial date of hire.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to protect the intellectual freedom of the school’s students and practitioners and to establish and publicize policies that protect students and faculty from discrimination based on speech. The bill also provides that if an accredited nonpublic school or a court finds that certain specified employees of the accredited nonpublic school discriminated against a student or employee in violation of this provision, the employee found to be in violation shall be subject to a hearing conducted by the board of educational examiners.
   Current Code section 279.74 imposes certain responsibilities and prohibitions on school districts related to training and curriculum that includes race or sex scapegoating, race or sex stereotyping, or specific defined concepts. The bill imposes these same responsibilities and prohibitions on accredited nonpublic schools.
   The bill prohibits accredited nonpublic schools from conducting an invasive physical examination of a student, a student health screening that is not required by law, or a formal examination or survey of a student that is designed to assess the student’s health that is not required by law, without first acquiring the written consent of the student’s parent or guardian. The bill also requires accredited nonpublic schools to give written notice to a student’s parent or guardian of an examination of the student required by law that is designed to assess the student’s health not less than seven days prior to the examination or survey.
   Current Code section 279.77 requires school districts to publish certain specified information on the school district’s internet site and adopt policies related to the review of instructional materials. The bill imposes the same responsibilities on accredited nonpublic schools.
   Current Code section 279.78 imposes certain responsibilities and prohibitions on school districts related to the gender identity of students enrolled in the school district. The bill imposes the same responsibilities and prohibitions on accredited nonpublic schools.
   The bill requires an accredited nonpublic school to receive the prior written consent of a student’s parent or guardian before requiring a student to take part in certain specified evaluations. The bill prohibits an employee or contractor of an accredited nonpublic school from answering any question pertaining to any particular student enrolled in the school in any survey related to the social or emotional abilities, competencies, or characteristics of the student, unless the school satisfies certain specified requirements.
   The bill prohibits an accredited nonpublic school from providing any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six. The bill makes conforming changes.
   The bill provides that religious books shall not be excluded from a nonpublic school.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to make adequate educational provisions for each enrolled child who requires special education that is appropriate to the nature and severity of the child’s disability. The bill makes conforming changes.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to establish and maintain adequate administration, school staffing, personnel assignment policies, teacher qualifications, certification requirements, facilities, equipment, grounds, graduation requirements, instructional requirements, instructional materials, maintenance procedures, and policies on extracurricular activities. The bill authorizes an individual employed or contracted by an accredited nonpublic school to serve as an elementary or secondary principal in the same accredited nonpublic school.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to incorporate, into the kindergarten admissions program, criteria and procedures for identification and integration of at-risk children and their developmental needs.
   Current Code section 280.19A imposes certain requirements on school districts related to alternative options education programs for students who are either at risk of dropping out or have dropped out. The bill imposes the same requirements on accredited nonpublic schools.
   The bill authorizes accredited nonpublic schools to develop, as part of the curriculum in grades 9 through 12, programs for career and technical education in agriculture technology. The bill provides that supervision and accountability of career and technical agriculture teachers employed for extended contracts are the responsibility of the accredited nonpublic school.
   The bill provides that accredited nonpublic school employees who, in the course of employment, suffer permanent partial or total disability, resulting from an episode of violence, for which workers’ compensation is payable, shall be entitled to receive workers’ compensation, which the nonpublic school shall supplement. The bill also provides that a nonpublic school may require the employee to provide a signed statement that justifies the use of this leave and, if medical attention is required, a certificate from a licensed physician that states the nature and duration of the leave.
   Current Code section 280.22 provides that students of public schools have the right to exercise freedom of speech, including the right of expression in official school publications, subject to the limits contained in that Code section. The bill modifies Code section 280.22 to provide that students of accredited nonpublic schools have the same rights.
   The bill requires accredited nonpublic schools to establish a radon plan and schedule for short-term tests for radon gas to be performed at each attendance center at least once by July 1, 2027, and at least once every five years thereafter. The bill also requires accredited nonpublic schools to publish testing results on the school’s internet site in a timely manner. The bill imposes other responsibilities on accredited nonpublic schools related to testing for radon gas.
   The bill provides that, prior to knowingly enrolling an individual who is required to register as a sex offender, an accredited nonpublic school is required to determine the educational placement of the individual. The bill also provides that if the individual is denied enrollment in an accredited nonpublic school, the school shall provide the individual with educational services in an alternative setting. The bill requires the county sheriff to provide accredited nonpublic schools in the county the name of any individual under the age of 21 who is required to register as a sex offender.